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Committed to Listening

I’m writing in support of Matt Hoey for first selectman. Matt has served on the Board of Finance for 25 years, and during that time he has worked to strengthen our town’s financial position, despite the state’s economic environment. As taxes are rightly a key issue, Matt is committed to wisely spending our tax dollars and pursuing responsible economic development. Matt plans to revisit the recommendations of the Efficiency Task Force and use a zero-based budgeting approach.

This election is about more than taxes, however. Matt is committed to preserving the quality of life in our community—especially regarding education, senior citizens, and the environment. Regarding education, Matt had three children graduate from Guilford schools, and is committed to continue to provide an outstanding education to the next generation of Guilford’s students. We all benefit from our excellent school system and the state-of-the-art high school.

In addition, to protect senior citizens on fixed incomes from property tax increases, Matt has been instrumental in implementing the senior tax freeze, allowing seniors to remain in their homes. On the environment, Matt has advocated for the land acquisition bond fund to purchase open spaces to preserve the character of our beautiful town.

One of Matt’s strengths is his collaborative approach. His team is united behind him. Furthermore, he is committed to listening to all perspectives, and working in a bipartisan way to the benefit of all. He has had strong relationships within the boards of Selectmen, Education, and Finance. He will work hard with our state representatives and senator to make sure Guilford’s interests are protected in Hartford.

While there are certainly challenges ahead, I trust Matt to use his vast experience to lead us forward. I wholeheartedly support Matt and the entire Democratic team on Nov. 7!

Laurie Desmet

Guilford