To the Editor:

I write to endorse Will Rodgers for reelection to the Board of Selectmen. As a selectman, Will has first and most importantly supported our first selectman, Pat Llodra. Together, as the majority of the three-person board, they have made great progress in their first term, in particular, reducing the town side spending, implementing money-saving fiscal reforms, and fostering an atmosphere of professionalism and fairness in their actions. But Will is not a “Yes Man” or blind follower of Pat’s lead. Instead, he brings his own vast local government experience, amassed from serving as Legislative Council chair for six years and council member for 12, to the board, and Pat relies on his input to craft her positions. In short, they truly work as a team.

Will is a nearly 20-year resident of the town who has served in volunteer positions, both political and civic, for almost that long. This local commitment only echoes his broader dedication to public service. He served 30 years in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring shortly after a deployment to Iraq and sitting as an appellate judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.

In tough economic times, we need experienced leaders who understand how government works and can interact with other governmental leaders in a way that commands respect and cooperation. Will volunteered to work alongside Pat in the recent storm, helping perform many of the administrative duties that arose during that emergency. He is well known to and routinely interacts with Newtown’s state legislative delegation. He is, in my opinion, a true “Second Selectman” who should be returned to the board to continue in that role.

James Smith

2 Littlebrook Lane, Newtown                                    October 26, 2011