Membership of Newtown's Republican Town Committee (RTC) numbers in the dozens - and they will certainly have their say when weighing in on official endorsements for top of ticket candidates for local office this year.

But with sights set on a November victory, Republican first selectman candidate Mary Ann Jacob and selectman running mate Neil Chaudharyat a caucus scheduled for late July. are working to attract a majority from among thousands of local party members to support their official nomination

The pair sat with The Newtown Bee on June 19 for the second of several planned interviews between now and Election Day 2017. During this most recent chat, major focus turned to how the candidates are planning to conduct a campaign with Election Day in mind, while contending with competition from other local Republicans hoping to win the town's top elected seats this fall as well.

No matter which candidates win the official GOP endorsement at caucus, Ms Jacob and Mr Chaudhary are committed to a campaign they see taking them into November. That means the two current and veteran Legislative Council colleagues will likely be facing a Republican primary against current Selectman and former council chair Will Rodgers, who is campaigning for the first selectman seat with running mate and former council chair Jeff Capeci.

Republican Board of Education member Andy Clure has also thrown his name in the ring as a candidate for first selectman, and has not yet officially declared a running mate. Local Democrats to date appear to be united behind a slate led by former councilman and current Police Commissioner Dan Rosenthal, and his running mate Maureen Crick Owen.

Ms Jacob, who is the current council chair, and former council vice chair Mr Chaudhary say they are comfortable moving forward with a campaign agenda simultaneously focusing on the short-term goal of attracting fellow Republicans to a July 24 caucus; to the polls for a probable September 12 primary; and then vying for the majority of votes among all Newtown electors on November 7.

"It's our feeling that while we may or may not get the nod of the RTC, we feel the majority of Republicans out there would support our candidacy because of the work we've already done, and our visibility," Ms Jacob said. "We've both been the top vote getters in our district during elections for the council. We've always been visible - not just when we're running for election - and people say they are happy with the work we have done."

No Back Burner

The candidates say they cannot afford to put too much attention on a Republican primary campaign while diverting focus on their Democratic opponents to the back burner until mid-September.

"I think it's all on one burner," Ms Jacob said. "All our focus is on the Democratic candidate. We think we're the right team, so everything we need to do has to be about what's right for Newtown, and here's why we are the right team," she said. "Whether we have an interim battle in between does not change our focus and energy in terms of getting our message to voters about who we are and what we're about."

Some of the points Ms Jacob and Mr Chaudhary say they plan to weave into their platform throughout their campaign include their individual and collective work as fiduciary stewards on behalf of Newtown taxpayers, touting their work helping to finalize budget proposals that passed on first referendum tallies four years in a row.

"And this year, during a difficult time we worked with legislators and other boards to craft a creative way to insulate Newtown taxpayers from a $3 million hit," Ms Jacob said, referring to part of an anticipated reduction in state aid to the town that will impact municipal revenues beginning with the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

"From a vision standpoint, we have to look forward to a time that we won't be getting state aid," she said, "and we have to continue our fiscal planning with an assumption that we have to learn how to be independent of that money."

"We continue to do a good job, and will continue to push for economic development as well," Ms Jacob said, stating that a 2016-17 grand list bump of $900,000 that could have helped mitigate noncommercial property tax increases, instead also had to be tapped to hedge against a multi-million-dollar loss of anticipated state funding.

"Our goal is to continue softening the burden of state grant reductions without harming the character of Newtown," Mr Chaudhary said.

"At the same time we're committed to keeping tax dollars dedicated to education as close to our students as possible," Ms Jacob said.

"Anyone who attended any of the [prereferendum] council education committee meetings knows that this year's budget request was developed through a collaborative effort," she added, with student services being both council and school district officials' top concern.

The Republican candidates said they are looking forward to helping support the completion of the new community and senior center facility that is currently in its final planning stages, along with "fully vetting and discussing a new police headquarters," whose design funding was approved at the April 2017 referendum.

Another area Ms Jacob and Mr Chaudhary say they will be looking at will be the cost or debt service tied to future capital project borrowing.

"It's all about reducing taxes without impacting programs or people," Mr Chaudhary added.

Communication Channels

The pair are also pledging to enhance communication avenues between the town government and its residents.

"The evolution of the town's communications process has already seen dynamic growth," Ms Jacob observed. "But we can do even better by continuing to expand our use of electronic and mobile technology to keep residents better informed about town business."

While the pair say they have seen their opponents appearing at local meetings and events much more lately, their participation or appearances are part of their style of doing business as local elected representatives.

"We've always been out in the community, so for us, we're not really doing anything different," Ms Jacob said.

"I was elected to be visible, and to try and be there on behalf of all Newtown residents - wherever 'there' happens to be," Mr Chaudhary said.

"So besides talking about how we plan to lead Newtown over the next two years and beyond, we have to be mindful about making people aware of the July 24 caucus," Ms Jacob said. "We hope to get their support."

The candidates say that as they expand their contacts with potential Republicans who may support them at caucus, and in a likely primary in September, they are hearing that both existing supporters and new residents they meet appreciate their "straight-forwardness and responsiveness when they have questions."

"Our practice has been to give the voters as much information as they may need," Ms Jacob said, "and then let them make their decisions based on facts."