Election 2024: Letters of Endorsement

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters of endorsement. Send endorsement letters to editor@newcanaanite.com for publication here.

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Dear Editor,

I am proud to endorse State Senator Ryan Fazio and State Representative Tom O’Dea for re-election this November 5th. Both these dedicated public servants have consistently demonstrated their commitment to working across the aisle to achieve meaningful results for our community.

Ryan and Tom played a crucial role in helping New Canaan secure its 8-30g moratorium, which empowers us to maintain local control over our zoning decisions. Their tireless efforts have also led to the introduction of legislation that ensures communities like ours receive the credit we deserve for our past affordable housing development.

Additionally, I want to express my sincere gratitude for their instrumental support in securing a $2 million State DECD grant to help fund The Playhouse. This project has proven to be vital to our community, and their advocacy made a significant impact in our being selected for this grant.

Ryan and Tom have been invaluable resources to me as your First Selectman, always ready to assist in accessing the necessary resources at the state level for the betterment of New Canaan. I encourage everyone to join me in supporting Ryan Fazio and Tom O’Dea this November. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more vibrant community.

Sincerely,

Dionna Carlson

First Selectman

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New Canaan, the entire 36th District and the State of Connecticut will be well served by electing Nick Simmons to the Connecticut Senate.  Nick brings an exceptional background in public service to this position.  As a teacher and principal, he has hands on understanding of education.  Having served as a Deputy Chief of Staff to Ned Lamont, he has direct experience in State Government.With masters’ degrees from both the Kennedy School and HBS, he has a sterling academic background.  

Nick will represent the 36th District with an unwavering commitment to ensuring CT’s women and families make their own health care decision, a critical personal right that has been denied women in 21 states since the Dodds decision.  He will campaign for the safety for our kids and all our citizens with common sense guns laws.  Thanks to Connecticut’s leadership on this issue, our state has one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation (according to the CDC) – and he will work to make it better.   

With his hands on experience in the Lamont administration, he knows how state government works, and representing the 36th as a member of the majority party I am confident that he will be able to secure increased state support to aid our schools, infrastructure and communities.  Nick also brings an understanding of policy, but with an awareness that fiscal stewardship is paramount and he is committed to the fiscal guard rails that have been so critical in helping our state dig out of the fiscal hole that prior administrations, both Republican and Democrat left us.  This has resulted in multiple upgrades for Connecticut by the bond rating agencies, lowering our borrowing cost.  

The incumbent has failed his constituent in voting against improved gun safety laws, and actually filibustered a critical gun safety bill.  Further he voted against HB 5414 the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act – which expanded reproductive protection in Connecticut.   Ryan Fazio is out of step with his constituents in the 36th. 

Vote for Nick Simmons for the 36th, who will represent our values, and bring the skills set to do the work for our District. 

Amy Murphy Carroll 

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Dear Editor:

New Canaan is at a crossroads regarding affordable housing.  We all seem to acknowledge that we need more of it.  We also acknowledge that there are very real and legitimate limitations to New Canaan meeting one-size-fits-all mandates from Hartford, including but not limited to the lack and expense of appropriate land, the cost of building sufficient affordable housing, and maintaining the small-town village feel of our town.  The way to ensure New Canaan is represented well on this issue is to elect moderate Democrats to the state houses.  Yes, moderate Democrats.  Luckily, we have five such candidates running this year to represent New Canaan–Nick Simmons and Ceci Maher for State Senate, and Jason Bennett, Savet Constantine, and Lucy Dathan for the State House of Representatives.    

The Democrat candidates for state office are committed to supporting necessary amendments to state housing laws to maintain local control of zoning decisions, while also ensuring we have adequate housing to meet very real needs in our community.  Such amendments could include higher housing credit for 2- and 3-bedroom units; increased credit for dedicated senior housing; and basing affordable-housing qualification on area median income, which is generally higher than the current standard of state median income, to qualify for a moratorium.

Truth be told, there is not much daylight between the positions of the Democrat and Republican candidates on this issue.  The difference is, our moderate Democrats have a seat at the table with the majority party. They can – and, in many cases, have – stopped legislation from proceeding to points that would negatively impact New Canaan’s ability to retain local control over zoning decisions. In a state where Democrats are admittedly a strong majority, fewer Democrats isn’t the answer – the answer is electing more moderate Democrats who can better influence members of their party.  Vote Row A down the line to guarantee that New Canaan has the best representation in Hartford.    

