Letter: West Hartford Deserves Better Than Identity Politics
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To the Editor:
West Hartford is my home, and I’m running for Town Council to make it a better place for every resident. As I talk to neighbors in our community, I’m dismayed by how identity politics are poisoning our local elections. National debates including racial divides, culture wars, and partisan bickering are drowning out the real issues we face right here. Municipal challenges like soaring property taxes, public safety, and economic growth have nothing to do with Washington’s drama, yet Democrats keep dragging them into our race.
For decades, Democrats have controlled West Hartford’s Town Council, spending with no regard for affordability while our taxes climb higher than neighbors like Farmington or Avon. Their bloated budgets burden families struggling to afford homes and small businesses choked by red tape. Property crime is creeping up, making our neighborhoods feel less safe. Instead of addressing these local problems, Democrats hurl insults, tying Republicans to national campaign noise, as if we’re fighting some grand ideological battle. I’m above those petty squabbles. At 27, I’m an outsider in this race with no political career, no baggage, just a fresh mind with new ideas and the right core values: hard work, responsibility, and community. The status quo clearly isn’t working; it’s time to change the narrative and focus on West Hartford’s future.
How could you not support the Republican Party in this election? We are advocating for responsible spending, lower taxes, and safer neighborhoods; priorities that unite us all. As a business executive with conservative roots, I’ll fight for zero-based budgeting to scrutinize every dollar, lowering taxes to keep families and businesses thriving. I’ll fight for streamlined regulations to let entrepreneurs grow and for stronger police funding to ensure our streets are safe. These are local solutions, not national talking points.
I’m not here to trade barbs or play political games. My only goal is to make West Hartford a place where every neighbor can afford to live, start a business, and feel secure. I look forward to meeting every member of the community that I can, and I am always available to have a conversation. Let’s leave identity politics behind and build a stronger, more affordable town together. Vote for me, Ben Lewis, on Nov. 4, 2025, and let’s write a new chapter for West Hartford.
Ben Lewis
Candidate for Town Council, West Hartford
Ben Lewis. Courtesy photo
Although conceivable that at a local (Town) level, GOP ideas can be useful (I’m not asserting the truth of that, just admitting the possibility), at the national level I view the GOP as anathema to democracy (to put as inoffensively as I can); ergo I can never, ever vote for any GOP candidate at any level of government. While I’d like to see Democrats address their own issues, any support for the GOP is just jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
get rid of the tie
I couldn’t have said it better than Peter Hermann did. So I’ll let his words speak for me.
Why did you choose to wear that national flag pin, if you only plan to address local issues? It has no real political importance on the local level. You may have ambitions beyond the local level, but the pin is not going to help you here and now. Besides, it does not match your rhetoric because it is aligned with identity politics.
I can’t help feeling more than a little skeptical when I hear a candidate refer to “identity politics” as a distraction from issues such as affordability and safety. People organizing around shared aspects of identity to protest injustices or fight for rights doesn’t distract from the economy. It’s not an “either-or” thing. We can value the voices of all people, paying special attention to marginalized groups who are, in many cases, frightened right now more than ever, AND we can fight to make West Hartford affordable, economically strong for small businesses, and safe on our streets. Why not identify solutions to economic problems without minimizing and dismissing people who are protesting inequities?
What books are you going to burn?
Well said. Best of luck. Please ignore negative comments that those with closed minds leave. It would be nice if we could simply discuss what is best for our Town – agree, disagree, whatever.
I’m with Eddie. Lets keep the focus on our Town.
Democrats have built West Hartford into the vibrant, safe, inclusive place it is today. But as much as they try to run from their Party’s policies, West Hartford GOP have made it abundantly clear they support all of the worst of MAGA ideology.
But don’t trust me on it – just check the “Official X (Twitter) Account of West Hartford Republicans”. One small example: when informed that immigrants comprise 20% of CT workers, their response?
“We are being replaced – there’s no denying it.
What’s that about identifying politics now?
Edit typo:
“We are being replaced – there’s no denying it.”
What’s that about identity politics now?
The Trump costume is a nice touch. Do you use scotch tape on the extra wide tie for extra cosplay authenticity?
Talk about identity politics.
Don’t let the negative comments get to you. I don’t care if you’re a dem or republican as long as you’re transparent and fix the issues we have in town and we have quite a few. Best of luck to you.