West Hartford is thriving, and here are some reasons why.

By Mayor Shari Cantor

When voters ask me why they should support the Democratic team for Town Council, I usually respond with a question of my own:

What made you choose to live in West Hartford?

Most people say the same things: a strong sense of community, safe and walkable neighborhoods, a nationally recognized and diverse school system, and thriving commercial districts filled with incredible shops and restaurants.

None of this happened by accident. It’s the result of thoughtful and strategic policies enacted under consistent Democratic leadership.

This November, voters face a choice: continue the progress we’ve made or turn to a Republican team aligned with the divisive politics and damaging policies of the Trump administration.

Ask yourself:

• Will even one local Republican candidate speak out against Trump’s tariffs that are driving up the cost of groceries, fuel, and building materials?
• Will they oppose the dangerous erosion of free speech and academic freedom?
• Will they denounce the rollback of clean energy initiatives – like the abrupt shutdown of the Revolution Wind project, which Connecticut and other Northeast states were counting on?
• Will they speak out against Trump’s recommitment to polluting fossil fuels like coal, and his all-out assault on clean energy jobs and infrastructure?
• Will they defend the Department of Education against its dismantling – or speak up for K–12 programs, teacher training, and civil rights enforcement?
• Will they oppose cuts to Medicaid and food assistance impacting our most vulnerable residents?
• Will they oppose the fiscal irresponsibility of adding $4 trillion dollars to the national debt  burdening our children and grandchildren?
• Will they support the human rights of our LGBTQ community and immigrant communities and everyone in our community?

The response is predictable: Trump isn’t on the ballot.

But the truth is, he doesn’t need to be. His agenda advances because Republican leaders at all levels – including local – remain, at best, silent – and at worst, complicit and openly supportive. Whether through quiet assent or vocal endorsement, they enable the erosion of democratic norms and help push policies that threaten our community’s values and future.

In contrast, West Hartford Democrats have a record we’re proud of.

We’ve approved nearly 1,500 new housing units – many of them deed-restricted affordable housing – putting us on track to surpass the state’s 10% affordable housing goal when the next statewide report is released.

As a fully developed community, West Hartford has little unused land for traditional development. But instead of letting that limit us, we’ve embraced creative solutions – converting parking lots, vacant convents, closed synagogues, contaminated campuses, and underused hotels into vibrant, productive spaces.

These adaptive reuse projects have helped diversify our housing options to support residents at every stage of life – from first-time buyers, to renters, to empty nesters ready to downsize.

We’ve also continued to invest in our nationally recognized public school system. Awards and accolades are great – and our district earns many – but the real success is what you see in the classroom: talented teachers preparing students to lead with knowledge, empathy, and integrity.

We’re investing in safety too, adopting a Vision Zero policy aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This means real changes on our streets – with quick-build traffic calming, better trail and pedestrian connectivity like the Trout Brook Trail, and stepped-up traffic enforcement.

And we’re revitalizing our infrastructure. West Hartford is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation: widened sidewalks, new tree plantings, expanded outdoor dining – all designed to create a more beautiful, accessible, and vibrant community. Yes, construction causes temporary inconvenience – but the long-term benefits will be transformative.

West Hartford is thriving because of Democratic leadership – leadership grounded in values like truth, ethics, science, humanity, kindness, and respect.

Now, it’s up to us. The future of our town – its policies, its spirit, its direction – will be decided by what we do this November (and remember early voting starts Oct. 20).

We may not be able to change the national political climate, but here in West Hartford, we can protect what matters. We can continue building a community we’re proud to call home.

Let’s keep West Hartford moving forward.

Let’s keep it strong.

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