William DeRosa Running For Newtown Legislative Council D1

NEWTOWN, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Newtown will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next several days, so check back often to see the latest.

Republican William DeRosa, 54, is running for Legislative Council D1 in Newtown.

Occupation: Professional Classical Musician / Cellist .

Family: Kersti Ferguson , Wife Jack DeRosa , son 7 yr old at Head o Meadow School.

Experience: Vice Chairmen Newtown Republicans

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The single most pressing issue facing our town is staying competitive. First and foremost, we must work to make Newtown affordable for all, keeping in mind that seniors play a pivotal role in this community and should be able to age in place. Our current mill rate has risen over the years to 34.65 . How do we stop this trend? Careful planning and financial oversight are needed, attributes that I will bring to the Legislative Council along with my District 1 running mates. Further, we need a better plan for our roads; a plan that will focus on sustainability rather than patchwork and ineffective upkeep. Newtown is fortunate to have excellent police, fire, and ambulance services. I will back these essential services and support levels of funding necessary to do their job. And, we need a responsible plan for Fairfield Hills. Campus improvements over the past 4 years have been very few and insubstantial. It is past time to address this issue and plan accordingly. I am proud of our Newtown schools, but call for better fiscal oversight as well as enhanced student achievement. The system needs to be more transparent and should strive to work in collaboration with the local government, not as a lone entity. Student achievement and other measures of performance have failed to meet the standard of the Blue Ribbon distinction awarded the high school in 2000. Test scores have declined, as has enrollment. We must have the courage to examine these issues carefully, fairly, and with an eye on our community values.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

One of my hallmarks is that I am involved politically on a National and State level. I worked with Patrick Sasser and Bob Stefanowski amongst a host of others in helping Ct push back Tolls on our highways. Although I am running for a local position on the Legislative Council D1 my involvement and knowledge of State issues can and will help Newtown. Last Spring when the extremely over reaching Legislation regarding zoning was being proposed by State Legislature that would take local decision making out of the hands of Newtowners I was very active and involved in fighting against the proposed Bill. This legislation would favor developers like those who wanted to take down the Inn over local residents. The Bill eventually passed but most of the inflammatory and dangerous language was watered down or removed. Although Newtown is just a small town, the actions of our State Government effects all of us, and in my opinion having a handle on the these issues is a very important aspect in fulfilling a effective role as a leader in local government and issues.

Accomplishments:

I am proud to be able to reach across the aisle. Recently I teamed up with the Chair of the Newtown Planning and Zoning Committee and together we wrote a bi- partisan resolution condemning the over -reaching legislation that was being proposed regarding zoning in Connecticut. This legislation would have removed Newtown from making its own decisions on zoning and placed the power with Hartford. Last December I joined with other concerned parents to work directly with our school superintend to get our kids back in the classroom in January.

Other issues:

The reason I am running for LC is simple. I love this quaint and charming town; however, I have concerns in which I feel we can do a better job. Ushering in the 21st century with all the current dissension in our country is a difficult task and will take a firm hand in finding the correct balance that will benefit all the residents of Newtown.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am excited to be running with Angela Curri and Lisa Kessler to form the Republican ticket for Legislative Council D1. We share similar conservative values with a passion to make a difference and usher in policies that will be good for Newtown. It’s time to stop the discord and come together for an even better Newtown for all. I believe I am a down to earth individual, authentic, who will always put the good of Newtown over everything, and regardless of political affiliation.