NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter(s) to the editor. Please send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com for publication here.
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To the Editors –
I am writing in support of our Republican slate. Up and down the ballot from Governor to State Representative, our candidates have the ideas and policies needed to make Connecticut an attractive place to live, work and visit.
While I could highlight the many, detailed policy proposals presented by Republican candidates to address points of local concern, from reducing crime and taxes to ensuring parent’s rights and maintaining local control of schools, I am going to focus on one specific point of heightened interest to New Canaan residents at the moment – local control of planning and zoning.
If you are worried about the effects of 8-30g and other measures that override New Canaan’s Planning and Zoning Board, there is only one party to support. The Republicans legislators in Hartford have sponsored dozens of bills to amend and repeal 8-30g since the law was passed over 30 years ago. The vast majority of these bills were killed in the Democrat-controlled Joint Committee on Housing before they got to the floor of the Assembly or Senate for a vote. The only major amendment – a bill which made it easier for town’s to achieve a moratorium under 8-30g – passed in 2017, the high watermark for Republican representation in Hartford since 1989.
Last year, a group of Democratic legislators sponsored a new, more substantive bill to override local control of Planning and Zoning which was referred to as House Bill 5429. According to the bill’s own descriptor, it would “allow for the as of right development of housing with a minimum overall gross density of fifteen dwelling units per acre located within a half-mile radius of any passenger rail or commuter rail station or any bus rapid transit station”. In an instant, New Canaan would lose control over high-density residential development in its entire downtown (not to mention the area around Talmadge Hill station). While the bill failed, the Democratic legislators behind the bill have vowed to try again in future sessions.
While we agree that affordable housing is important, 8-30g is not the answer. Most local Democratic candidates for State Senate and State Representative are on the record opposing 8-30g and their position is commendable. Unfortunately, their hands are tied when they get to Hartford. On 8-30g and other efforts that threaten local control, our Republican slate has the track record and ability to back up their words with action.
Chris Wilson
Chair, New Canaan Republican Town Committee
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Dear Editor,
It is an honor to write a Letter of Endorsement of this year’s Slate of Democratic candidates. From our Governor Ned Lamont to our local representatives, we could not have a better team of individuals running for election to make our State government better for the future.
The specific values and principles guiding the Democrats running for election in 2022 include respect for the rule of law. Our candidates will follow the laws of our constitution and support those who uphold the rule of law, especially our law enforcement professionals. Secondly, our candidates will adhere to fiscal responsibility. Our candidates will work to get maximum benefit of our tax dollars out to communities in our State. This means correct allocations in a responsible manner to maximize federal reimbursement whether it is for transportation funds or the American Rescue Plan. Actions taken so far have enabled the Lamont administration to both pay down our long-term debt and to enact a historic tax cut of over $600 million dollars. By paying down the unfunded pension liability our annual debt costs will go down, and our credit rating will continue to go up. The Lamont administration seeks to keep the Rainy Day Fund robust in case of future emergencies, not raid it. Prudent financial management has been the hallmark of the Lamont administration, and our local candidates support these efforts. Our Governor Ned Lamont is from the business community, and he is successfully bringing business and jobs back to our State. His administration deserves four more years to continue this record of turning our state towards a brighter tomorrow.
Other values espoused by our candidates include: defending a woman’s right to choose over her own body and her own health care, protecting our schools by ensuring gun safety legislation passed by our State stays intact, improving greater access to affordable health care for all residents, and strengthening our State’s resiliency in the face of climate change. Our local candidates support the existing laws of local control and are opposed to the regionalization of schools.
On Tuesday November 8th please vote for:
Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and their team, U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Jim Himes, State Senate candidate Ceci Maher, State Senate candidate Trevor Crow, State Assemblywoman Lucy Dathan, State Assembly candidate Keith Denning, and State Assembly candidate Victor Alvarez.
Sincerely,
Christina Fagerstal
Chair, New Canaan Democratic Town Committee
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In this election for Connecticut’s 36th Senate district, voters have the ability to choose a candidate who has the financial training of a Harvard MBA to help guide the state’s economic decisions, with the empathy and understanding to steadfastly defend a woman’s right to choose, both from her personal beliefs and from her training as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Through the stewardship of Democratic administrations, Connecticut is fiscally strong. Its budget has gone from deficits to surpluses and its employment rate has risen with the arrival of more corporate offices in the state. Trevor Crow’s platform pays attention to the challenges local businesses face and is determined to direct reinvestment into the communities, lowering taxes on small business so they can be stronger engines for local economies, and lifting the state, as well.
