We wholly support Dionna Carlson for First Selectman. In our view, Dionna has uniquely distinguished herself as a proven, bipartisan leader in New Canaan as Chair of the Board of Education for 3 years (and member for 8). One telling anecdote sums up that leadership: after Dionna’s first two years as Chair, the Board of Education bylaws required her to step down from the position. However, a broad-based consensus among Board members – both Republican and Democrat – coalesced in a supermajority to waive the Bylaws, allowing Dionna to continue her excellent work as Chair for a third term. We submit that there is no better proof of effective leadership.
Why did this happen? It happened because Dionna provided welcome leadership in navigating vexing problems such as school start times. She listened carefully. She tested numerous potential compromise solutions. She worked hard with her Board members to arrive at final solutions that enjoyed fulsome support, not just from the Board, but also from the entire town.
This kind of leadership takes enormous effort, patience, transparency and respect for her colleagues and constituents. Dionna’s colleagues in turn reciprocated with their bipartisan support for her extra year as Chair. In our opinion this is exactly how our new First Selectman should lead our town going forward, and Dionna is the candidate uniquely qualified to do so.
We are also with Dionna on the many other issues that unite us: best-in-class schools, carefully managed budgets, solutions for affordable housing and cell sites, etc. Nevertheless, it’s the leadership exemplified above that is the critical ingredient for success in delivering on these goals and placing New Canaan on the best possible path going forward.
George and Heidi Laub
New Canaan
