As we get ready to vote this November, I hope Connecticut voters will look beyond party labels and take a hard look at what has been happening in Hartford.
Too often, I hear people say they will vote a certain way simply because they don't like Donald Trump. I understand that people have strong feelings about Trump. But this election isn't about Washington. It is about Connecticut.
We should be asking some basic questions: Are our taxes too high? Are our energy costs too high? Is government spending under control? Are our communities safe? Are parents being respected? And are our children being taught the fundamentals they need to succeed?
Those are the questions that should determine how we vote for our governor and state legislators.
Trump's legal battles have also become a major reason some people say they oppose him. Whatever your opinion of Trump, voters should understand the facts rather than relying on headlines or political talking points. In his New York criminal case, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The court also rejected his argument that the prosecution was barred by the statute of limitations.¹
You can agree with that decision or disagree with it. You can like Trump or dislike him. But Connecticut voters should not allow their feelings about a national political figure to distract them from what is happening in their own state.
Connecticut's future should not be decided by whether someone likes or dislikes Donald Trump.
Look at government spending.
Why shouldn't taxpayers demand that every dollar be accounted for? Why shouldn't we investigate waste, abuse and questionable spending rather than simply continuing to increase taxes and spending?
We may disagree about DOGE's methods, and the Government Accountability Office has raised legitimate questions about some of its reported savings.² But the basic principle is sound: taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability.
That same principle should apply here in Connecticut.
If state government is going to use taxpayer dollars to provide services to noncitizens, voters have every right to ask how much those programs cost, who qualifies and whether those priorities are consistent with the needs of Connecticut citizens and taxpayers.
This isn't about denying legitimate services to people who qualify under the law. It is about transparency and priorities. Connecticut's own Department of Social Services acknowledges that certain categories of noncitizens can qualify for programs such as SNAP and HUSKY, depending on their status and other eligibility requirements.³ Taxpayers have a right to understand the cost and scope of these programs and how eligibility is determined.
And then there are our children.
I believe schools should concentrate on educating children—reading, writing, mathematics, science, history and civics, along with the skills they need to become productive and independent adults.
Parents, not government bureaucrats or school administrators, should have the primary role in decisions about their children.
It should be acceptable to say that biological sex matters. It should be acceptable to say that there are males and females. It should be acceptable to say that a girl can be a tomboy without deciding that something is wrong with her. And it should be acceptable to believe that children deserve the time and freedom to grow and mature before adults push them toward decisions with potentially permanent consequences.
Connecticut has policies addressing gender identity in schools, including requirements concerning how schools respond to students and disputes over what information should be shared with parents.⁴ These are legitimate issues for Connecticut voters to debate.
I believe Connecticut needs a government that respects parents, protects children, controls spending, lowers the cost of living and puts Connecticut taxpayers first.
That is why I am supporting Ryan Fazio for governor.
Fazio has made affordability, energy costs, government spending and public safety central issues in his campaign. He is the Republican nominee for governor and has also secured the Independent Party ballot line.⁵
But this isn't simply about Ryan Fazio. It is about the direction of Connecticut.
If you've been paying attention to the bills coming out of Hartford over the last several years, you know Connecticut has made consequential choices on taxes, spending, energy, education and public safety.
We don't have to agree on every issue. But we should demand that our elected officials answer some basic questions: What is the cost? Who pays for it? Does it work? Is it necessary? And does it make Connecticut a better place to live, work, raise a family and retire?
That's what elections are supposed to be about.
So this November, don't just vote for a party.
Look at the record. Look at the policies. Look at where Connecticut is headed—and then vote for the change you believe our state needs.
Don't let Washington—or Donald Trump—make the decision for you.
This election is about Connecticut.
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