And, in a time when women’s rights to reproductive freedom face attack, we need Trevor Crow in the Connecticut Senate as a staunch ally defending a woman’s ability to make family planning decisions on their own behalf. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Trevor Crow is uniquely equipped to understand the profound and complex decisions women make in deciding when it’s the right time to start a family. With her training, I know Trevor will always fight for a woman’s right to choose, and not take it for granted that those rights might be taken away the way they have been in other states with Republican controlled legislatures.
In this election, we need Trevor Crow representing New Canaan in the 36th Senate district.
Mary Singh
New Canaan
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If elected to the 125th House District, Victor Alvarez would bring a high level of financial management experience, coupled with a strong commitment to addressing the issues our state faces in the coming years. In his campaign materials, he says he’ll leverage his financial background “to generate fresh ideas and sensible bipartisan solutions, not division and fear.” As he’s demonstrated as a member of the New Canaan Board of Finance, and with knowledge gained from 32 years in financial positions, Victor Alvarez would be a thoughtful, active voice dedicated to keeping the state on its fiscally positive path.
As important as keeping Connecticut on a solid financial footing is, he is a committed supporter of common sense gun safety laws. He calls for increasing the legal age for purchasing a shotgun or rifle to 21 from 18, and requiring that there be mandatory state registration of firearms, including for individuals who have moved into Connecticut from another state.
In the aftermath of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision, Alvarez believes the decision to have an abortion belongs to the pregnant woman – not the government, and that all American women should have access to the procedure in safe settings carried out by professional medical providers. Nor should doctors fear criminal penalties if they perform abortions on women from other states that impose harsh anti-abortion laws.
And as the incidence of extreme weather signals climate change measures need to be implemented, Alvarez plans to seek an appointment to the General Assembly’s committees most involved with implementing solutions: Energy and Technology, Transportation and Environment. He plans on working toward making Connecticut more resilient to future weather events, investing in public transportation and improving recycling measures.
Victor Alvarez has an impressive record and a commitment to New Canaan that we need in our General Assembly representative.
Sincerely,
Michael Dorfsman
New Canaan
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To the Editor,
I am writing in support of re-electing William Tong for Attorney General. In May of 2018, I had the privilege to serve as a delegate at the State Convention in Hartford, where I voted for William Tong in the Attorney General race to get his name on the November ballot. When the Democratic Convention endorsed Tong, he proudly commented, “We’ve made history.”
William Tong has stellar credentials, bringing impressive education, and experience, to his position. He graduated with honors from Brown University, earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, and completed nearly two decades of experience litigating in state and federal courts. After a six-term, twelve-year career as State Representative, Tong went on to serve in his current role as Attorney General of Connecticut. As House Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Tong handled legislation for constitutional and criminal law, civil rights, and consumer protection.
William Tong has determination, courage, and compassion. In 2020, the United States already suffered the upheaval and setbacks caused by COVID19. In summer of that year, Hurricane Isaias caused widespread damage in southwestern Connecticut. Social distancing in their homes, residents waited for utility companies to respond to their plight. Tong fought to make utility companies like Eversource improve their response times in future hurricanes. Tong addressed the opioid addiction crisis and advanced landmark legislation to address domestic violence, firearms trafficking, and schoolchildren’s safety.
William Tong has strong work ethic and leadership skills. When working in cooperation with his counterparts in other states, Tong shows a willingness to take on most of the responsibility in the legislative process. He had led other state attorneys general in multistate actions and spearheaded legislation on issues like antitrust enforcement and opioid addiction. Tong’s efforts against price fixing and violations of antitrust law have led to the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office gaining status as a national leader in these areas.
As Attorney General, Tong combines extensive legal experience with fierce determination and compassionate service to his constituents. He does not fear hard work or difficult negotiations with powerful utility companies, social media giants, big health insurers, and banks. His record reflects a continuous pattern of care for residents.
Incumbent William Tong brings to the table a strong commitment to Connecticut families and to protect consumers. I feel the same sense of pride of Attorney General William Tong’s accomplishments as I did during that historic moment in Hartford.
Please join me in voting for William Tong for Attorney General this November.
Sincerely,
Jordan L. Cerbone
New Canaan
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To the Editor:
As someone who is involved in the immigration space, I look at the bona fides of my national elected officials as they relate to immigration and global events that will incur immigration. Jim Himes has a consistent record when it comes to fighting for immigration reform. He understands that we are a nation of immigrants and the need to pay it forward.
