I Won’t Let You Down

To the Editor:

The 2009 election season for me has been a new and wonderful experience.  I am extremely grateful to everyone in District One who voted for me, spoke on my behalf, waved to me, honked at me, screamed my name out loud while driving by (you know who you are!), hosted my lawn signs, funded me and shared your positions and opinions on town issues with me.  In the end, you trusted me with enough votes to win election and represent your district as a member of Newtown’s Legislative Council.

My hat goes off to the Republican Party for their very successful campaign.  I am looking forward to working constructively with my colleagues on the Council and under the leadership of our new First Selectman-elect Pat Llodra, Selectman-elect Will Rodgers and the IPN’s own Selectman-elect Bill Furrier.  I extend my congratulations and my thanks to all of the candidates who ran this election season, especially to my opponents, whom I have come to admire even more as I got to know them better.     

I want to thank my wife Robin for her encouragement, my daughter Hannah and son Quinn for campaigning alongside me and some old and new friends who put it on the line for me.  I want to also recognize the entire IPN organization and its leadership for reaching out to endorse me and then providing continuous support and guidance throughout the campaign.  And to the handful of IPNers behind the scenes who so effectively provided much of the legwork, research, motivation and solid financial reporting on behalf of all of IPN’s candidates, I thank you for making it all work so seamlessly.  Only two years old and already the IPN has moved from third party status to become one of Newtown’s two major parties.  I am looking forward to representing the IPN and its platform in my new role. 

While I knew that some of these races would be decided by only a handful of votes, I was still surprised and disappointed that Bob Hennessey was not elected and that Po Murray and Paul Lundquist were not re-elected.  Those shoes will be hard to fill on the Legislative Council and I hope I can run with them again in 2011.

Until then, there is much work to be done as we transform Newtown’s town government and work together to deliver on the many pressing issues and new commitments made during the campaign season.  I will follow up in December with my plan to connect with and engage District 1 taxpayers.  I am available at 203-228-7745 and at kevinkis@aol.com. 

Thank you again for your support.  I won’t let you down.

Kevin Fitzgerald

Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                               November 5, 2009