We've heard a lot of noise coming out of the Governor's Mansion recently, but as a good friend once told me long ago, listening is every bit as important as talking. In your town committee meetings, in the cornered booths of your local coffee shops, over the last eight months I've had the opportunity to listen to the many concerns of Connecticut citizens across the state. What I've heard is that not only are you unhappy with the current condition of our state, you're fearful of the direction in which its headed. I've heard fears of our exorbitant health care and prescription drug costs, of our declining highway and rail infrastructures, of the degradation of our environment, of the change that we waited to come out of Hartford but never did. I've heard about your fears regarding the economy; those who have jobs are afraid of losing them, those who don't have jobs are afraid they won't be able to find one. Parents are worried about their children's future employment prospects. Beyond the noise coming out of Hartford, what we're really hearing is that Connecticut has lost 70,000 jobs in the current recession. What we're really hearing is that our workforce is shrinking at an alarming rate and that our high-skill, high-paying jobs are going elsewhere. And that too many of those who have jobs are worried that they won't have them for long, or they'll lose hours, or that they're already underemployed. For far too long the leadership of this state has been too busy listening the special interests and neglecting the voice of the people. It's time we remind them of their responsibility. For the past fourteen years, I have had the great honor of serving as the mayor of Stamford. My philosophy of leadership has remained consistent: listen to my constituents, hear their concerns, then make the smart, tough decisions that are intended to make life better for the people I represent. Whether knocking on doors together for local charities, debating in public forums, or sharing stories of our common pasts, I have always been honest and open with my constituents -- and I hope you'll be honest and open with me. That's why I've created a questionnaire where you can share your ideas of how you think we can make our state a better place, starting today. Every day, more and more people believe it's time for new leadership in the Governor's Mansion, leadership that puts the interests of hardworking families before partisanship. But none of this can happen without your help. Take a moment to visit my website, where you can make a contribution, read my blog, research the issues, and become a part of the movement. Join us on the path to a better Connecticut.