Congressman Himes is a supporter of deferred action for children in the DACA program and the need to grant them citizenship. He knows that immigrants are the backbone of this country, and by giving them good lives here, the United States will also benefit with a more robust economy.
While Congressman Himes was supportive of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, he took the lead on a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, calling to waive the fee for applications for humanitarian parole for Afghans to enter the United States. He clearly saw the need to make it easier for those Afghans (SIVs) who helped us to have a smoother entry to the United States.
As for Ukraine, Congressman Himes was there from the beginning and sent a bipartisan letter to the president asking the Biden administration to work with NATO allies and provide aircraft to the Ukrainian military. Then in May, Congressman Himes was very supportive of the Ukrainian military and global humanitarian efforts and supported a bipartisan bill to aid the effort.
In just the last year, we have seen multiple crises around the globe that needed American assistance. If the past is prologue, I know that Congressman Himes will be fighting for what is right and just as other situations occur.
In addition to immigration, we know that we can count on Congressman Himes to fight for many other issues that are critical to us such as the environment, universal background checks, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and a woman’s right to choose.
For these reasons, it will be my honor to vote for Congressman Himes on November 8–my first vote in Connecticut.
Best regards,
Ruth Rothseid
New Canaan
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Because of her strong business background and a commitment to fostering a strategic, comprehensive, creative and stable vision for Connecticut’s future, I am strongly endorsing Rep. Lucy Dathan for re-election to the 142nd district, serving New Canaan and Norwalk. In recognition of her strong business and financial background, coupled with her desire to serve the needs of her constituents, Lucy’s legislative colleagues named her vice chairman of the key Appropriations Committee. In addition, she serves on the Human Services and Insurance and Real Estate Committee.
Leveraging her skills, Rep. Dathan intends to focus on maintaining the state’s balanced budget, building a long-term plan to address the state’s pension liabilities and moving off the reactionary two-year budget process. She is committed to ensuring schools are well-funded and that every student has access to the best quality education. Her re-election platform calls for modernizing Connecticut’s rail and roadway systems and, a key focus, to attract business to the state while retaining talent from some of the nation’s top universities based in Connecticut.
Drawing on her membership on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, she supports having affordable, accessible quality healthcare that meets the needs of all Connecticut residents. That means offering a public option for those who don’t have access to a private healthcare plan, as was keenly evident during the pandemic. And, in furtherance of women’s health issues, she has worked on bills requiring schools to provide feminine hygiene products to students and protect women who are coming to Connecticut to receive reproductive or gender affirming health care. She has also worked on bills to extending insurance coverage for breast and ovarian cancer screenings.
In her two terms, Rep. Dathan has proven to be a thoughtful and empathetic champion for the 142 District. Please join me in supporting her re-election so she can continue working on behalf of all our residents, balancing a knowledge of finance with sense of compassion for Connecticut.
Susan B. Edmands
New Canaan
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I am writing in support of Kim Healy for State Representative. Now, more than ever, Connecticut is facing a movement from Hartford where the state wishes to control local zoning regulations in a way that would impede local zoning decisions to be made, thereby changing the built landscape of each community to become a more generic, more urban environment. They are looking to erase the diversity that makes each town unique and special. I see this firsthand given my position on Wilton’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The bureaucrats in Hartford are doing this without looking at the individual assets, topography, services, and landscape that gives each community its unique character. Whereas I personally support innovation and change, the Hartford-controlled “one size fits all” nature of their thinking is an inappropriate course. With that, we need strong leadership – someone who is willing to voice a more traditional approach to development – and leadership that understands the importance of proper development, especially as it relates to economic development and its positive impact on our taxes. Kim Healy understands that history and understands that decisions have to be made responsibly, and locally.
Christopher Pagliaro
Wilton
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Dear Editor:
I am writing to support Kim Healy for her election to the Connecticut State House of Representative, representing the newly redrawn District 42, which includes Wilton as well as parts of Ridgefield and New Canaan.
Kim has a professional background in accounting and finance. She has also been an enthusiastic public servant, volunteering her time to help local not-for-profits, including serving as the Board Treasurer in Wilton Library. In 2021, Kim was elected to Wilton’s Board of Selectmen.
