This is both a sad and a happy time for Ridgefield Republicans.  Sadly, our long time Republican State Senator, Judi Freedman, announced her retirement last month.  Judi served us for 22 years and accomplished many things for Ridgefield, the most important being the prevention of the devastation to our town that would have occurred if Super 7 became a reality.  Judi was also a leader on transportation issues and worked tirelessly to improve rail service to Branchville.  But Judi’s lasting legacy will be the first-rate constituent services she gave to all the citizens of Ridgefield.  She treated us as if we were her hometown.  Judi will be sorely missed.

The happy part of this is that we have an outstanding candidate waiting in the wings.  Toni Boucher, the state representative of our neighbor, Wilton, is expected to be the Republican candidate for this seat.

During this campaign season, we have heard the slogan, “Ready on Day One,” over and over.  With Toni Boucher, it is not a slogan, but an unexaggerated description of a dedicated and experienced legislator.  Now in her 6th term, she has worked tirelessly with John Frey through the years to block one Democratic scheme after another to raise our taxes.  This has never been truer than during the current legislative session where a host of taxes have been proposed.  Invariably, the money from these tax schemes is targeted to go to other towns in Connecticut, not towns like Ridgefield and Wilton.

It is a huge asset for Ridgefield that Toni is from Wilton, a town in Connecticut very much like Ridgefield.  The two towns share many of the same concerns and demographically are nearly identical twins.  We both want quality economic development, but not rampant sprawl.  We want first-rate schools that everyone can afford but we do not want taxes so high that they drive our seniors out.  Toni Boucher, as a long time property taxpayer in Fairfield County, understands personally the burden of property taxes.

Toni’s opponent is from Westport, the town in the 26th District most unlike Ridgefield and a town that every year becomes less and less like us.  With its combination of an overdeveloped Route 1 and Gold Coast, it is now much more like the north shore of Long Island than Connecticut.  He will find it difficult to understand our needs and will struggle to be able to represent the heart of Ridgefield.

Toni Boucher is the right person to replace Judi Freedman and represent Ridgefield’s interests in the State Senate.  For more information about Toni and her campaign, please visit her website, www.housegop.ct.gov/members/boucher.asp

Ed Tyrrell

Chairman, Ridgefield Republican Town Committee