NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters of endorsement. (Note: We will run letters for the Aug. 17 special election through Aug. 4, and letters for the Nov. 2 election through Sept. 30.)
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This August 17, residents of [the 1st voting district of] New Canaan have the opportunity to vote in a special election for an open state senate seat in 36th District. I urge all of my fellow New Canaanites to heed your civic duty and vote, and I encourage you all to vote for Ryan Fazio. For more than a decade, the Democratic Party has held majorities in both the state house and senate. Following the last few elections, the majority has burgeoned into trifecta government control with super-majority control in the state senate, nearly super-majority control in the house and control of the governorship. With super-majority control has come a radically progressive agenda pushed through under a shroud with limited dissemination of information wrapped in flowered rhetoric. For more than a decade, Connecticut’s already dire financial condition has worsened, life in its cities has deteriorated and the number of working poor continues to climb.
Studies continually rank Connecticut at the bottom of the fifty states in fiscal solvency. While nationwide, pre-pandemic unemployment reached historic lows, Connecticut’s unemployment rate ranked among the highest in the 50 states. Covid-19 made matters worse. And now, while employment, jobs and economic growth rebound in our neighbor states, we continue to lag behind in all measures, mired in our legislatures inability to manage spending or see beyond their own special interests. The number of working poor in Connecticut grows every year. Crime rates rise and then climb higher in urban centers and beyond. Businesses and high-earning households leave for other states, opting for growth and opportunity in a symbiotic relationship with their community, over stagnation and decline in a state full of vitriol.
Even for thoughtful Democrats, the legislative wish-list of the current super-majority must give pause. Bills have already been proposed to regionalize schools, usurp local zoning power, and mandate school curriculum. Under the guise of promoting empathy and equal opportunity, proposed legislation would subject the entire criminal justice system, education, health care, and zoning to oversight by a commission led by a paid chairperson and two salaried employees. This is not representative government. There will not be a debate on the floor. There will be no vote. Since taking control, the super-majority legislature passes bills without review, discussion or debate. Governor Lamont threatened members of his own party with retribution if they did not vote to extend his executive fiat power. None of this benefits Connecticut’s residents. We need a return to representative government.
Ryan Fazio is a center-right Republican. He will work to lower taxes on small business, retain local control of zoning, oppose regionalization of schools and bring business back to Connecticut. Most importantly, the election of Ryan Fazio breaks the super-majority hold in the Senate in Hartford. Whichever side of the isle, most Nutmeggers consider themselves centrists: generous, contemplative, cooperative and empathetic. A vote for Ryan Fazio is a vote back toward the center path in the light of discourse, debate and compromise. Help move Connecticut out of the shadows and toward prosperity for all of its citizens. Vote Fazio on August 17 because Connecticut, we can do better!
Jill Guzzetti
New Canaan
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Editor:
During my almost 12 years on the Board of Ed at the beginning of this century, I thought Democrats and Republicans accomplished quite a bit together. Noteworthy highlights include the High School and Saxe renovations, implementing full day kindergarten and introducing second language education beginning in the elementary schools. We didn’t call these Democrat or Republican accomplishments, we called them educational accomplishments, on behalf of the kids of New Canaan and the homeowners who benefitted from living in a town with a world-class school system.
It was disturbing, therefore, to read some of the comments from the recently nominated Republican BOE candidates. Somehow, despite their party’s dominance over the New Canaan BOE since time immemorial, they clearly feel angry and aggrieved; they “are tired of playing defense” and need to stake their claim as a “red town in a blue state.” After hiding from the national Republican agenda for the last four years, counseling voters to ignore the loud man behind the curtain in Washington and insisting all politics is local, it now looks like the Republican BOE candidates are enthusiastically embracing with both arms the agenda of the Republican National Committee.
Certainly they wasted no time invoking Page 1 of the RNC playbook, that race-baiting bogeyman of Critical Race Theory. No one is particularly clear on what CRT actually is, but it is obviously bad, very bad, and we all need to be very, very afraid. While the school administration has repeatedly made it clear CRT is not part of the current or any planned curriculum, we can expect little light but lots of smoke from the Republican candidates about the dangers CRT poses to young minds for the next few months as a diversion from more important issues.
And speaking of theories, what other ones might be on the list for the closer supervision of the curriculum the candidates promise (you know, that curriculum that up to now has generated a higher percentage of acceptance letters from selective and highly selective colleges than almost any other school system in Connecticut?) Let’s look to some Republican dominated states for hints. Like Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida, will they want to introduce creationism to our biology classes? Like Texas, should we withhold moral judgement about the Klu Klux Klan and instead be more sensitive to its legacy as just a misunderstood men’s social club? Will our history classes clear up the misconception that the War of Northern Aggression actually had nothing to do with slavery and instead was foisted on a reluctant south by northerners jealous of a more genteel and advanced social order?
Finally, I really can’t wait to see how the “science vs. common sense” arguments play out in our AP Government and Politics course: on the one hand government can’t tell anyone what to do with body parts above the sternum (masks on faces, shots in arms, automatic weapons on shoulders;) on the other it holds complete and absolute authority over all those parts below it.
