To the Editor:

My wife and I had our wedding at St Rose in 2016 and moved to Newtown last year so we could be a part of the community she grew up in, be close to her family, and raise our kids here. If you’ve ever been to a high school swim meet you might have noticed my wife’s maiden name, Abigail Atkinson, on the record board or on the all-state banner (twice).

Or her mom’s name, Mary McQuail, on the all-state banner and who also started Newtown’s youth swim program. Or the mural painted in memorial to her father, Glenn “Benny” Atkinson, whose masonry work is found all over town. In my relatively short time here I’ve had the chance to witness the impact her family has made on Newtown for generations, and I am running for the Board of Finance to help continue that trend of our family giving back to this community.

I have spent the past decade working at the intersection of public policy and academic research, learning from elected officials, economists, and policymakers from across the country. I’ve had the chance to work with governors, state legislators, and local officials on all kinds of bipartisan reforms.

One of the most prominent lessons I’ve learned is that when it comes to public policy there is rarely, if ever, a perfect solution to a given issue. There are, however, important trade-offs to consider when every level of our government is making a decision. If elected to the Board of Finance I will strive to weigh all potential trade-offs to ensure every one of your tax dollars is spent in the most effective way to benefit our community for generations to come.

I hope you will consider voting for me, Bryce Chinault, on November 7.

Thank you,

Bryce Chinault

Newtown