I was very disappointed to learn that while my current State Rep. Jen Benson says her top priority is to protect local aid and look out for the interests of her towns, her actions and votes don’t always agree with her words. She followed the Democrat leadership in a party-line vote that turned over her legislative duty and responsibility to the governor, allowing him to cut $128 million from lottery aid and other assistance to towns. Again following the party line, she voted to kill three amendments that would have provided a gas tax exemption for municipalities, restored $273 million in local aid cuts, and required allocating to local aid 50 percent of any revenue surpluses. Jen Benson campaigns on the importance of local aid, but stood by while Democrat and union leadership went behind closed doors and removed the most important aspect of the “Municipal Relief” bill.
I want my next representative to vote with the interest of the towns and voters in mind, not that of the party and unions. It is clear from her union endorsements, as well as post cards that I have been receiving from those same unions, that Jen Benson will be looking out for their interests over mine and the towns’. Her votes prove that. I encourage voters to join me in voting for Kurt Hayes on Nov. 2.
Bonnie Chandler
Prospect Hill Road