Regrettably this year’s crop of Republican BOE candidates seems determined to make our school system Ground Zero for the RNC’s ongoing culture wars. Thankfully, as demonstrated in the last two presidential elections, New Canaan voters overwhelmingly reject this extremist national Republican platform. Independents, Democrats and yes, even some Republicans united to say “no” to divisiveness, distortion and disrespect; even in red New Canaan, Biden outpolled Trump 60/40%. The Democrats have nominated a full slate of talented and diverse candidates running on a purely local platform: keep kids safe and improve educational outcomes through collaboration with the best school administration in the state. New Canaan voters will have a real choice in November, between very different visions of our kids’ education and future.
Jim Kucharczyk
New Canaan
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For twelve years, Democrats have held majorities throughout our state government. Recently, they have enjoyed a two thirds majority in the CT House, a two thirds majority in the State Senate and the governorship. This is referred to as a Supermajority. It effectively relegates elected Republicans to an afterthought when it comes to legislation, and it is bad for CT. That is why it is important that you vote for Ryan Fazio in the upcoming special election for State Senate on August 17th.
A lot has changed since November of 2020. This past legislative session saw Hartford Democrats propose an extremely unpopular legislative agenda. State Democrats have made the political equivalent of a hard left turn. Their legislative wish list is worrying. Stripping away local zoning rights; a new statewide property tax; School Regionalization; Proposed Gas Tax; Tolls, and the list goes on. All of these issues have direct, negative implications for Fairfield County communities in the 36th District. If either of the two Democrats opposing Mr Fazio were to win, the Democrats would once again secure a supermajority, making it more likely that these alarming proposals will gain momentum. What is equally disturbing is that while other economies in the northeast have shown strength in rebounding from the challenges posed by the pandemic, CT remains saddled with the highest unemployment rate among all 50 states and is a continued laggard in economic growth and job creation.
Ryan Fazio is a smart, center right Republican who is focused on the issues that need dealing with now. He will support small towns and municipalities in their fight to maintain control of their own zoning rights; he will be an advocate for lower taxes on small businesses and individuals; he will oppose efforts to regionalize local school districts and he will advocate for measures that reduce crime rates in our urban centers. Each of these represent a change in direction from the course set by Mr Fazio’s main opponent and the state Democratic party.
In November, Hearst Media Columnist Dan Haar wrote about the perils facing CT as a one party state. He wrote “a 24-12 Democratic grip on the Senate, and just under a two-thirds Dem majority in the House with the same party holding every statewide office including the governor’s chair — it’s just a bit much.” He was correct. He went on to say “a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate doesn’t necessarily reflect the will of the people, even if each district elected the person it wanted. Connecticut voters will say they favor a middle path if you catch them alone with their thoughts.” Mr Fazio provides that path. It is a path worth taking.
On August 17th, we have an opportunity to add some semblance of equilibrium to our representation in Hartford. A vote for Mr Fazio’s opponent is a vote for more of the same. A vote for Ryan Fazio will eliminate the Democrats’ supermajority, and it will signal that Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan are leading the call for a new, more collaborative direction in Hartford.
Dan Quigley
Chair, Greenwich Republican Town Committee
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On August 17th, a Special Election will decide who will represent the 36th State Senate District in Hartford. Unless you support higher taxes, centralized government control of local zoning, policies that lead to rising crime rates, more demonizing of New Canaan, Greenwich and other Fairfield County towns for being “racist” and want to guarantee a legislative supermajority for State Democrats, I recommend that you cast your vote for Republican Ryan Fazio.
Our state has been run continuously by Democrats for twelve years. They have a stranglehold on power in CT, and a victory by Ryan Fazio in this special election will end the Democrats’ supermajority in the State Senate. What does a supermajority allow Democrats to do? It allows them to pass whatever they want without the need for any compromise. Is that good for CT? No, it is not.
According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics June employment data, CT ranks 50th (that’s last) in the US with a statewide unemployment rate of 7.9%. Crime rates in our cities have risen dramatically, including in Hartford, which is on pace for its third deadliest year on record. Ryan Fazio supports pro-business policies that will spur growth, and has been steadfast in his opposition to the politically charged Police Accountability Bill which removed qualified immunity for police women and men.
On the subject of growing the economy, Ryan’s opponent supports the TCI tax program, tolls and the statewide property tax increase. Ryan opposed these and will continue to do so as your State Senator. As our state’s fiscal health has spiraled out of control, Democrats in Hartford have doubled down. Their supermajority afforded them that opportunity. By electing Ryan Fazio, the unchecked Hartford Democrats will finally be checked.
Ryan’s liberal opponent also supported SB1024, which was the first legislative step in Democrats’ move to usurp planning and zoning authority away from small towns and communities, and into the hands of Hartford bureaucrats. And, like her predecessor, when Greenwich was called “racist” by elected officials like the liberal Mayor of New Haven, Ryan’s Democrat opponent was silent, and did not defend her town. Maybe that’s because she only moved to Greenwich two years ago.
Ryan is home grown, and knows the 36th district extremely well. He attended Greenwich Public Schools, played sports in our town leagues, is a member of the RTM and has volunteered countless hours as a tutor for inner city kids in Stamford. Ryan knows this district. His opponent does not.
This is a seminal moment in Connecticut. We are at a fork in the road. Continuing on the same path is a sub optimal choice. We need to bring more balance to Hartford, and electing Ryan Fazio is a big step toward moving the pendulum in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Ramya Hopley
Greenwich
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