NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter(s) of endorsement. We will publish endorsement letters from New Canaan residents through Oct. 24. Please send them to editor@newcanaanite.com.
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Dear New Canaan Residents,
I am writing to endorse Amy Murphy Carroll for First Selectman. Having had the privilege of collaborating with Amy for the past three years on the New Canaan Board of Finance, I can wholeheartedly attest to her contributions to our community through her unwavering dedication and exceptional performance.
Amy’s professional expertise in finance shines through in her every action. Her deep understanding of financial matters has been honed through years of professional experience, ensuring that she approaches every decision with a well-informed perspective. This knowledge has been invaluable in navigating the complexities of municipal finance, leading to fiscally responsible outcomes for our town.
Amy’s commitment to civility and respect stands as a testament to her character. She understands the importance of constructive dialogue and remains focused on the issues that truly matter to our residents. Amy will ensure town committee assignments, board positions, and leadership roles are open to all citizens — regardless of political affiliation.
It is my opinion that Amy’s professional experience (30 year career covering municipal financings on Wall Street most recently at JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley), and her volunteer experience in town (10 years on the Board of Finance, and her work on the Saxe building committee and Police Department building committee to name a few) make her an ideal choice for First Selectman. I urge you to cast your vote for Amy Murphy Carroll to ensure a prosperous and responsible future for New Canaan.
Sincerely,
Victor Alvarez
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Amy Murphy Carroll’s election as First Selectman would bring a style of leadership to town government that reflects her devotion to governing in a way that is collaborative and open, reflecting her campaign’s theme of unifying the town as “One New Canaan.” Along with that approach, she is deeply knowledgeable about New Canaan’s fiscal position, having served on the Board of Finance. More broadly, in her professional career, she has worked in municipal finance at major institutions as an investment industry professional.
As First Selectman, Carroll wants to govern in a way that brings the town together as a community, rather than divides it. As she said in a recent interview: “We all have the common goals of maintaining our world class schools and our amazing town amenities supported by our topnotch Public Works Department.” In her commitment to be a unifying agent, she wants to draw on the town’s “informed, engaged electorate,” to be partners in government so that the First Selectman is seen as a “steward for the town, not just one person’s or one party’s priorities,” as she said in an interview.
When asked in public forums about issues such as affordable housing or the renovation plan for the police station, it’s clear that her knowledge of town government is deep. A graduate of Cornell University, Amy has an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She knows the numbers in detail, a product of her education, career and of having applied that knowledge to serving for nearly a decade on the Board of Finance.
In keeping with her “One New Canaan” outlook, she has devoted her time to many New Canaan civic activities, among them St. Mark’s White Elephant, on which she served as chair several times; managing numerous youth sports teams, and launching Bring Your Own Bag New Canaan. In addition, she has served on multiple town task forces.
Her combination of wanting to serve New Canaan with openness, transparency and collaboration, coupled with a depth of expertise in municipal finance drawn from her career and from having served on the Board of Finance would make her an outstanding First Selectman for our town.
Susan B. Edmands and Douglas P. Walker
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Dear Editor:
If elected to the Town Council, Janet Fonss and Jennifer Zonis would bring an abiding interest in doing what’s best for New Canaan. Knowing them, Fonss and Zonis, both long-term town residents, would forge a path that maintains and elevates New Canaan’s commitment to its deservedly praised schools. Further, they would participate in Council discussions in a way that fosters civility and make their decisions transparently, guided by serving the public interest.
Zonis, who grew up in town, and Fonss, a 24-year resident, followed up successful professional careers by dedicating their expertise and time on behalf of town programs too numerous to mention. Zonis has been president of New Canaan’s Interfaith Council for nearly five years, has collaborated with the New Canaan Library and New Canaan Museum and has enjoyed reviewing grants for the New Canaan Community Foundation. Fonss has been an active volunteer in the schools, variously serving as West Elementary School’s co-PTC president, and also been a classroom coordinator, a fundraising chair for school-related projects, and a Board member.
Zonis describes herself as one of New Canaan’s biggest champions, a unifier, someone who has always worked hard, studied issues, listened to others and been able to collaborate to reach the most beneficial solutions. Fonss, who expresses gratitude for New Canaan’s quality of life and the friendships she enjoys in town, said the town’s core is built on service, community and shared goals.
Together, their depth of intelligence and dedication to public service, deserves to be represented on the Town Council. They are committed to making their decisions based on substance, facts and, most important, what would be best for New Canaan.
As residents, we would be extremely well-served by their thoughtful approach to reaching decisions. Residents would be kept apprised during the decision-making process and when on the Council, Zonis and Fonss would always be guided by what would be most beneficial for the town as a whole. We enthusiastically endorse Jennifer Zonis and Janet Fonss for Town Council and urge New Canaan residents to vote for both of these extremely qualified candidates.
Cynthia Dul and John Matz