Bindelglass: Message to Voters

Everybody knows how polarized our political climate is these days. We would like to think things in Easton are different. They are… and they are not.

During the last six years --and I hope going forward--the majority of what we do in town government is done in a bipartisan fashion. Votes on the board of selectman are mostly unanimous. Votes on the all-important planning and zoning board are usually unanimous and when they are not, they usually DO NOT follow party lines.

As First Selectman I have tried to include even my harshest critics in important town projects and decisions. However, in municipal elections the town has moved from 40 consecutive years of Republican leadership to a Democratic landslide in 2023, even while on national issues there is still a great divide.  If you are new to town politics, I offer the following explanation.

If you look at the Republican Town Committee in 2018, before I was first elected, one third of those people, including several past chairmen, are now strong supporters of this year's Democratic ticket. Two candidates on this Democratic ticket previously ran as Republicans. At the same time, Democrats do not always contest seats where the incumbent Republicans are effective in elected office, putting competence above party.

We all benefit from the willingness of many dedicated residents of both parties who volunteer their time and talent to serve on our boards and commissions. Their work is absolutely critical in small towns like Easton.  And while bipartisanship has been good for local government, Republicans seeking appointment to town committees have in recent years increasingly felt that only way they could in good conscience volunteer for service has been to go around the town committee and appeal directly to the board of selectmen for consideration. While in rare instances this has happened with Democrats too, this has become a prominent issue with Republican nominees, so common that Republican Selectman Sigofsky authored a policy for the board of selectmen to allow people to self-nominate without their party's official nomination. 

Finally, the most vocal current leaders of the Republican party actually sued the town of Easton and the state Republican party to gain control over the Republican party in Easton.

Some will call what I am saying partisan, and I would not argue. However, it is true.

Most people do not have the time to search out longstanding Republicans in town, to ask their opinions, or verify the facts I have laid out. I hope some will ask why there has been such a dramatic change in electoral results with so many non-Democrats supporting Democratic candidates, even while so many Republicans continue to make invaluable contributions to town government and remain so involved in our town.

Whatever your beliefs about national issues, I ask that you also consider what is best for Easton beyond traditional party affiliations in the coming election. 

David Bindelglass