To the Editor:

It is pretty clear that there continues to be a collaborative effort on the part of some Republicans and Democrats still not over the IPN victory of 2007, to discredit IPN, particularly Po Murray and my husband, Gary Davis. These shameless efforts seem to be more important to them than the issues Newtown faces moving forward. This is their plan to make it Nicer in Newtown? This assault has demonstrated why Newtown needs the Independent Party of Newtown.

There have been a number of cleverly worded letters, double-speak, and cutting and pasting to deliberately distort IPN positions and statements. Most of these distortions are ridiculous. However, I will tell you the real reason that IPN was formed: in reaction to elected officials who refused to listen to the legitimate concerns of residents and who then dared those residents to vote them out of office. Despite some success in the 2007 election, it’s clear by the actions of many Newtown elected officials these past two years that we continue to need a course correction.

In the meantime, I am left wondering how we set priorities in our town. Newtown Hook & Ladder has a building that is so woeful it has been condemned. Yet our Board of Selectman leave a new fire hall out of our capital planning while adding more than $30 million of new costs for Fairfield Hills, including a new proposal for a $3 million band shell. (Tax and spend?)

All the while, Hawley School has waited years for a desperately needed HVAC, the middle school roof continues to leak while its foundation has problems, our seniors need more help, and so on. It’s good to have a list of “nice to haves” but those should come after town needs while doing everything to keep the tax rate as low as possible. We can do this by looking at where and how our town spends its money. Gary has tried to get people to simply consider changes to our capital planning process, but it has been difficult getting our current political leaders to even listen. IPN elected officials will give our process of setting priorities a serious going over, and it needs it!

IPN was formed to advocate for a local government that was more accountable to the voters, that had better checks and balances, and was more transparent in its dealings. IPN wants more voices in government, not less. IPN has already demonstrated to Newtown its impact on positive change and has driven much of this year’s election. The other two parties have recently followed the lead of IPN in their position papers.

Newtowners have finally been given a choice. Good luck to all those candidates looking to serve Newtown and its residents because they want to make a positive difference. That is what I know IPN candidates will do if elected.

I am a registered Republican who will be voting Independent, Row C, on the ballot.

Sherri Davis

23 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                      October 27, 2009