I have known Kim for several years. A caring wife and mother, Kim has a natural aptitude to connect with people, and has demonstrated her strong ability to gather support from people across the political spectrum. In the local election 2021, she has won the most votes among all contested positions in Wilton. She is friendly, open-minded, direct, moderate, and always cheerful.
Kim is strongly committed to issues affecting our way of life. She has been vocal and influential in education, cost of living, zoning, local economic development, environment, and sustainability. If she is elected, I am confident that we can count on her to be a strong delegate for District 42 on these issues.
Monty Du
Wilton
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I am writing this letter in support of Toni Boucher for Connecticut State Senate. As a mom of 2 children in the Wilton Public Schools and especially as a member of the Wilton Board of Education; I understand firsthand how important it is to invest time and capital in our schools. Toni has a history of investing in education at both the primary and secondary levels for Connecticut. It is imperative that towns like Wilton, New Canaan, Ridgefield and beyond are able to protect local control of education and prioritize parent involvement in our schools, Toni has a history of doing just that. She has been named “Children’s Champion” by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance on SEVEN different occasions. Toni is a former Board of Education, State Board of Education and Legislative Education Committee Member. She fought against HB7192 and any other bills or studies of mandated school regionalization. Our towns need Toni, our state needs Toni and most important of all, our schools need Toni. Please consider voting for Toni Boucher this election.
Mandi Schmauch
Wilton
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To the Editor:
I am writing in strong support of Toni Boucher’s candidacy for the 26th district state senate seat. Toni’s years of leadership and experience in the public and private sectors will be a tremendous benefit to the people of the 26th district. Toni’s energy and passion for public service are unparalleled and make her the best candidate to represent the interests and needs of all of the municipalities within the 26th district. Toni, as a former board of education member in Wilton and a commissioner of the Connecticut State Board of Education, has a record of working to protect local control of education and parental involvement in our schools. Additionally, Toni is committed to working to achieve meaningful long term tax relief for the people of Connecticut through the elimination of taxes and regulations that have stifled small business growth and job creation. Toni understands that Connecticut cannot not rely upon budgetary gimmicks and sporadic federal stimulus dollars for long term growth. Please join me in voting for Toni Boucher on November 8th.
Anthony L. Cenatiempo
Wilton
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Electing those that are proven and represent your value system and priorities is paramount to each of us, regardless of your gender, race, religious beliefs, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. We have the opportunity to vote for proven leadership with tangible results in the brand new 42nd State Representative District. Kim Healy is that person. She represents a pro-growth economy with transparent financial accountability and without new taxes and unnecessary regulations. Kim, a seasoned CPA, has decades of public accounting experience as a financial services leader and has been committed to community volunteerism at all levels for most of her adult life. She will hold those in Hartford to make decisions based upon facts and insist upon prudent planning, budgeting, and monitoring. It’s time to do what is right, not just what is easy. Vote wisely. Vote for Kim Healy.
Anna Marie Bilella
Wilton
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When the General Assembly meets in 2023, our senators and representatives will need to consider a range of important issues. As voters, we need to choose forward-thinking leaders who possess an understanding of how their votes have a direct effect on us as residents. For those reasons, I am supporting Trevor Crow’s election to the 36th Senate district.
In her career, Trevor received an MBA from Harvard and worked for a number of years on Wall Street. But realizing that she loved helping people, switched careers, and became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. With that core sense of empathy, Trevor is committed to ensuring that Connecticut women will always have the right to choose, working to make sure that abortions stay legal, accessible and safe, especially since Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
As we hear with ever increasing frequency about tragedies in schools and on the streets caused by gun violence, Trevor is determined to bolster background check requirements, support laws that ensure domestic abusers cannot purchase guns and improve the enforcement of laws already on the books.
She’s shown she appreciates the value small town communities bring to Connecticut; it’s part of what makes this a special place to live. For that reason, she believes local needs are best addressed by local town officials; they’re the best positioned, the most knowledgeable on what the residents need. She supports keeping those decisions at the local level, especially as they apply to issues addressing regionalization and zoning.
While Connecticut is fiscally sound, but due to the lingering results of the pandemic, some local businesses are continuing to face economic hardships. Trevor intends to encourage reinvestment in our communities, working to cut taxes on local businesses owners so these small businesses can continue to flourish and be an engine for local economic growth.
The upcoming election requires that we select people who demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the people who live in New Canaan and the other towns across the 36th district, Greenwich and Stamford. I am endorsing Trevor Crow because her background, knowledge of the district’s needs and experience she has the essential qualities we need in our district’s senator.
