Letters to the Editor on Wood vs Klein in Race for 141st State Rep District

Darienite.com will accept letters to the editor about candidates running for office in the Nov. 8 election, but only up through the end of the day on Halloween, Oct. 31. Email your letter to dave@darienite.com.

These letters about the election recently came in:

Trust the Republican, Wood, to Improve Connecticut, Not the Democrat, Klein

To the editor,

Many of Darien’s taxpayers know that in the years of my serving on the Darien Board of Finance, I repeatedly warned the town’s citizens that the time would come when the financial situation in Hartford was so abysmal that Darien would have to go it alone when it came to receiving any state grants or cost-sharing. These forecasts are sadly becoming true as the state of Connecticut faces current deficits nearing a billion dollars.

It is therefore critical to elect smart representatives to our state legislature who understand the current financial crisis and who will work to fix it. To do this, we need to end the one-party rule in Hartford. No one has been a more forceful advocate for Darien in Hartford than Terrie Wood. Terrie has worked hard to understand all the issue facing the state and she has forged alliances with the right people ready to take on the challenge of fixing the state’s fiscal crisis.

Terrie’s opponent, Randy Klein makes broad statements about working in Hartford for Darien’s educational system. This makes absolutely no sense as Darien funds its own schools locally, and we shouldn’t expect and won’t get any “help” from a broke Hartford anyway! Given the refusal by Evonne Klein (former first selectwoman and Mrs. Randy Klein) to support even modest changes to 8-30G, we can already catch a glimpse of what happens when someone from Darien who should understand Darien’s issues goes to Hartford on the Democrat team.

Please urge your friends and relatives to vote “Republican” at the state and local level. Start by pulling the lever for the person who has proven herself a smart, ethical and hard-working leader for Darien.

Join me in supporting Terrie Wood!

Sincerely,

Liz Smith Mao

Liz Mao is a formeer chair of the Darien Board of Finance.

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Randy Klein Has a Background in Transportation

To the editor:

In a letter to the editor last week, Mr. Robert “Spike” Reed alleged that being stuck in traffic is a consequence of “one-party rule.” However, the disrepair of our infrastructure is a complex problem, that requires thoughtful and comprehensive solutions, not political finger pointing.

Darien citizens know it will take more than blaming others to solve the quagmire of our transportation infrastructure.  Because transportation is a proxy for the American economy, our state representative needs to know where they are going, map out a detailed plan, and drive to their destination with determination and focus.

With Randy Klein behind the wheel, I am convinced we will be able to make real progress on this issue.  I spoke with him personally, asked hard questions about the serious transportation problem, and received thoughtful responses, with the conviction necessary to get the job done.

As a business owner in the transportation sector for much of his adult life, Randy knows this is not an easy undertaking, but has the background and experience necessary to take this issue head on, and will use a multi-level systems approach to make it easier for all of us to get to our jobs, our friends and our families.

Isn’t time we see improvements on our roads and rails?  I say yes! And if you do too, then let’s put political gamesmanship aside, stand up and vote for the person most qualified to fix this problem.

Let’s get on the road to recovery and back to business by voting for Randy Klein for state representative.

Christine Castles
Christine Castles is a member of the Darien Democratic Town Committee.  

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Klein’s Thoughtful Approach to Education Is Exactly What We Need

To the editor:

Like many other parents with children in the Darien school system, I was greatly concerned by the threat of $1 million in cuts to our public schools last May.

That is why I was very impressed with Randy Klein’s response to the recent court decision in CT Coalition for Justice in education Funding v Rell, regarding State education funding.

Other recent letters to the editor about the election:

• State Rep Candidate Randy Klein Knows Issues & Needs of Business Owners (Sept. 5)

• Re-electing Terrie Wood Will Help Fix Our Transportation Challenges (Sept. 12)

• Randy Klein Understands the Education Aid Challenges Facing Darien (Sept. 18)

• Rep Wood at Forefront Addressing State Problems, Local Causes (Sept. 19)

Klein’s thoughtful plan to protect our public schools is exactly what we need from our state representative.

With an appeal of the ruling filed, it will be even more important for us to have a state representative who is actively working to protect our school system.  Please join me in supporting Randy Klein for State Representative on November 8th.

Autumn Howard

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Wood is Thoughtful, Open-Minded, Smart

To the editor:

I have had the privilege of knowing Terrie Wood for over 30 years.  Terrie is honest, fair and compassionate.

When it seems that American politics are broken, when it’s easy to be cynical about the rivalry between our parties, when it appears that politicians are more concerned with winning elections than governing, we have a rare example in Terrie of what an elected official should be and can be.

Terrie faces the very real issues in our state with thoughtfulness, open-mindedness and intelligence. I have heard people say they are so disillusioned with politics that they don’t plan to vote. Terrie gives us a reason to vote.

Joan Kiplinger