To the Editor:

This letter is to introduce myself to those who have moved here after I had the honor of serving New-town for five terms as first selectman which ended in December of 2008 and who may not know me.  Since that time, I have served two more years as a member of the Board of Selectmen, and for the last six years as a Zoning Board of Appeals alternate member. In addition, I have been representing New-town on the Newtown Health District board; on the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority board, currently serving as treasurer; on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference of Municipali-ties (two term past president); and on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Man-agement Agency (past chairman), which insures Newtown.  This year I am a candidate for selectman.

During my years as first selectman, the bipartisan efforts of Democrats and Republicans resulted, in addition to numerous other things, in the purchase and remediation of the Fairfield Hills property, demolition of four of the large buildings there, construction of the baseball field, and location of NYA there; construction of the Reed School; an open space program that protected almost 1,000 acres; resur-facing of over 125 miles of our roads; and acquisition of Eichler’s Cove Marina, all while achieving two upgrades to our bond rating by Moody’s Investors Service to Aa2 with a positive outlook for a third up-grade to the Aa1 that has now been awarded.

Prior to serving as first selectman, I served on the Board of Education from 1984 – 1997, the last four years as chairman.  There were many accomplishments over those years as well, also achieved by the bi-partisan efforts of Democrats and Republicans.  Among them, renovation of the Middle School, and additions to Sandy Hook, Middle Gate, Hawley, and Newtown High School.  These were all accom-plished by a Board of Education consisting of three Democrats and three Republicans.

I made those points, because, unfortunately, I have observed some of that bipartisan spirit fade over the last few years with more and more decisions made by too few people as the balance on our boards has diminished.  The Board of Education has gone from a balance of three Democrats and three Repub-licans to five Republicans and two Democrats; the Board of Finance from three Democrats and three Republicans to four Republicans and two Democrats; the Legislative Council went from seven Republi-cans and five Democrats to a 6 to 6 tie and now to eight Republicans and four Democrats; and finally, Planning & Zoning from three Republicans and two Democrats to four Republicans and one Democrat.

On November 3rd, we voters can change that and return to more balanced, bipartisan decision mak-ing based on facts and done in a transparent manner by electing more people from the outstanding bi-partisan group of candidates, registered Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters, offered by the Democratic Party on Row A on the ballot.  For more information, go to www.newtownctdemocrats.org.

Best regards,

Herb Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown         October 21, 2015