To the Editor:

I am writing to endorse Paul Lundquist’s candidacy for Legislative Council in District 1.

I have known Paul and his wife Elaine since my family moved to Newtown from California in 2003, and I know from personal experience that District 1 could not hope for a more intelligent, compassionate, and dedicated candidate than Paul Lundquist.

With open arms the Lundquist family welcomed us as newcomers and neighbors to Newtown, and to me it was clear from day one the affection and commitment Paul had about Newtown.

Paul has served as PTA liaison to the Board of Education for Hawley School, where our kids attended elementary school together. Paul also donated hundreds of hours of his personal time back in 2007 to completing “The Way Things Are in Newtown,” using his expertise in marketing to survey Newtown residents about their views on a wide variety of topics affecting the town. No one put him up to it, or badgered, poked, and prodded Paul to get the survey done — he had the expertise, saw the need, and quietly put in the hard work to make it happen. The result was solid, objective data upon which quality decisions could be made to benefit Newtown.

I’ve watched Paul interact with people from all different backgrounds, and always found him to be steady, thoughtful, and respectful in his dealings with others. In this day and age of partisanship and bickering, I am confident that Paul’s low-key competency, positive attitude, and love of Newtown, will make him a great legislative council member.

I wish more politicians could be like Paul Lundquist.

Respectfully,

Ben Toby

69 Alberts Hill Road, Sandy Hook                        October 5, 2009