Hilary Ormond

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Tom O’Dea has proved himself again and again to be a strong, effective advocate for reasonable, responsible government. He’s working to reduce the cost of living in Connecticut (including out-of-control electricity bills), to reform Hartford’s 8-30g affordable housing law to make it work for all communities, to maintain local control of our schools, and to keep taxes down. In addition, Tom helped obtain state funding to renovate the Playhouse that anchors New Canaan’s beloved downtown. Honest and approachable, we know Tom will always be the creative, open-minded, bipartisan legislator our communities need. And his position as deputy House minority leader demonstrates the confidence his colleagues have in him, and the influence he can bring to bear.

But perhaps most of all Tom O’Dea knows us, and we know Tom. With a long history of public and charitable service, Tom is embedded in the heart of our communities. A husband and parent, Tom understands the concerns of everyday people. He’s on our side.

Connecticut is approaching a crossroads. What do we want our state, and our towns, to be? If balanced solutions, long range thinking, and a focus on local control of key decisions are important to you, then please join me and re-elect Tom O’Dea. We can afford no less.

John J Kriz

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Dear Editor-

I am writing to endorse Democrat Nick Simmons for State Senate.  There are 3 reasons you should vote for Nick. 

1-Nick supports women’s reproductive rights and gun safety laws.  Ryan Fazio claims to support these efforts in his glossy mailers, but he voted against two CT bills that shored them up.  He voted against HB5414, which defends the constitutional right to an abortion. He also voted against HB-6667, which strengthened CT’s gun safety laws.  CT Against Gun Violence gave Fazio an F on gun safety.

2-We need more moderates in Hartford that have a seat at the table.  Nick has a plan for  economic growth, and as a moderate Democrat has a far better opportunity than his conservative Republican opponent to work with leadership to lower energy costs, cut taxes and secure more funding for our schools. New Canaan has lower school reimbursement rates than adjacent towns represented by Democrats in the State Senate.

3-Nick supports local control.  Nick believes that communities should have the autonomy to make their own housing decisions through local zoning. He will be a champion in the State Senate to protect local control for our towns.  

The Independent party agrees, and that is why Nick Simmons is the first Democrat to win the Independent Party’s cross endorsement in the 36th District.

Sincerely,

Rita Bettino

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I am writing in support of Kim Healy for State Representative in Connecticut’s 42nd House District. As someone who has lived in this community for many years, I know how important it is to have a strong, dedicated, and principled leader representing us in Hartford, and I believe Kim Healy is that person.

Kim has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the values that matter most to our district: lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and keeping zoning decisions local. At a time when Connecticut families are struggling with rising costs and uncertain economic conditions, Kim has been a staunch advocate for reducing the tax burden on hardworking citizens and promoting policies that foster economic growth and job creation.

Throughout her tenure as Wilton’s Selectman, Kim has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of her constituents are heard. Whether it’s advocating for small businesses, standing up for our law enforcement, or fighting to protect women, Kim has been a champion for her community. Her willingness to take a stand, even when it may not be politically convenient, speaks to her integrity and dedication to doing what is right for the people of Connecticut.

We need a representative who will continue to prioritize our needs, fight for common-sense policies, and defend our Constitutional freedoms. I am confident that Kim Healy will bring strong, principled leadership to Hartford, and I urge my fellow citizens to join me in supporting her candidacy.

Together, we can ensure that our community remains prosperous, safe, and flourishing for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Pavla Levin

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In times such as these, your vote carries more importance than ever. We all need to dig deep to find the right reasons to support a candidate for public office, especially here in our beautiful hometown of New Canaan. We think that character and commitment to public service are two of the most important factors in determining who gets your vote. That is why we endorse, and urge you to cast your ballot for Tom O’Dea and Ryan Fazio this election day.

María & Alberto González 

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It is important that we Elect Nick Simmons, Democrat to the CT State Senate this Fall. As an educator and someone who has worked in government he well understands the legislative process. Nick will work to strengthen our gun safety laws, to lower taxes and invest in education and our schools. Nick is a strong advocate for environmental protection laws.

