To the Editor:

I would like to express my support for the re-election of Jim Gaston to Newtown's Board of Finance.

Jim and the Gaston family are longtime Newtown residents, and are exemplary and exceptional citizens of our town. As a former selectman and past chairperson and vice chairperson of the Board of Finance, Jim has been an advocate for controlled taxes, blue ribbon education, and smart development (TED). Jim also endorses roads and infrastructure maintenance, as well as senior tax relief. He is open-minded, a good listener, and has proven himself as an effective leader with the mindset of working around the table. We are Newtown, and yes, it is vital that we all work together.

We should all be grateful for Jim's past contributions to the town by way of his involvement with its Board of Finance. As Newtown will be receiving substantially reduced economic support from the state, we are heading toward challenging financial times. Jim's many years of financial and budgeting experience will help guide us through these rough waters. I am in full support of his backing of a town purchasing agent who would consolidate town and education purchases in the effort of saving the town potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars. Creative going-forward thinking is what Jim does best, which would help us through these impending critical matters.

Jim is known to work extremely well across party lines. I can speak through experience, as we have worked together for over 25 years, both on the Board of Burgesses (to which Jim holds the position of warden), and the Borough's Historic District Commission. As Jim is a moderate Democrat, and I am a conservative Republican, political differences have never gotten in our way. Yes, it is vital that we all work together and Jim is the candidate that can get us to the finish line.

Thank you, and please give Jim your vote on November 7.

Betsy Stewart Kenyon

62 Main Street, Newtown          October 10, 2017