Newtown CT Democrats

Come join the DTC and the campaigns of Jahana Hayes and Mary Glassman for a debate on the issues as they seek the Democratic nomination at the upcoming primary.

Sunday, July 29th.  Alexandria Room in Edmond Town Hall!  Starts at 1:00 pm sharp.

Would you like to ask a question?  Fill out this form!

Mary Glassman will be here in Newtown raising funds for her campaign for US House of Representatives. Come join her in her quest for the House. Check out the flyer for the full details.

Basic info: July 25th, 5:30 – 7:00pm.

Home of Tim Shearin and Ellen Aho

Donations can be made online at Mary Glassman for Congress

Mary Glassman Fundraiser invite

5thdistrictforumjuly8

Our friends in Washington are hosting a Congressional forum on July 8th!  Check out the link for the flyer and get to know these two great women who are running for Congress!

We are hosting a HQ fundraiser at the Villa Restaurant on June 27th at 6:00 pm.  Tasty food, good conversation and you wont have to worry about your crazy cousins or Uncle telling you how great 45 is.  Ugh.

Denise Merrill, William Tong, Michelle McCabe, Raghib Allie-Brennan and the fabulous Rebekah Harriman Stites!

Please click on that blue DONATE below to reserve your spot.

Definition of terms for lobbyists and rules can be found here.

We are re-structuring and re-building our website. Please bear with us as we go through this process.

Hi friends, we are having trouble with the rebuild of the website.  It is coming, please be patient!

Ringing endorsement for Dan and Maureen from the Newtown Bee.

“Change simply for change is not what we advocate. But change rooted in where we have been and where we are going is a positive for this town. While Mr Rodgers and Mr Rosenthal both have experience and natural leadership skills invaluable to the office of first selectman, The Newtown Bee endorses Dan Rosenthal for first selectman, believing he is the person to combine those talents with the above-mentioned qualities. With a fresh but realistic outlook, he can spit shine Newtown to make it glow — and grow — in a manner that suits this New England town. Voting Ms Crick Owen into office beside him will give our town the one-two punch needed to keep the town on track, stable, and firm in what and who we are.”    11/2/17

https://newtownbee.com/determining-our-future/

To the Editor:

It’s an honor to run for re-election to the Board of Finance and truly a privilege to have served Newtown over the past years. Our family has lived in Newtown for 26 years. I served on the Board of Finance from 2001 to 2011 (time of inception until time elected to the Board of Selectmen); 2011 to 2015 Board of Selectmen; and Board of Finance 2015 to 2017. I have served as chairperson and vice chair of the Board of Finance. Many know my wife, Stephanie, who was president of Newtown Scholarship Association, and my children who attended Newtown schools, Tara, Jimmy (volunteer firefighter with Hook & Ladder), Kelley, and Owen (and their sports.) I have also served as vice chair of the Family Counseling Center and am warden of the Borough. We believe strongly in giving back to our community that has given us so much… a picture of John F. Kennedy hangs in the entrance of my office.

At Lehigh University I double majored in finance and economics with an emphasis in public finance, and a minor in government. From my studies it was easy to understand the peer review and mathematical/statistical models regarding closing schools and property values — conclusion: the closing of the Hawley School Elementary School would not save money. For the past 25 years I have been a small business owner running my law offices. I understand the need to make a payroll each week. Understanding local small business is important when sitting on the Board of Finance.

The coming years will present financial challenges to Newtown. Specifically, Newtown is in the top 25 percent tax/per capita towns in the state. It is one of the factors that must be addressed in order to achieve a Moody’s AAA rating (bonding savings). The other holdback is our grand list. It needs to be increased by smart commercial development. A way to remember our policy directives at the voting booth would be — “it’s about T.E.D.” meaning it’s about Taxes (controlled), Education (Blue Ribbon), and Development (smart!). Like any business, we need to find further efficiencies and economies of scale. We should also continue to focus on senior tax relief. Education (Blue Ribbon quality) is not only important for the economic and cultural health of our country, but it drives the demand to move to Newtown. That demand raises property values and increases the grand list. Commercial development alleviates the property tax pressure on Newtown residential taxpayers. It needs to be smart, though. We all love Main Street and the rural feel of Newtown. These need to be preserved. Once our treasures like Main Street, the flagpole, volunteer fire companies, cultural arts, Edmond Town Hall, the Meeting House, etc are lost, they are gone forever. Without them, the demand to move to Newtown is diminished and our property taxes rise.

Please visit newtownctdemocrats.org for more information.

Thank you for your consideration. Please remember to vote on 11/7/17!

Sincerely,
Jim Gaston
18 Main Street, Newtown         October 4, 2017