Statement from Arny DiLaura, Chair, Ridgefield Democratic Committee

Commitment vs. Contempt

Last night at the Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield voters showed up. We showed up to engage with candidates who want to represent us in Hartford. We showed up to hear what matters most to them, and to ask questions about what matters most to Ridgefield. But you know who didn’t show up? Republican candidates. 

At the last minute, three of the four Republican candidates broke their commitment to participate in the League of Women Voters Forum they agreed to weeks ago. And because they didn’t show up, Ridgefield voters lost our chance to hear from all the candidates, due to the League’s “empty chair” rules. Republicans arranged it so everyone lost. Not showing up after promising to participate was deeply disrespectful to the candidates who did, to the forum organizers, and especially to Ridgefield voters. Most importantly, if Republican candidates won’t even show up for the job interview, they are not fit to do the job of representing us in Hartford. This broken promise means we cannot trust them to show up to fight for our communities in the State House and Senate. 

Republicans simply don’t care. They don’t care about talking to you, listening to you, or working for you. Because if you believe in your positions, if you have a core of goodness, if you sincerely want to improve the lives of those you serve, it’s not that difficult to sit in a chair on a stage and engage with voters as you promised.

The choice in this election is crystal clear. Democratic State Senators Julie Kushner and Ceci Maher, Democratic State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Democratic candidate for the 42nd House District, Savet Constantine, showed up prepared to engage with Ridgefield voters. They show up every day to do the work it takes to understand our communities’ needs, to bring us together, and move us forward. They show up, they engage and they work for Ridgefield, because that’s the job. 

Now it’s our turn to show up and support the candidates who respect Ridgefield voters, who keep their commitment to spend time with us and who show they care. We must vote for the candidates who respect our community, who put Ridgefield’s priorities first, and who focus on shared progress, not partisan pettiness. Re-elect our state delegation — Senators Kushner and Maher, and Rep. Berger-Girvalo — and send Savet Constantine to join this outstanding team.