To the Editor:

I am writing to express my unwavering support of Chris LaRocque as a Republican nominee for the Legislative Council. I have been a resident of Newtown for over 18 years and am a 2003 graduate of Newtown High School. I am currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, in the United States Army.

I have been in the Army for almost two and a half years and am currently a first lieutenant. I have known Chris for over ten years, and I have never met a harder working individual. His relentless attitude and concern for others is beyond reproach. Chris is an exceptional leader and has proven so for many years. He did great things as student government president, and vastly improved Newtown High School. He has never turned down a challenge and he does everything he can to bring his best to the table every single day.

I believe that Chris is an extraordinary leader, constantly using his interpersonal skills to build meaningful relationships with almost everyone he meets. Chris consistently challenges himself, as demonstrated in college where he was an editor for his school newspaper with limited experience in that field. He pushed himself and worked hard to produce outstanding products. He never wavered nor did he give up on himself. He has exceptional drive and integrity.

As an Army officer I have seen some of the greatest leaders in the country, and I hold Chris up there with the best of them. Chris genuinely cares about the people of Newtown, and has great visions of where the town will go. As a member of the Legislative Council, Chris will certainly bring his great ideas and outstanding leadership to the people of Newtown. They deserve the best leader possible, and I believe Chris is that leader. I have a saying that great leaders don’t know every answer, just where to find them. Chris will diligently find those answers in order to give the best guidance and direction for the town.

The people of Newtown which he will represent will be in great hands with Chris on the council. He is planning on joining the United States Naval Reserve and wants to continue to offer his public service to the men and women of this country. He has always felt an obligation to better the lives of others and being on the Legislative Council will enable him to do just that. Chris has valued education for as long as I can remember and continues to improve his own intellectual skills by obtaining his master’s while working at the University of Hartford. He is relentless in his drive to better himself and those around him. He is the perfect team player and always conducts himself accordingly. He will work well and improve the most cohesive council. Those traits are hard to find and will make any organization that much better. I am proud to call Chris one of my best friends, and I know he will do great things for the Legislative Council and for the town of Newtown.

Respectfully,

1LT Eric O’Donnell

415 South Mesa Hills Drive, El Paso, Texas                        October 6, 2009