Cynthia Dul
New Canaan
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Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to strongly endorse Keith Denning for State Representative to represent the 42nd District.
Having gotten to know Keith, it is abundantly clear that Keith is most qualified for this seat. Beyond being an extraordinarily successful father and family man, Keith unequivocally supports women’s reproductive freedoms; has made cutting red tape for businesses a priority of his campaign; and as a longtime health care professional, understands the urgent need to address mental health challenges of both adults and children in our community.
Keith Denning is smart, experienced and kind, and deserves New Canaan’s vote to represent us in the General Assembly. We will be well-served by his presence in Hartford.
Sincerely,
Tim Klimpl
New Canaan
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I am writing to urge voters in New Canaan and Norwalk’s District 142 to reelect State Representative Lucy Dathan on November 5th.
Lucy has earned our respect and trust throughout the 4 years she has represented us in Hartford, and we need candidates like her to continue to make positive change in CT. Lucy combines a pro-business orientation, gained from decades of experience as a technology CFO, with the empathy of a parent, community volunteer, and true public servant. This means she is a Representative who is attentive to the pressing concerns of CT businesses while also having compassion for the needs of families and individuals.
Lucy’s priorities have been consistent: a growing CT economy, quality healthcare and mental health services for all citizens, and safe and equitable communities. But this isn’t just rhetoric. Lucy is already working hard on real solutions in all of these areas. She is Vice Chair of Appropriations, and is on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, the Human Services Committee, and the Care Management Subcommittee for the Medical Assistance Program Oversight Council (MAPOC).
In the past 2 years, Lucy has played a crucial role in enacting actual legislation that benefits all of us here in New Canaan and Norwalk. This includes policy that supports our teachers and schools (SB 226, SB1, and HB506), makes meaningful investments in childcare (HB506, SB 1), responds to the increased need for Children’s Mental Health services (HB5001, HB506, SB1), grows our state’s economy and promotes well paid and high demand jobs (HB506), makes CT more equitable (HB5506, SB133, PA 22-18, PA 22-30), supports police (PA22-64), firefighters(SB 313) and veterans (PA22-34), enacts effective environmental initiatives (HB506, PA22-6, PA 22-14) and improves access to healthcare (HB5414).
Lucy is known for her boundless energy and 100% voting record. She has proven herself a relentless advocate for everyone in her district. And she has the rare combination of an open heart and a practical mind. Vote for Lucy Dathan and make sure New Canaan and Norwalk have the dedicated representative we deserve.
Jenn Hladick
New Canaan
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Dear Editor
It is my honor to write this letter endorsing the candidacy of Victor Alvarez to represent the 125th District in the Connecticut General Assembly.
I have gotten to know Victor from serving with him as an alternate on the New Canaan Board of Finance. In his capacity as a member of that board, Victor has demonstrated leadership and has utilized his extensive financial background in addressing issues that impact New Canaan.
Victor brings a background of a 32 year career as a financial professional with wide experience in creating budgets and managing expenses. He has amply used that financial expertise in analyzing and providing insight regarding the details of the town budget. If elected to represent New Canaan as a state representative, Victor would bring those financial skills to Hartford, where he would promote actions to improve the financial health of the state while keeping taxes flat. He would also focus on supporting legislation that contributes to a thriving economy.
Apart from his financial expertise, Victor strongly believes in protecting citizen’s health, safety and rights by safeguarding a woman’s right to make her own choices about her reproductive healthcare, tightening gun laws, and passing laws that protect our land, air and water from unnecessary pollution. Please join me in voting for Victor Alvarez on November 8th!
Colm Dobbyn
New Canaan
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Editor, NewCanaanite.com,
Unfortunately and yet again, reproductive rights are on the ballot — both nationally and locally. It is imperative we elect responsible leaders who not only vow to protect our right to reproductive justice, but have a history of actively safeguarding its institution. State Representative Lucy Dathan has a track record of enshrining our medical liberty wholly.
As our state remains a safe haven for an individual’s right to choose, we set an important standard in our nation. Under Representative Dathan’s brief yet impressive tenure, Connecticut has expanded eligibility to provide abortion care to include advanced nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants; blocked Texas and other aggressive states from targeting Connecticut patients, doctors, and advocates; protected medical privacy by preventing the disclosure of medical information related to reproductive healthcare that is legal in Connecticut; protected individuals from extradition to other states for seeking, providing, or assisting others in obtaining reproductive healthcare that is legal in Connecticut; and provided relief to those targeted by other states, allowing suits to recover monies related to damages, attorney fees, or costs related to that lawsuit.
