Personal Information: William F.L. Rodgers, 43; attorney; Legislative Council incumbent, chair, Ordinance Committee; member, Ad Hoc Elderly Tax Relief Committee, 1999–2002; chair, Hattertown Historic District Commission, 1993–1997; chair, Middlegate School Site – Based Management Council, 1995–1997; trustee, Newtown Historical Society, 1997–2001; member, Republican Town Committee; Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps Reserve; BA and AM University of Pennsylvania (Political Science/Public Policy); JD Boston University; 11-year resident; married (wife Moira, daughter Amelia).

What personal qualities do you have that you believe will benefit the Legislative Council and the community it serves? Dedication, common sense, perseverance, resolution, and experience. I am committed to bringing a level of restraint to government, both as to spending and legislation, by carefully scrutinizing purported needs and first determining as a threshold issue whether spending or legislation is required to address those needs. I see long-term projects through to completion when able and I am not swayed by special interest pressures if overall town interest would suffer. I am experienced in reviewing and amending the town’s annual budgets and ordinance requests.

What do you believe is the council’s biggest challenge over the next two years? Managing (not stopping, but controlling) Newtown’s growth, particularly with respect to proper development of the Fairfield Hills campus. Newtown’s dwindling rural character and areas must be preserved and one way to do so is to encourage suitable commercial development in existing commercial areas.

What can the Legislative Council do to limit the growth of Newtown’s tax rate? Control spending by distinguishing needs from wants and forcing all departments and boards to be more efficient and made do with less. Encourage the town to seek suitable commercial development and to retain existing businesses so as to slow or reverse town budget’s level of dependence on residential real property tax. Encourage and pressure our state elected officials to reform the state system of funding municipal needs so as to more favor towns of our size.