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.
***
To the Editor –
I am writing to personally endorse Hugo Alves for the 2-Year Board of Education seat.
Hugo knows this town. He has lived in New Canaan for 13 years and has been involved in the community in many capacities including coaching and volunteering. He currently serves on the Board of the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society.
Hugo knows the job. He has served on the Board of Education for the past 2 years and comes into this election with the skills and experience needed to be an effective Board member from Day 1. During his tenure, he has worked collaboratively with other members of the BoE across party lines. He has also developed strong and trusting relationships with many in the NCPS Administration.
What impresses me most about Hugo is his commitment to listening to parents. He has spent countless hours speaking with individual parents by phone and in person – whether they agree with his position on an issue or, more often, when they do not. He returns every call and reaches out proactively to parents who express concerns in meetings. He takes parent feedback and his role as an advocate for parents and students very seriously.
When looking at the 2-year Board of Education seat, the choice is clear. Vote for Hugo Alves on November 7th.
Sincerely,
Chris Wilson
***
It isn’t often that we see a candidate such as Dionna Carlson enter the race for First Selectman. Dionna has a track record of community service that has enabled her to ascend to various leadership roles, followed by a commitment to run for, and win, a seat for public office. She served for 8 years on the Board of Education and is presently a candidate for First Selectman. What is most refreshing about her trajectory is that this is not her first time running for office. Dionna is a seasoned, honest, straight shooter that tells it like it is and knows how to deal with the scales of balance between the Board of Education and the Town.
Dionna has navigated through challenges while on the BOE and we all have benefited from her driven solutions while remaining balanced against financial impacts. She has the right character, communication skills, and financial experience to deliver, manage, and deal with the business of the town. Being New Canaan’s First Selectman is about putting the town first. It’s all about listening and finding the right solutions while bringing people together and building consensus. A track record that speaks for itself in a candidate that is forthright, professional, and experienced is what I want to see in our next First Selectman. Join me in support of Dionna Carlson to lead our town into the future.
Cristina A. Ross
***
344—this figure represents, according to yankeeinstitue.org, the number of individual taxes and fees that the State of Connecticut collectively imposes on its citizens and businesses. Ironically some of these levies cost more to implement than they collect in revenue. Despite these taxes and fees, the state still carries the 2nd highest debt per capita in the nation. (governing.com/finance)
How could this be possible in a state with a highly educated population, four wonderfully diverse seasons and miles of beautiful coastline? The Democrat party has ruled Hartford for 12 uninterrupted years and has presided over and engendered this fiscal nightmare.
Many of New Canaan’s other local concerns and burdens have been brought to us from single party Hartford and their court appointees. Low-income housing mandates have been imposed as have numerous expensive unfunded school mandates.
Under Republican leadership and with the help of a majority of independent voters, New Canaan has been a beacon of fiscal responsibility. During these 12 years, taxation in New Canaan has increased at an average annual rate of 2.4%, below the 3% CPI average annual rate of inflation. Our Debt outstanding is 14% below what is was in 2011. (New Canaan Financial Statements). We have maintained the best schools in the state despite Hartford’s headwinds and are trying hard to maintain the character of our town while developers threaten it.
I urge you to stay the course and keep New Canaan Aaa/AAA and on track by voting for Dionna Carlson for First Selectman, Steve Karl for Selectman and the Republican candidates for the Board of Education. Thank you.
Bob Hamill, proud to be a New Canaanite since 1970
***
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the candidacy of Matt Campbell, Lara Kelly, Matthew Wexler and Hugo Alves for the Board of Education. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know all four candidates and I am able to confirm their commitment to all students and families in our town. The candidates are dedicated to academic excellence, transparency, school safety and fiscal responsibility. They are committed to maintaining our excellent schools which is the reason many of us chose to make New Canaan home. All four candidates have children in our schools representing elementary, middle and high school.
The candidate’s emphasis on academic excellence is commendable. Our children’s education is of paramount importance, and I believe that their focus on enhancing the quality of education will undoubtedly benefit our students and prepare them for success in the future.
Transparency is essential to any public office and I appreciate the candidate’s commitment to maintaining an open, collaborative and accountable educational system.
All four candidates will work hard to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively. By managing our resources responsibly, we can maximize the impact of our educational investments and provide our children with the best possible education.
Lastly, I know the candidates will work hard to ensure that all of our schools have a dedicated Student Resource Officer to ensure the safety of all our children.
Please join me in voting for all Row B Board of Education candidates.
Sincerely,
Jan Schaefer