Since the calculated chipping away of and outright overturning of Roe v. Wade this summer, Republican lawmakers have waffled while opining on the nature of reproductive rights and whether jurisdiction lies within State or Federal government. We do not have the time or the luxury of hoping Republican lawmakers uphold their supposed allegiance to medical freedom. As a chronically ill woman disabled by lupus, access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare can quickly become a matter of life or death, not solely because of dangerous pregnancy-related complications but due to the many vital medications required to treat diseases like lupus that are not compatible with pregnancy, including chemotherapies. Join me in ensuring Connecticut residents always have the right to choose. Vote for State Representative Lucy Dathan this November 8th.
Alyssa MacKenzie
New Canaan
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Lucy Dathan is the hardest-working, smartest and most effective state representative I have ever had in the more than thirty years I’ve lived in New Canaan. She serves all of us well: combining analytic skills, honed as a CFO who holds a CPA, with compassion and a respect for diverse needs. She promotes the needs of small business owners through tax reform and innovative workforce training programs. She stands up for affordable, accessible, quality healthcare – including women’s reproductive health. She champions educational equity. She solves problems related to transportation, infrastructure and the environment. She supports sensible gun laws to protect public safety.
Lucy’s expertise and empathetic approach means she gets things done in a way that brings people together and moves the state forward. Her committee appointments speak to those abilities: Insurance and Real Estate; Vice Chair of Appropriations (subcommittees: Department of Economic Community Development, Transportation and Legislative); Human Services (Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight). She was selected to attend the Council of State Government’s Medicaid Leadership Academy this year in D.C. And, she just celebrated a 100% voting record for the 2022 legislative session!
I hope you will join me in sending this supremely talented, deeply committed woman back to the State House. We are all better off thanks to her dedication and service.
Jane Himmel
New Canaan
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Editor:
Our right to vote is a foundational principle of our democracy and one that we steadfastly hold dear. New on the ballot for Election Day on November 8th will be The Connecticut Allow for Early Voting Amendment, which introduces the option of early in-person voting in future elections – a right that is currently available in 46 other states and one which I wholeheartedly endorse.
In addition, while I commend all who serve and seek to serve our community regardless of party affiliation, I am particularly proud to support the full slate of Democrat candidates on this year’s ballot.
Over the last four years, Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Attorney General William Tong have guided our state through an unprecedented pandemic, have turned a fiscal deficit into a record surplus and balanced the budget without a tax increase. Joining our executive branch incumbents on the slate are Stephanie Thomas (Secretary of State), Erick Russell (Treasurer) and Sean Scanlon (Comptroller) – strong candidates, in their own right, with impressive professional backgrounds and fresh ideas to help our state continue in its positive path of fiscal stewardship, governance and growth.
I am also most grateful for the leadership of our US Senator Richard Blumenthal and US Representative Jim Himes and their commitment to Connecticut and I hope we are able to send them back to Washington to defend our rights, safety and freedom.
And finally, our greatest representatives in the Connecticut General Assembly are our neighbors and friends who work tirelessly both in our community and in the chambers of our State Capitol. Our hard working, effective and compassionate incumbent, Representative Lucy Dathan (142nd District) is joined on the ballot with our newest and impressive Representative candidates, Victor Alvarez (125th District) and Keith Denning (42nd District), and State Senator candidates, Ceci Maher (26th District) and Trevor Crow (36th District).
Collectively and individually, the slate of Democratic State Senator and Representative candidates have been door knocking in our community and sharing their priorities which include reproductive rights, health care, a strong and vibrant economy, education, energy cost controls, commonsense gun laws, protection of our environment, the modernization of our transportation system, and maintaining local authority and control.
I hope you can join me to learn more from our local candidates on the League of Women Voters Debate which will be held virtually on October 20th so that you can make informed decisions when you cast your ballot.
One final note – due to changes in district boundaries and the addition of the 42th District, please be sure to confirm the district in which you reside, the state candidates running in your district, and the location to vote before Election day. More information can be found on the New Canaan Voters District Map or by visiting the Registrar of Voters page at www.newcanaan.info.
An informed community is an effective one, and I hope you will join me in learning from all the candidates on the ballot this year and exercising your right to vote in person or by Absentee Ballot for this important election on Tuesday, November 8th.
