Letter to the Editor: In Support of Elaine O'Brien

In the 61st Assembly District this year, which includes East Granby, Suffield and a portion of Windsor, we have 2 opposing candidates for State Representative. The Democratic incumbent, Elaine O’Brien, has distinguished herself in her first term in office through her efforts and accomplishments for the economy and job growth.

She's encouraged educating our children, infrastructure improvements and preserving our communities, incentivized businesses to hire unemployed veterans through the expanded STEP-UP program and expanded several key legislative and other efforts. She supported the expansion of the Small Business Express Program; and by securing funding to facilitate economic development in the Bradley Development Zone, thereby creating more jobs.

She supported the bipartisan Jobs Bill to help businesses grow and strengthen the economy, cut the Business Entity tax in half, offered tax incentives to businesses hiring Connecticut workers and use Connecticut-made products and services.

O’Brien has supported Increased funding for agriscience, charter and magnet schools, improved teacher evaluation procedures, passed storm response reforms, co-sponsored legislation that encourages regional cooperation so towns can save tax dollars, without taking schools out of town control. She has reached out across the aisle by working with Republicans, as well as Democrats.

These are just some examples. Her experience as Town Clerk of Suffield has also provided increased value to her abilities and provided synergy for her constituents.

Her Republican opponent Tami Zawistowski, on the other hand, has no constructive governmental experience, although she and her group “The Concerned Taxpayers of East Granby (CTEG) certainly have influence in the town, largely negative, alas. Purporting to be a nonpartisan group, this is but a cloak for nay saying, anti-social and damaging educational policies. Their affiliation with the Yankee Institute and the Heritage Foundation, both extreme right wing partisan “think tanks” and lobbying groups, clearly belies their claim. They – and she - are often referred to as Tea Party supporters.

Her positions on issues and those of the CTEG, of which she is a key member (her husband Ed is President.) have blocked support for needed funding to preserve our community standards, especially in education. This has resulted in cutting the education budget and damaging the schools. The Carl Allgrove School, for example, has been denied sufficient funds for proper restoration, and the school is languishing in a state of half repair as a result. This is nothing short of shameful. This is nothing short of shameful. She has supported regionalization of the schools, despite the fact it has been proven more expensive and would render our Board of Education - and parents - powerless to control or participate in the educational process. It would also lower real estate values.

East Granby recently had to have 3 budget referendums, all vocally opposed by Zawistowski and her acolytes, at the forefront of the nay sayers, even though the 3^rd one would have raised property taxes by only $50.00 a year for a home valued at $175,000! Fortunately, more rational voices prevailed and the 3^rd budget passed. Even so, the schools took a big hit when they really need more funds so our children have decent places in which to learn, instead of what they have.

Given these facts, I believe you can decide who should get your vote.