To the Editor:

Last month I wrote to introduce my candidacy for Board of Finance to your readership and to lay out my vision: make Newtown affordable for every resident and taxpayer. Through the campaigning proc-ess, I’ve met some wonderful people and learned a great deal about the town that I’ve proudly made my home for the last 12 years. I’d like to mention some people in particular who have showed me support and encouraged me to embark on this journey.

First, I thank John Godin for taking my call last June when I learned that there were some available spots on town boards. John spent a lot of his valuable time speaking with me and discussing the vari-ous boards so that I could find the right fit for what I could offer. I thank the Republican Town Com-mittee for trusting and believing in me with its nomination and for its support throughout this cam-paign.  I thank the sitting Board of Finance and, in particular, John Kortze, Harry Waterbury, and Joe Kearney, for their time and support.  If you’ve been to the transfer station on any Saturday morning for the last nine weeks, you’ve seen me standing there with a crew of gentlemen who are also candidates, including George Guidera, Dan Weidemann, Joe Grigasky, David Ruhs, Mark Boland, Neil Chaudhary, David Freedman and Ryan Knapp. They made the task of Saturday morning campaigning an enjoyable experience, and I thank them for it.  Last, but nowhere least, I must thank my family for their support, understanding and sacrifice of their time and allowing me to spend it with Newtown.  A lot of hard work by many people has gone into my nomination and this campaign and whatever the result, I am grateful for this experience. 

As the campaign draws to a close, I’d like to reaffirm my pledge and commitment to working hard for all Newtown residents.  The various boards need to work together to find solutions to the fiscal chal-lenges we will face in the coming year, including residential tax burden, town space needs, the quality of our educational system and debt management. We must recognize the changing economic and demo-graphic climate and adjust to those changes without compromising our core values.  There is not one single group of constituents whose interests trump the other, nor is one issue more important than an-other.  We are all Newtown.

I hope you've gotten to know me better and have the information you need to make your decision.  Please support me on November 3.

Sandy Roussas

38 Maltbie Road, Newtown         October 27, 2015