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To the Editor:

Behind the words is the heartbeat of the people.”
– Iyaaka Anders Apassingok, St. Lawrence Island Yupik Eskimo

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

I think most everybody would agree on a few things. If I asked you “What are the most important things in your life?” you would likely answer that your family, your children, your parents, and your loved ones matter the most. If I asked you, “What’s the second most important thing?” I think many would say community, schools, a nice and affordable town to live in, and safe streets.

About a week ago, I teased an announcement on one of my posts and said I would have some news soon. I was completely candid when I said that I did not know what that news would be.

At that time, I was seeking a nomination to be on the ballot this November as a candidate for Town Council. I knew I might be nominated for Town Council but I also knew I might not be chosen. I had tried in the past and understood the selection process.

As a political centrist, I began to ask many people the following question: could I better serve the town by running for Town Council irrespective of party affiliation?  The answers I have received were both humbling and moving. It was a resounding “Yes!”

For nearly 15 years, all of you have graciously let me be a part of your social media feeds to provide important information and safety warnings with respect to the weather and other related topics. Aside from that work, I have served on several committees and subcommittees for West Hartford including Town Plan & Zoning and Inland Wetlands & Waterways, as well as the Greater Hartford Transit District.

I have also attended nearly every Town Council meeting for the last five years, and if I ever missed one, I was sure to watch it online. I have attended Board of Education meetings, studied the budget, gotten to know town employees and have taken an active role in helping West Hartford to be a great community. Through the round table TV show, I have the unique status of personally, knowing every single member of Town Council and Board of Ed irrespective of party.

I am excited to share that I have received the Republican Town Committee nomination for Town Council for West Hartford. This is my first run at public office where I will be appearing on a ballot and I hope I can earn your vote in the coming months.

It is strictly an unpaid volunteer position. I will continue to do what I have always done, show up and respond to the needs of our town. I am excited to be in a position where I can have an even greater positive impact.

I am joining what I believe to be the most diverse and qualified slate of candidates who all care deeply about our town, all with values that align with mine, committed to strengthening the Town of West Hartford.

This is not a national election; it is a local one. The issues I am going to be focusing on are the following:

• Controlling taxes
• Responsible grand list growth
• Great schools
• Safe streets for all
• Strong police, fire, and rescue services

I am a competitive person that is deeply passionate about West Hartford! While I am thrilled that we rank in the top 20 on several national rankings, for me that is not good enough. I want to work to make our town number one and will commit the entirety of my service to doing so.

Over the coming weeks, I will be talking about each of the above issues and giving my vision.  I hope you will stay tuned and stay engaged in this process while keeping an open mind.

Now, let’s get to work!

John Lyons
Candidate for Town Council, West Hartford