To the Editor:

This season's political landscape offers the wise voter a chance to cherry-pick the candidates who will best serve the community without regard to political affiliation.  Independence has its prerogatives, and loyalty is honorable.  But neither can be effective when blinded by hubris.  That's why a case can be made to select two candidates who appear natural opponents by label, but are, I believe, bound by the common drive to serve the best interests of the Killingworth community: Ed Sipples for Selectman and Rich Cabral for First Selectman.

I can personally attest to the integrity, honesty and genuine character of both.

Ed Sipples has served the Killingworth community in more ways than can be fairly listed here.  See his resume.  More importantly, however, is the way Sipples has served, which reveals of the kind of person we want to keep in office: he has successfully negotiated the office of Selectman under contentious Republican and Democratic First Selectmen.  His record shows a consistent concern for the best interests of our community, from recreation space to effective municipal operations.  Ed Sipples stands alone as the tried candidate who has sought common ground to resolve the pressing issues of our town.

Rich Cabral moved into town ready to serve.  When the Democratic Town Committee turned him away, he found a place among the Republican faithful. It didn't matter who was endorsing him, it mattered that he could find a way to serve.  For ten years he has proven ways to bridge political bickering through consensus building.  His goal is clear: get the job at hand done, and done well. When few were willing to step forward, Cabral was there to fill the need.  See his resume.  Rich Cabral stands alone as the First Selectman candidate who is more interested in serving the community than personal or party gain.

Ed Sipples and Rich Cabral are on opposing tickets, yet together they give us voters a ticket to a new vision of Killingworth, one we haven't seen for a long time.  The new vision for Killingworth is one where officials seek consensus and common ground to get things done.  And done well.  And in the right way: neighborly.

Kris Nystrom