NewCanaanite.com recently received the following endorsement letter(s). We will publish them through Oct. 26.
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To the Editor:
I’m writing to support Meredith Tobitsch for the 125th House District. Early voting starts on October 19, 2026, and election day is on November 3, 2026.
I’ve known Meredith since she and her family moved to New Canaan. The moving boxes were barely unpacked before Meredith began volunteering her time and energy to various projects, like raising $20,000 in just six months for a new playground at her daughter’s preschool; serving on the New Canaan Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Education Grant Review Team; coordinating communications for New Canaan Newcomers; managing the successful local campaigns last year for the Democrats, leading to unprecedented balance on our Town’s elected governing bodies; and, most personally, partnering with my co-chairs and me to raise over $200,000 in private donations for the new all-abilities playground at Waveny Park.
Simply put, Meredith is a do-er. She devotes more time and effort to issues that matter to the New Canaan community than most who have lived here for decades. I have no doubt that she will bring that same energy to Hartford, ensuring that the most pressing issues facing our community are approached practically and without partisan pressure.
New Canaan is a special place, and we are truly lucky to have candidates of good character running for office from both parties. But this election is not a referendum on character. This election is about the priorities you, as voters, value at this critical time in our town, state, and nation. Supporting our schools, caring for the environment, protecting women’s health care, reasonable gun control (like banning the production of ghost guns), affordability—these are all things Meredith will fight for on our behalf. We need to elect people like Meredith to support our shared principles, and who are committed to making Connecticut the best place to live, shielded from the chaos elsewhere.
State and local elections are often decided by a handful of votes, and they shape our daily lives more than almost anything else on the ballot. I hope my neighbors will look closely at Meredith’s record and priorities and vote accordingly.
Please vote for Meredith Tobitsch on or before November 3, 2026.
Hilary Ormond
Written in my personal capacity and not as a member of Town Council.
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Tom O’Dea has been a consistent and powerful force in obtaining substantial State and private funding for worthy New Canaan programs and surrounding community programs. As a founder and former president of the not for profit New Canaan Ice Rink in Waveny Park, I can state that the rink, which provides family oriented outdoor recreational programs for our community for pre-schoolers, teens, families and seniors, would not have been possible. Tom single handedly obtained a state grant for $200,000 for the ice rink, and raised an additional $190,000 from private donors. Without this support, along with multi year grants from the New Canaan Community Foundation, this wonderful community asset would not exist.
Switching to the issue of local zoning, Tom continues to be on the front lines of this fight against Hartford’s Democratic majority that consistently votes to expand state control over local zoning governance. He is the second ranking Republican in our House of Representatives, and as such has been instrumental in turning back so many initiatives that would take away your rights for realistic zoning regulations, and many other elements of governance that rightfully should remain at the local level.
Tom, as second ranking member of his party in Hartford, has a record of bringing substantial funding for local initiatives – besides the above mentioned support, Tom worked across the aisle and the Governor’s office in a group effort obtaining a $2,000,0000 grant for the town playhouse.
If you want New Canaan to continue being strongly represented in Hartford, and if you are not in favor of having large apartment complexes being built within a half mile of the railroad station, then vote for Tom O’Dea. Tom is fighting for local control on local issues, a principle that is increasingly under threat by the Democrats in Hartford. Vote for Tom O’Dea if you believe that in many instances local governance is best handled locally.
Gene Goodman
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One of the things that makes New Canaan great is our volunteers. They show up with passion, contributing their time and talents to make our town a better place.
Occasionally, we benefit from what I think of as a “super volunteer”—someone whose curiosity, dedication, and willingness to roll up their sleeves go above and beyond. Meredith Tobitsch is one of those people.
As an energetic member of the Early Childhood Education Committee at the New Canaan Community Foundation, Meredith helps support young families in our town and the surrounding areas. She also served as co-chair and fundraiser for the Friends of Waveny Park, helping build the playground our kids will enjoy for years to come. Last winter, she attended town meetings to support our schools and advocate for fully funding the public school budget. Furthermore, she knows our community, having served on the boards of both the New Canaan Community Preschool and the Newcomers Club—all while caring for her own young family, including two preschool-aged children.
Again and again, Meredith has said yes to sharing her time and talents with our town. I support Meredith Tobitsch for State Representative of the 125th District because I know she will bring this same energy and dedication to Hartford on behalf of the New Canaan community.
Erica Schwedel
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I am excited to vote for Meredith Tobitsch this November 3rd as our 125th District State Representative. When I think about who I want representing me in Hartford, it’s Meredith. Meredith brings a staggering amount of energy and dedication to everything she does. Her all-in attitude has fast-tracked her depth of knowledge about our town. She is prepared and poised and willing to do the hard work. Her fresh take is an asset. Meredith understands that our district comprises a range of residents and that the makeup and needs of our community are different than they were 30 years ago; and that this is something to celebrate and embrace, deserving of nuance and a willingness to listen.
If you’ve met Meredith you know she is effective and unafraid of a challenge. When the school budget was being parsed in the last budget cycle Meredith put her hand up to speak at a Board of Finance Meeting, on behalf of our children, families and educators. If you’ve met Meredith you know that she is personally and professionally present and engaged. Meredith was part of successfully bringing Waveny playground to life. If you’ve met Meredith you might be one of the 3,000 doors she has knocked on in this campaign already, or a fellow parent, or community volunteer. And on the rare chance you haven’t met Meredith I can say that these small acts add up to meaningful change. She is ready to represent our district with fairness, balance and conviction. So when an opportunity to vote for someone dynamic, indefatigable, effective and sharp presents itself, you don’t hesitate. I am looking forward to casting my vote for Meredith Tobitsch.
Kate Brambilla
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To the Editor:
I am a longtime Greenwich resident with strong roots and ties to Stamford. I have made many important and special friendships in these wonderful towns.
Everyone I know wants government to work effectively. We all want safe roads, reliable trains, sewers and drains that handle heavy rainfall, lower utility bills and a state budget that spends our tax dollars wisely and efficiently. Yet even though we share the same general goals, we have different priorities and approaches to addressing them.
I am supporting Jill Oberlander for State Senate specifically because of her ability to address the different needs of constituents. She knows representing a district means representing everyone in it. Throughout her years of public service, Jill has found common ground without abandoning common goals.
As the first Democratic chair of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET), she worked with Republicans and Democrats alike on budgets, municipal priorities and long-term investments.
And again, as Greenwich Selectperson during Covid, alongside her Republican colleagues, she helped create and execute the town’s response to this national health emergency.
The key to Jill’s success is her understanding that progress frequently requires persuasion and compromise without surrendering one’s principles.
There will be times when Jill agrees with Democratic leadership and times when she does not. What matters is the question she will ask first: What is best for the people I represent?
This is the test every elected official should apply, and the test Jill has passed time and again.
I do not expect my state senator to agree with me nor I with her on every issue. But I expect my senator to listen, think independently, explain her decisions and work diligently on behalf of our district.
Jill has demonstrated this kind of discipline throughout her public service.
On Election Day, she will have my vote. I hope she will have your vote, too.
Yours truly,
Gayle P. De Poli
Greenwich