Had Ms Randle read Pat’s letter in its entirety, she would have seen her praise in the last paragraph: “Committee members Jeff Capeci and Gary Davis (Member Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), my note not Pat’s) have been stalwart participants and helped to keep the effort alive. I am not inclined to promote my personal accomplishments, knowing full well that many persons contributed along the way.” Thank you, Pat, for your leadership in this effort.

As to Ms Randle’s second point: Businessmen, public officials, and other volunteers regularly identify themselves as a matter of disclosure. Even heads of political organizations disclose their titles; see Bill Brimmer, RTC chair’s letter “What Really Happened,” dated July 29, 2009, previously published in The Newtown Bee. This gives the reader a lens through which to view the opinion of the writer, a lens which Ms Randle failed to provide her readers. According to the IPN’s website, she is the chair of their nominating committee. I can’t imagine why the self-proclaimed the party of “Transparency” would have a nominating committee chair who would fail to meet such a low bar when it comes to disclosure.

Her final claim that Ms Llodra’s disclosure is “ethically questionable” is absurd. Even her own party chair, Police Commission member and First Selectman candidate apparently disagrees. At the bottom of his piece, “The Police Commission Works Diligently” (The Newtown Bee, April 14), Bruce Walczak listed his title “Police Commissioner.” Does Ms Randle consider Mr Walczak ethically questionable too? I am confident that Newtowners, given all the facts, will be able to see who is really trying to politicize committees.

Jeff Capeci

52 Bear Hills Road, Newtown                                September 9, 2009

(Mr Capeci is a Republican member of the Legislative Council from the Third District and a member of the council’s communications subcommittee.)