Respectfully,
Kathleen A. Corbet
Selectwoman, Town of New Canaan
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Ahead of the upcoming election, I’d like to voice my support for Lucy Dathan, the incumbent candidate for State Representative serving Norwalk and New Canaan. I’ve been impressed by Lucy’s tireless work on behalf of her constituents, particularly in strengthening Connecticut’s environmental initiatives and safeguarding reproductive rights.
Her ability to get the work done while rising above the polarized nature of today’s politics has been admirable. She has earned and retained the endorsement of CT Working Families Party as well as my vote; I urge New Canaan and Norwalk residents to take a close look at her accomplishments and consider giving her your vote too.
Kristen Mitrakis
New Canaan
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Editor, NewCanaanite:
Victor Alvarez offers constituents of the 125th District the opportunity of a bright, fresh face in Hartford. I am supporting Victor because of his strong commitment to the environment, to women’s reproductive rights and to common sense gun laws. Victor doesn’t just talk, he backs up his message with action. I hope you get a chance to meet him as he bikes around the district knocking doors, and I urge to vote for Victor for the 125th.
Beth Jones
New Canaan
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For 35 years, we have cared for five chronically ill children in addition to a child with neurologically-based developmental and seizure disorders. It has been challenging to meet the demands inherent to nurturing children with a rare genetic disorder while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. As difficult as it has been to find a possible cure, we have never lost sight of the fact that we are fortunate because we have great health insurance.
As an advocate for those impacted by chronic illness and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, we have met many families facing much more devastating realities due to a lack of access to appropriate, comprehensive healthcare. The global pandemic that we continue to face has revealed the glaring inequalities in healthcare and as a nation we are only as healthy as our least insured.
State Representative Lucy Dathan has dedicated her time in Hartford to study, identify, and propose solutions to the problems burdening our healthcare system. Lucy believes that everyone should have access to quality healthcare — regardless of pre-existing conditions — and has worked tirelessly to evoke the changes necessary to make this possible.
In just two terms, Lucy has: allowed pharmacists, in collaboration with your doctor, to adjust more medications without requiring as many in-person visits; established a statewide stroke registry; made $12M available for tobacco prevention and cessation; strengthened the state’s intervention and response to lead poisoning and prevention; expanded screenings for breast and cervical cancer; increased funding to specialty care hospitals; ensured more psychiatric treatment beds; created new home visit pilot for newborns; continued telehealth options; co-sponsored and passed the insulin bill that caps the cost of diabetic supplies; voted in favor of capping the cost of generic prescriptions while boosting the ability of the state to help lower the cost of prescription drugs; and voted in favor of paid family leave.
Lucy Dathan is a champion of comprehensive and affordable healthcare and has worked tirelessly to ensure that her constituents have access to the medical care necessary to lead healthy lives. We strongly urge you to vote for Lucy in November.
Elaine & Chris MacKenzie
New Canaan
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Re- Elect Lucy Dathan to the CT House of Representatives a strong active working Democrat with a strong financial background who will protect your interests in Hartford. Lucy believes in affordable health care and is a defender of women’s reproductive right to choose. She is a strong proponent of initiatives to improve early childhood education and stopping child abuse. Whether it is gun control, education or health, Lucy cares about her constituents. For a better future for Connecticut, vote for Lucy Dathan.
Edward Vollmer
New Canaan
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Dear Editor,
I write this letter today in support of Senator Ryan Fazio and his leadership on women’s issues. As a woman and a mother of two teenage boys with a full time career, I hold our government leaders to a high bar when judging the work they do. Senator Fazio has a proven track record in supporting social issues critically important to women. His opponent has offered misleading attacks and little else.
Ryan supports keeping abortion legal in Connecticut. More importantly, he is an advocate for increasing contraceptive access and assuring higher safety and health standards for the abortion industry. He wrote a bill in January to increase women’s access to oral contraception because access to affordable birth control and education can help us reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, increase the health and economic status of young woman, while retaining access to legal safe abortion procedures in the state.
In our fast changing world, our children face new challenges every day. We have all witnessed the toll that covid-19 lockdown have had on our children. As a mother, supporting the mental health and well-being of our children is crucial. Ryan co-wrote and passed SB2 to improve student mental health by introducing and evaluating new programs and policies toward cell phones and mental health education in schools. He also co-sponsored HB5001 which will improve access to mental health care in our state.
