Letters Of Endorsement

To the Editor:

This election year we have a myriad of candidates competing for our vote. The candidates all present themselves well, and promise to take our collective best interests to Washington or Hartford. As we citizens try to decipher what is being said and what will actually get accomplished, I think it is paramount that we take a hard look at each candidate’s record of achievement. Promises are easy, but performance is what really counts.

Here in the 112th Legislative District (Monroe and Newtown), we have been fortunate to have Pat Shea as our State Representative for the past two years. Pat’s record of accomplishments and her efforts for the 112th District are unparalleled, and she has performed all of this as a freshman in the legislature. Pat Shea has been tireless in her efforts to bring about positive reform to the Educational Accountability Act, the Education Cost Sharing Formula, and funding for Special Education. Pat diligently worked with the State Bond Commission for a $123,223 grant to assist the Newtown School District with upgrading their telecommunications technology. Pat Shea was 100 percent behind and voted for much needed open space funding; Monroe benefited from her efforts with a $138,000 open space grant. Pat was also on the front line working for tax cuts and tax incentives. Pat Shea voted yes for an act authorizing towns to provide tax abatements to their emergency volunteers. Pat was in full support of a tax cut for our senior citizens that would have eliminated all state income tax on Social Security income for joint filers with an adjusted gross income under $60,000 and single filers with an AGI of less than $50,000. Pat Shea also put money in homeowners’ pockets by supporting and voting for increasing our property tax credit against our state income tax. The tax credit was $350 last year was increased to $425 and this year will be $500. Pat fully supports the House Republicans agenda that would increase this credit to $1,000. Pat Shea has been there for our children, our seniors, our emergency volunteers, our environment, and has been our collective voice in Hartford for two years. Given Pat’s great record of achievement and truly stellar performance as our Representative in the 112th why listen to promises and rhetoric? Pat Shea has stood behind Monroe and Newtown; now it is our turn to stand behind her. Join me on November 7th, and let’s reelect Pat Shea to the 112th, so that she may continue serving as our voice in Hartford.

Sincerely,

Robert Cascella

53 Copper Creek Circle, Newtown   October 27, 2000