Nick strongly believes in a woman’s right to choose in a time when abortion rights are constantly being challenged.

Your Vote is important. Our Democracy is in danger, please Vote for Democrats to Win this Fall.

Ed Vollmer

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To the Editor:

Wondering why your recent electric bills have been so high? Part of it is the “Public Benefits” portion. However, less than 30% of that portion and less than 4% of your total bill is due to the CT government preventing utilities from shutting off services for non-payment during Covid, an action that reflected both compassion and pragmatism, when so many lower-income people lost their jobs or saw their hours cut back, and businesses struggled due to significant loss of foot traffic. (Yes, businesses were helped by this as well). Recently, Republican opinion writers referred to this help as “reckless”, but we doubt the businesses and people that still had power as a result would agree with this characterization, and it needs to be clearly stated that this is not debt forgiveness. As they pay back their debt, it will be reflected as a decrease in the public benefits portion of the bill. In addition, we want to be very clear: over 70% of the increase is due to an agreement reached in 2017 to require Eversource to buy power at a guaranteed rate from Millstone, our nuclear plant, regardless of the cost of alternative fuels.  Republicans led this effort to guarantee rates for Eversource, and Tom O’Dea voted for the bill, but it was passed on a bipartisan basis. It wasn’t such a bad idea at the time: the power generated was closer in price to that generated from natural gas, keeping Millstone open protects us in the event of shocks to the market for natural gas, and it prevented 1,500 workers from losing their jobs. Where Republicans deserve criticism is in blaming the increase in “Public Benefits” charges on the hardship programs for struggling families. 

Jason Bennett, Democratic Candidate for the 125th district running against Tom O’Dea, has several ideas to reduce our electric bills:

• Currently, utilities are allowed to recoup their costs from subsidizing lower income customers over 10 months. This period could be stretched out.
• Going forward, we should limit the ability of corporate utilities to pass on costs for hardship programs to consumers that they ought to be paying for with their profits.
• The Millstone purchase legislation can be modified as it was in 2019, when our current 10-year deal was struck.
• The legislature could work with Eversource to offer rebates, or pass tax credits/deductions to lessen the impact.
• Most importantly, the legislature should do all they can to increase competition and diversify our energy supply.

Let’s get some new ideas in Hartford. Vote for Jason Bennett for State Representative.

Signed,

Sven Englund and Toddy Turrentine

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Residents of Darien, New Canaan and Stamford are excited that Jason Bennett is running as a Democrat for state representative in Connecticut’s 125th district!  The Republican representative has been there for 12 years and it is time for a change.

Jason Bennett represents our future.  He and his family moved to New Canaan in 2019 and love our town as we do.  As an entrepreneur in the tech area, he has innovative ideas to grow our local economy.  

Here are some of Jason Bennett’s priorities that align with mine.

• Gun Safety and Responsible Gun Ownership: While Connecticut’s gun laws are strong, it is imperative that we keep them that way.  Jason explained to me that his goal is to do that.  In fact, he received an “A” grade from Ct. Against Gun Violence.
• School Excellence and Safety:  As a father of three young children, he knows their challenges and will make sure that the local schools meet the current needs.  But even if Jason did not have “skin in the game”, he would do that for the betterment of our community.  That is the kind of solid citizen he is.
• Protecting Our Environment: Again, as a father of young children, he wants to pass on a healthy environment to them and their children.
• Reproductive Rights: While we currently have reproductive freedom in Connecticut, it can be threatened.  If Roe v. Wade is overturned nationally, it is critical that we have a representative in Hartford to protect those freedoms.  Jason Bennett is that person
• Rising Energy Costs: This has been a huge problem in our area recently and Jason has ways to fix the issue

Thank you, Jason Bennett, for stepping up.  Now we need to make sure that you are representing us in Connecticut’s 125th House District.

Ruth Rothseid

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To the Editor:

Ryan Fazio’s attacks on Nick Simmons for raising some campaign funds from out-of-state donors are misguided and distract from the real issues that matter to voters.

