Furrier And Murray Will Head IPN Slate

Earlier this summer, when Newtown’s Democratic and Republican town committees were announcing slates of candidates for the coming local elections in November, Bruce Walczak, chairman of the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), explained that his party would be taking a little extra time in formulating its slate. “One of IPN’s longstanding goals,” he said at the time, “has been to engage a diverse group of voices in local government.” This week, the town’s third party announced its slate, which Mr Walczak believes distinguishes itself from the Republicans and Democrats.

Heading the IPN ticket are William Furrier, an incumbent on the Board of Selectman who will challenge Republican First Selectman in November, and Po Murray, a former Legislative Council member who will now seek a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

They will compete for these positions with Republican incumbents First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers, and Democrat James Gaston, who is leaving his position as vice chairman of the Board of Finance to seek a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

The IPN will also try to bring some new faces to the Legislative Council, fielding a slate of candidates including just one council incumbent, Kevin Fitzgerald, who currently represents District 1 voters. Joining him in the IPN line this year will be Mr Walczak, who will leave the Police Commission to seek to represent District 2 on the council, Randy Young (District 2), Robert Duero (District 3), and Roger Letso (District 3).

Laura Main will be the IPN’s sole candidate for the Board of Education.

The party will field two candidates for the Board of Finance, Rudy Magnan and Carol Bosko Walsh.

IPN has nominated three people for seats on the Police Commission: Neil P. Randle, James P. Walsh, and Phillip J. Cruz.

While the candidates on the IPN slate may be formally registered as Republicans, Democrats, or unaffiliated, Mr Walczak said that as candidates of the Independent Party of Newtown, they offer voters an “independence from partisan party politics,” along with “new ideas,” and “energy.”

“Our candidates provide the voters of Newtown with a distinct choice to the candidates offered by the established political parties in Newtown,” the party chairman said. He invited townspeople to read the party’s platform, which is available online at the party’s website (www.independentpartyofnewtown.com) and at NewtownBee.com. The platform aligns the party with quality schools and town services, tax stability, checks and balances, and transparency in town government.