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To the Editor:

I am a newcomer to West Hartford municipal politics, and I read with great interest the letters from Kevin Sullivan and John Lyons. My wife and I have only been in town for a few years now, but over the last few months I have gotten to know both town committees. Like the Republican John Lyons, I sought a nomination from the Democratic Town Committee to serve on the Board of Education. The Democratic candidate pools for both the Board of Education and Town Council were deep and full of empathetic, intelligent, and committed people ready to serve our town. I was not nominated, and that is where the message for your readers starts to come into the picture. I met the other new candidates, Jennifer Herz and Jonathan Weiner, and I was immediately impressed by their capabilities and was ready to support them. I knew my own candidacy was a long shot given my newness to West Hartford, but I also recognized that as a slate, these elections are supposed to be more than any one person.

Let me repeat that for John Lyons: public service is supposed to be about more than the individual.

John Lyons, and the rest of his Republican slate running for local positions, are demonstrating a selfish and individualistic attitude that is unfit for public service. John identified as a Democrat since his 30s and was willing to change his values and ideals at the drop of a hat if it served his selfish interests of public office. There are other Republican candidates who also have changed their party affiliation over losing the DTC nomination. I ask the readers of We-Ha.com, what sort of people so easily gives up their values in pursuit of power? I would answer the sort of people who have no business being in power.

John Lyons was asked if he supported the MAGA agenda. He refused to answer and instead tried to change the subject to local politics. This fall, the West Hartford Republicans are going to work overtime to gaslight us into believing this is “only a local” election and should be viewed through a separate lens from national politics. I would argue national politics and local politics are entwined. When the Trump administration froze federal funding to Connecticut schools, we turned to leaders like our local Board of Education to address the budget gaps and keep our schools working. As the Trump administration cancels infrastructure funding, it is our local Town Council who will have to identify creative solutions to maintain our roads and services. When the Trump administration increases housing and healthcare costs for all of us, it is our local and state government who works tirelessly to establish fair rent, affordable housing, and accessible health services. National politics are local politics and any attempt to suggest otherwise disingenuous. We should demand local leaders who will defend our interests, not cower in deference to a federal authority.

I want to conclude by asking a question: What makes a good public servant? I would argue public servants should have a spine and be willing to stand up for their values, not sell them out for opportunistic power grabs. We have enough of that Washington DC. We don’t need it in our local politics.

Through that lens, I think the choice is clear in our municipal elections this fall.

Christopher Tanski
West Hartford