If all goes as hoped, two local write-in candidates on Newtown's November 7 municipal ballot will have a much better opportunity to compete for elected office, thanks to a Connecticut law that focuses on voter intent.

According to one of those candidates, Republican Board of Education hopeful Deborra Zukowski, she was told by a Secretary of the State's office that as long as there are no other write-in candidates on the same ballot with similar names, voters simply need to write "Deb Z" or some other close resemblance of her name that will still identify their intent to vote for her.

Similarly, the other write-in candidate, GOP Town Clerk challenger Ann LoBosco only needs voters to write the name "Annie" or some other iteration of her name to register a vote.

In either or both cases, the round bubble next to the write-in's name must be filled in or the vote will not be registered.

Both candidates have been combining their campaigning with educating any Newtown voter willing to listen, about to how to properly register a write-in vote if they are inclined to participate in this very rare but completely valid balloting practice.

To recap, local voters need to remember only three key things:

*Votes for either or both write-ins will be registered on the bottom line of this year's ballot under the candidate categories for those respective offices - Town Clerk, and/or Board of Education

*Voters must use the pen provided in the voting booth to blacken the round ballot bubble on the bottom line under the corresponding office - Town Clerk, and/or Board of Education

*Voters must then write-in "Deb Z" or something resembling Deborra Zukowski in the Board of Education block, and/or "Annie" or something resembling Ann LoBosco in the Town Clerk block

The Newtown Bee this week that she is committed to seeing her campaign through to November 7 because she has held aspirations for the office since working as an Assistant Town Clerk a number of years ago.

Ms LoBosco told 

She is competing for that seat against endorsed GOP incumbent Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead, and Democratic newcomer Valerie Hart.

Besides a strong desire to serve the community in that capacity - Ms LoBosco is currently Newtown's Social Services Director - she has a deeply personal reason as well.

After failing to receive the Republican endorsement at a July caucus, Ms LoBosco qualified to primary against Ms Aurelia Halstead in a September 12 primary, where she received 465 votes to the incumbent's 579. In the days leading up to the primary, Ms LoBosco said her focus was split between the upcoming vote, and her mother who was out of state and gravely ill.

"I was scheduled to fly down to see my mom the week before the primary, but she told me to stay in Newtown and concentrate on the election," Ms LoBosco said. Sadly, her mom passed away just four days before the primary.

"So I feel even more that I have to see this campaign through to Election Day for her," Ms LoBosco said. "I'm not trying to be a spoiler; I just really loved working in the Town Clerk's office and believe I can do a good job."

In Ms Zukowski's case, her relegation to write-in status was voluntary.

She opted to withdraw from the Republican ballot line and qualify as a write-in when a misinterpretation of convoluted state election laws and wording in the local Charter conflicted regarding the way school board candidates can be placed on the ballot.

Local GOP leaders believed they could put three Republican candidates on the ballot for consideration to fill two seats, but according to a state ruling, that is not the case, so Ms Zukowski decided to pursue a write-in candidacy.

The ironic outcome to that decision could end up seating all three original Republican school board candidates, according to Ms Zukowski, who has had numerous conversations on the topic with attorneys in the Secretary of the State's election division.

Her understanding is, if the two endorsed Republicans are the two top vote getters, and she is the third top vote getter as a write-in, state law will permit all three Republican candidates to take seats on the school board.

The Newtown Bee that on November 7, the top four vote getters will be seated on the Board of Education.

After receiving a legal opinion on the matter from Town Attorney David Grogins, First Selectman Pat Llodra confirmed to 

"As long as the outcome does not violate minority representation, if the three Republicans (2 endorsed and one write-in) are among the four highest vote getters, the three Republicans can get on the board," Mr Grogins wrote in that advisory to the first selectman.

While the Legislative Council will need to consider a charter revision next year to clean up the language conflict with state election law, permitting the top four vote getters is much closer to honoring the intent of former charter commissioners, who previously changed language in Newtown's constitutional document to give voters more choice of which candidates could serve, as well as the political makeup on the school board.

Campaign literature and signage that voters will see up to November 7, for both Ms Zukowski and Ms LoBosco, will primarily reference the write-in opportunity.