Ryan always aims to seek solutions for our state’s problems, rather than engage in partisan politics. He is a vocal advocate for school choice, curriculum transparency, and positive civic education. He has supported our police to keep our streets safe and take illegal guns off the streets. He has also taken a leadership role to reform the 8-30g law in order to offer real solutions on affordable housing, rather than a boondoggle to developers like the one besieging Weed St. I ask all New Canaan residents to support Senator Ryan Fazio this November.
Warmly,
Jill Guzzetti
New Canaan
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Dear Editor,I enthusiastically support Ryan Fazio and Tom O’Dea for re-election because they have consistently stood up for New Canaan parents and their children.Ryan and Tom spoke out in the summer of 2020 in support of safely opening schools. They advocated for parents and children while our Democrat legislators were lobbying to keep schools closed. Ryan and Tom responded to parents’ concerns when they saw the harms school-aged children suffered due to mandatory masking in our schools. They both vocally pushed for parents’ fundamental right to decide what is best for their children.Today, many families in our community are still playing catch up on their children’s education due Hartford’s policies these last two years. We need legislators that have our community’s best interests as their number one priority. When I go to the ballot box this November, my votes will go to candidates who have supported the most vulnerable members of our community. My votes will go to candidates who will protect a parent’s right to make decisions for their own children.On November 8th, my votes will go to Ryan Fazio and Tom O’Dea.Sincerely,Lara KellyNew Canaan
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You’ve heard said that elections have consequences; well, the past election certainly has as where our country stands today is dramatically different than where it was barely two years ago. Each of us, regardless of political Party, should be stunned by these changes which have affected the way we conduct our daily lives, the image of our country and the values we have held dear.
At the risk of being a Debbie Downer, the practical, concerned Penny has sparked this tone. The direction of our country’s recent decisions and attitudes I find exceedingly troublesome. The current administrations, be they state or federal, have shot holes in some of the very values which have been our strengths. Often I wonder whether those politicians experience the effects of their decisions like the rest of us do. Take the economic environment for starters: Inflation stood at 1.4% in January of 2021; today it’s a whopping 8.3%, yet wages haven’t kept pace. People are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families and put gas in their cars to get to work. They question how the government can spend trillions of dollars telling them to grant support for others’ college education while they themselves are barely able to remain financial solvent. They don’t understand the rationale behind being an energy independent country one day and the next a country dependent on others now bypassing the financial benefits of the independent marketplace.
Along with these concerns is my overarching disbelief in the laissez faire or perhaps lack of concerned attitude toward our borders. Yes we are a country of immigrants and how prosperously we have benefited from hundreds of years of new talents and diverse energies recognizing this has all been accomplished by respecting the rule of law. Not so now—just let the hoards flow in without any idea of the backgrounds, health status, nefarious intentions. A scary thought about the security of our country.
One additional concern falls in the current attitude toward “equality”. We have a history of respect and commitment to governance which provides for the equality of rights, justice, opportunity for all. Are these values being short-changed by a social movement which is dividing our country by focusing on separate and distinct groups instead of our historic “for all” based on individual achievements?
As each of us approaches our candidate decisions I trust there will be deep research into what these individuals bring which will protect the sanctity of our country’s values. I don’t see this in the Democrat party’s dominance and recent approaches in CT or federal issues. If nothing else, try the Republican approaches for the next couple years and see if there will be a return to our core values. Give it some serious thought…. Elections do have consequences.
Penny Young
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To the Editor,
Do you think towns like New Canaan should be able to control their own zoning? Or do you think it is ok for developers to take advantage of Connecticut’s 8-30g law that lets them get around local zoning laws? This state law allowed Arnold Karp to build monstrosities like The Vue and maybe soon a five-story apartment complex on Weed Street. Republicans in Hartford want to change the 8-30g law to give local zoning boards the ability to block large scale developments that alter the nature of the community. Democrats in Hartford help their developer friends get around zoning rules under the guise of “affordable housing.”
Do you want New Canaan residents to have control of their schools, or do you want our local schools to be controlled by a regional authority? In 2019, the Democrats in Hartford tried and will try again if they control Hartford after this election.
This November, you can choose to send Republicans to Hartford to fight for local control of schools and zoning, as well as parental rights, support for the police, and fewer burdens on businesses that operate in the state. If you share these concerns, please vote Republican across the board for state legislature and state executive positions. Don’t let national politics distract you from what we need in Connecticut.
Daniel LaGattuta
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