Letter: West Hartford Municipal Elections Need to Focus on Local, Not National Issues
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To the Editor:
I read the letters from Kevin Sullivan and Christopher Tanski with interest. Kevin Sullivan is a long term Democrat who has been involved in politics both on the state level and town level for many years. I thank him for his service. Christopher Tanski is relatively new to our town as he stated in his letter. I hope he enjoys living in West Hartford.
The overarching theme in both letters was the attempt to try to turn the conversation around West Hartford politics to Trump. They did not address for the most part as to how we can work to improve our schools, increase safety on our roads, make housing more affordable, or better our town. Instead they immediately pivoted to Trump. This strategy of trying to turn all politics to Trump and calling the president everything from a fascist to Hitler cost the Democrats dearly in November. Not only did Trump win the election and take every swing state, he also made significant strides in Connecticut, though he did not ultimately win the state.
The anger at John Lyons and Jason Wang for daring to say that they do not believe that the Democratic party represents them any longer, is palpable. Instead of some introspection by Democrats as to why these two intelligent involved members of our community left the Democratic party, the reflex is to trash them publicly. How does that help our town?
The days of accepting that everything is about identity politics, DEI, and Trump are over. The days of thinking that an election can be won by slamming Trump and his policies are likely over as well. Citizens want solutions. They want affordable housing, and safe streets. They want secure schools that are educating the next generation, not indoctrinating them. They want schools free from antisemitism and racism. They want civil discourse and leaders that can discuss issues and get to compromise, even if they do not agree entirely.
During my time on the Board of Education, I learned that too much time and energy is often spent on things that are not going to actually educate our children. I also learned that it is often difficult to affect any significant change in our schools because of the mountains of mandates from the state, mostly unfunded, I also learned that there is deep politicization and continued obstruction of those on the Board who want to try to improve the process as illustrated by the attempt to create a curriculum committee and finance committee to help our schools. Both of these committees, ideas broached by Republican Board of Education members, were roundly voted down by the Democratic majority on the Board several times. These committees could have only enhanced our schools by helping to get the budget under control and fostering more transparency in the curriculum. They do exist in most districts for a reason but not in our own.
As failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris stated good ideas come from all sides, and that is true. However, in West Hartford, there is so much politicization, that this sentiment rarely happens.
It’s time to get to work. Continuing to bash Trump did not work in November and it is unlikely to work this November. Citizens of West Hartford should ask themselves if they feel their schools are better over the last two years, if they like spiraling local taxes and the dense overdevelopment in our town. These are some of the most important questions for West Hartford residents this November.
We are elected to help our constituents and our town, and that’s what we need to be focused on.
Gayle Harris
Candidate for Town Council, West Hartford
Not really. Trump and his Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have been continuing guilty of bashing all levels of education for a myriad of ideological reasons. They have encouraged local school boards in banning books from their curriculums and libraries, This is the equivalent of the Nazis burning books. They have banned the mention of LBGTQ issues in the classroom, inflicting penalties on those with the temerity to do so. In advancing this agenda they have created an atmosphere of hate and intolerance and hate. They have held institutions of higher learning over issues of political correctness. In short they have attacked education on all levels,
I think the voters of West Hartford need to know where candidates for the Board of Education, including Gayle Harris, stand on this fascist assault on one of the foundations of our society, Free Speech. She needs to renounce all MAGA efforts to curtail free expression. Most West Hartford voters will not the support the rank, vile homophobic discrimination that the Trump administration is guilty of.
Ms Harris’s democratic opposition will provide a service to the Town in calling her out on this. I just did.
Well stated. We need to have those who will work together
And which books will you burn, Mrs Harris?
The writer states some very good ideas such as establishing a Board of Education curriculum committee and finance committee. She also states that continuing to bash Trump instead of focusing on local issues doesn’t work. However she then labels former Vice President Harris a failure.
I am relatively new resident to West Hartford and want to know more about what the candidates goals are moving forward. As a former Newington Board of Education Member I prefer to read about new ideas vs letters criticizing opponents.
I fully understand why local Republicans would want to dissociate from their national party. But the stubborn fact remains that West Hartford Republicans have proven time and again of their adoration for the MAGA agenda – just take a look at their Official X Account.
If you want West Hartford to remain the vibrant, inclusive community it is today, vote Democrat.
We’ve seen the Republican alternative in action: masked ICE agents in schools, churches, and restaurants; relentless attacks on the LGBT community; suppression of voices that don’t conform to their ideological rigor.
Ms. Harris says this election isn’t about Trump but, of course, it is. I have heard she encourages far right-leaning individuals to attend Board of Ed meetings so they can rail against protections for LGBTQ+ youth and diversity initiatives. These tactics are straight out of the Project 2025 playbook, a blueprint for an America devoid of empathy. The tragedy is that she’s a physician who once took an oath to do no harm.
I would like to see civil discourse and solutions from the current president rather than the usual taunts, pettiness, name calling, and racist dog whistles, Ms Harris. He is, after all, the de facto leader of the GOP and his bonker policies trickle down to the local level.
Spoiler alert: I’m a conservative.
Affordable housing, safe streets and effective education are all DEI issues. Any solutions to these issues that ignore the DEI perspective leave important voices out of the conversation. I’m hopeful to hear how the future Town Council and Board of Ed plan to address these issues in the coming election cycle.
Public schools in Connecticut adhere to the curriculum guidelines established by the Connecticut State Board of Education. When I read that Ms. Harris suggests a curriculum committee should be formed, it makes me think that she would like said committee to examine the state mandates and then propose eliminating some “objectionable” topics. What are you afraid of Ms. Harris?
Ok, so I’ll take an open mind– WH GOP slate is focused on good governance here- assume positive intent, right? . So let’s take a look at the RTC X account and we’ll see plenty of local policy statements….
* “Democrats love criminals, because they are criminals.” Strange, but maybe all the town democrats are criminal? Who am to say
* “Democrats, including those in West Hartford, want to protect illegal immigrants who are human traffickers, rapists and murderers.” Weird flex, but hey, ya’ll are local focused and Jeffrey Epstein isn’t from West Hartford, so let’s move on
* Retweet “Let me be clear .. Alex Soros is the money behind Antifa” I spotted Antifa the other day in the center, handing out cash so that tracks
* Retweet “Masculine nutcase Simone, who is so insane that she cost team USA medals by needing “mental health days” during the 2020 Olympic finals” Ouch– lots of hate to unpack here…..
* Retweet “We are being replaced… There’s no denying it.” Hmm.. that’s troubling
* Retweet “As we delete the stats of the man we called Lia Thomas, we should remember that the media played right along and also deserve deletion” This seems like not a local issue, but Pennsylvania is near CT, maybe? Also, not really supporting LGBTQ+ folks, maybe your supporting those folks post earlier in the week was posted by a hacker?
But yeah, less traffic, lower taxes, less. crime… geez