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Newtown Voters Want Collaboration And Inclusion

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Newtown Voters Want

Collaboration And Inclusion

To the Editor:

Voters clearly rallied around Pat Llodra in this recent election and her call for fiscal responsibility by way of collaboration and inclusion. The election results may also demonstrate a feeling of discomfort with the major political parties who have been in power but who failed to work productively with the minority.

Some detailed analysis of the election results demonstrates just how strongly Newtown voters are actually seeking collaboration and inclusion. While most of the election winners were Republicans, the voters were very discriminating. For the first time, an IPN candidate ran and was elected to the Board of Selectman. For Legislative Council, the voters made sure to have at least one IPN candidate elected from each district. On the Board of Education, the top vote getter, gaining over 50 percent of the vote, was running as an Independent followed closely by the Republican.

What one finds, in careful analysis, is that the voters demonstrated that they wanted a diversity of voices to be included in the governing of Newtown. The strength of the Independent Party is an indicator that the voters want inclusion of independent thinking voices in their government.

This has not always been how those elected have governed. Independents and unaffiliated voters are almost nonexistent on appointed town boards. In fact, out of 92 current appointees to Newtown boards and commissions only four were identified as unaffiliated, yet over half of Newtown voters were registered as unaffiliated. To say that this group is grossly underrepresented would be an understatement.

This election resulted in a new group of candidates being voted into office — not only newcomers from IPN, but from the Republican Party as well. These new elected officials now have the opportunity to show that their campaign promises of collaboration and inclusion are not just words, but will become the new way of governing in Newtown. They will find a wealth of expertise if they seek it, individuals who have no agenda to push except wanting to serve Newtown.

The other side of the coin, as the expression goes, is a call to action to all those residents who have contemplated service to Newtown in an appointed position. Let your elected leaders know of your interest in serving. Newtown does indeed run on volunteers and new faces bring new ideas and wonderful energy.

Let us make collaboration and inclusion a reality in Newtown. The first test will come when the Legislative Council chooses its leadership. In recent years, the lead minority party has had one of its council representatives elected as vice chair. It will be interesting to see what the Republican super majority on the Legislative Council decides to do.

Bruce Walczak

Chairman, Independent Party

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                  November 18, 2009

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