Editor's note: The following letter was received from state Rep. Kim Fawcett, D-Fairfield, who is running for re-election against Republican DeeDee Brandt.

To the editor:

This election cycle is not a referendum on whether we need to live within our means, cut government spending or create jobs.  It's clear that all the candidates agree on the problems we face. Rather, this election is a referendum on who you think is best equipped to engage, day in and day out, in the hard work necessary to find solutions.

As your state representative for the past four years, I have worked collegially with both Democrats and Republicans to get results for Fairfield and Westport's 133rd District. At times, I have voted against my party leadership and faced public criticism to reflect the needs of my constituents. And time and again, I have shown you I won't quit in the face of daunting challenges and stiff opposition.

I did not quit when the chemical industry fought our efforts to take bisphenol A, a known hormone disrupter, out of children's products. I did not quit when the powerful health care lobby attempted to prevent Lyme disease patients from accessing care. And I did not quit when the state budget was not as fiscally responsible as it should have been.

A critical part of solving problems in government is being able to work with people, including those with whom you disagree. There is much talk about the Democrats' "veto-proof majority" in the General Assembly. But the truth is that opinions vary widely, both within the parties and among various regions of the state. Few things get done without consensus building. Just as I have worked to build trust with the people in my district, I have worked to build relationships with my colleagues in the House and Senate.

The only way we will be able to control government spending and create jobs is by working together, staying engaged and refusing to quit in this tough economy.

State Rep. Kim Fawcett
Fairfield, CT