Letter: Vote Sam Nestor for State Senate

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Samantha Nestor’s candidacy to become the next State Senator representing Weston and District 26.

More than any other First Selectman that I have observed, Sam has mastered the intricacies and details of her office and raised it to a new level of professionalism. I have had the privilege of working with Sam in negotiating the annual operating and capital budgets for our town. Under Sam’s leadership, Weston’s net budget growth has averaged 1.7% annually for the past five years, far below the 4.2% rate of inflation across the same time period.

Sam has also been responsible for bringing more than $36 million in grants to our town, financing important infrastructure projects from police and fire facilities to emergency communication systems, solar energy projects, sidewalks, and recreation.

We will be counting on Sam to lead the effort to maximize the state construction grant reimbursement for a new middle school that would help defray Weston’s costs. As explained in the most recent Tri-Board meeting, the plan is to seek legislative approval in 2027, enabling Weston to file a construction grant application by June with the certainty of the reimbursement dollars and then seek final approval from Weston voters in a referendum one year from now. Coupled with the efforts of State Representative Anne Hughes, Sam will be negotiating a higher reimbursement that could offset Weston’s construction costs by $27 million or more based on the high-end construction estimates.

We couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and committed hometown advocate than Samantha Nestor to make this happen. Let’s vote for Sam on Tuesday, November 3 (or earlier) and send her to Hartford!

—  Michael Imber

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