Simmons was born and raised in the 36th District, and has a long history of serving Connecticut through his work in Governor Lamont’s office. More importantly, the majority of his funding comes from grassroots, in-state supporters.The out-of-state donations simply reflect a broad endorsement of policies that benefit us all – protecting a woman’s right to choose, strengthening gun safety laws, and modernizing our infrastructure. While Simmon’s donors align with the progressive values of Connecticut, Fazio’s donations to Texas Senator Ted Cruz- who opposes reproductive rights and denies climate change- and his decision to take money from donors in Texas raises significant questions. Which values is Fazio truly championing? Are they the extreme, far-right positions of national politicians like Cruz, whose agendas conflict with the needs of our district?

Ultimately, what matters is Simmon’s unwavering commitment to Connecticut voters. His policies are shaped by local needs, not external influences, and he has a proven track record of delivering on his promises.

Sincerely,

Peter Eldridge

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To the Editor, New Canaanite:

Until Ryan Fazio was elected to the CT General Assembly in 2021, recent Republican and Democratic lawmakers representing the 36th Senate district (which includes parts of New Canaan) voted in favor of strengthening Connecticut’s gun laws. Ryan Fazio broke the trend. 

So it came as quite a surprise to see his recent mailer claiming he is a “bipartisan leader reducing gun violence.” A surprise because his record shows just the opposite.
Let’s set the stage with the fact that strong gun laws reduce gun death and injury. According to the Giffords Law Center, Connecticut has the third strongest gun laws in the nation, and the sixth lowest rate of gun death, 51 percent lower than the national average. 

Now consider that Fazio is endorsed by the CT Citizens Defense League, the gun rights group that has opposed every gun bill since Sandy Hook and that has filed lawsuits to overturn Connecticut gun laws, including our assault weapons ban. Confirming his support of gun rights at the expense of protecting us from gun violence, Fazio received a failing grade from CT Against Gun Violence (CAGV).

Sen. Fazio is not a “leader” on reducing gun violence and he is misrepresenting his record. Contrary to what his mailer claims, the bill he co-sponsored, HB-5467, did not strengthen background checks. It merely brought Connecticut in compliance with stronger federal background checks for purchasers under 21 by allowing access to juvenile records. In the entire legislature, only one lawmaker voted against it.

Offered a clear opportunity to demonstrate his support for measures that reduce gun violence, Sen. Fazio chose not to. Last year, he voted against the Governor’s Act Addressing Gun Violence, HB-6667, the most comprehensive package of anti-gun violence measures since the post Sandy Hook bill that Sen. Frantz voted for in 2013.

As a way to make schools safer, Fazio talks about the bill he introduced to support more school resource officers. But research shows that SROs have no impact on preventing school shootings. What would help stop school shootings? Getting firearm owners to secure their weapons, since three-quarters of school shooters use a family member’s gun. But Sen. Fazio voted against last year’s “no exceptions” firearm storage provision. As for saying he’ll “fight gun crime,” that same provision will prevent gun theft, which the ATF reports “is a significant avenue through which firearms are illegally diverted…into criminal hands.”

Sen. Fazio frequently touts his support for law enforcement, but the bill he voted against had the “strong support” of the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), who oversees the state police. Commissioner Rovella testified that the bill is a “comprehensive approach that will make Connecticut residents safer…”

The Act banned open carry which the head of the CT Police Chiefs Association said would make their job “easier”; it increased bail, probation and parole for individuals with repeated serious firearm offenses; it created a firearm-related crime court docket to expedite the prosecution of those crimes and it gave the DESPP enforcement power over irresponsible gun dealers. Fazio voted in opposition to all these measures designed to reduce gun crime.

Challenger Nick Simmons has taken a strong stand in support of measures to reduce gun violence, including investing in community-based anti-violence programs that complement gun laws. Unlike his opponent, who declined to share with CAGV where he stands on specific gun violence prevention measures, Simmons completed the CAGV candidate questionnaire, indicating his support for policies including “no exceptions” firearm storage, requiring home-based childcare centers to let parents know if there are guns in the home, regulating backyard shooting ranges to keep neighbors safe and making it easier for gun violence victims to hold firearm industry “bad actors” accountable for illegal actions.

To continue the record of State Senators representing the 36th Senate distrcit from both sides of the aisle who have voted for measures that make Connecticut a leader in gun violence prevention (we’re one of only three states to be graded “A” by the Giffords Law Center), voters should cast their ballot for Nick Simmons.

Jonathan Perloe