Letter: Fairfield 'Deserves Kim Fawcett Returning to Hartford'

To the Editor:

When candidates find no one likes their vision or position on the issues, they decide to tear down their opponent. Happens at every election, at every level of government. The 2012 campaign season in Fairfield is no different thanks to Chris DeSanctis, the Tea Party endorsed candidate opposing Kim Fawcett in the 133rd race. The attack on Kim's subcommittee and public hearing record of attendance conveniently leaves out her attendance on the floor of the House itself. Over the first five completed years of her tenure, Representative Fawcett's attendance stands at 94.5% but stats can be twisted and used as weapon.  

Kim is dedicated to her service as a legislator. To many this is a part time gig but for Kim her constituents benefit from a fulltime, fully engaged representative. She goes beyond what is expected of her in representing her district, and this town that she loves.  She visits thousands of homes to speak with her constituents, returns emails and phone calls personally, and spends her time with anyone who needs her help. 

All legislators prioritize their time, and Kim does so only in the effort to do what she can for us. When we send a representative to Hartford, we expect that person to use her best judgment in the course of her duties. For example, in the first six months of this year, Kim attended 79 community meetings and forums in Town, 51 constituent meetings with concerned citizens, 96 Hartford-based meetings of many kinds all pertaining to her work on her committees, 30 special events honoring our local citizens.

Kim Fawcett makes no apologies for being a Democrat, and as she shares most Democrat Party values, she does vote with her party most of the time. She has stood against the leadership to vote her conscience, having spoken with the people her votes directly affect. Her Republican colleagues, even here in Fairfield, do the same. However, our representatives are given our trust and confidence to do what is best of us, and the state, and sometimes that means going against the party line. Kim does just that, including voting against last year's budget that raised our state sales and income taxes. Her party in Hartford knows that Kim is not one to be taken for granted.

On the other hand, we have to look at Chris DeSanctis and consider what he brings to the table. What does he stand for or against? Let’s start with his being against bipartisan leadership as demonstrated by his moronic agreement to sign the Grover Norquist Pledge. This means he will NEVER work across the aisle and compromise with Democrats to move our state forward. He opposes, for example, a woman's right to choose, to decimate public funding by diverting funds to private schools. 

Fairfield deserves better than that. We deserve Kim Fawcett returning to Hartford.

Robert Greenberger