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To the Editor:

Congratulations to Beth Bye in her appointment to Gov. Ned Lamont’s cabinet. I admire her very much and am so appreciative of the time and energy she has offered our whole community as our State Senator. She leaves big shoes to fill which might be why the process for finding her replacement has caught my attention.

Usually the election process involves a primary in which voters decide which candidate (from their respective parties) makes it on the ballot, but if I understand correctly it will be the party delegates who will make this decision despite the fact this is essentially a complete term.

Is it a lack of time and resources that makes this un-democratic process okay? Is it because we just had an election and we can’t afford to do it all over again? We (Democrats) have at least three qualified candidates who have expressed interest in this Senate seat and I would like to have a say in who represents my party. I think we all should.

My apologies, I may not be bringing answers to the table but I felt it was my responsibility as a voter to make my concerns known. Is there another venue – a debate or town hall style meeting – that would be easy to arrange and would help satisfy the needs of voters to be heard? Count me in.

Kim Hughes
West Hartford