Thank you for 2023!
Dear Fellow Democrats,
Last Tuesday, at Rosie’s, I mentioned that we Democrats in New Canaan are in a marathon, not a sprint. Marathons are hard and long. While we didn’t attain the results we hoped for — and our terrific slate of candidates deserved — the results in this election indicate that better finishes are ahead. Incumbent Brendan Hayes deservedly retained his seat on the Board of Education. And Amy Murphy Carroll, although she didn’t secure the First Selectman’s seat, will be a smart, knowledgeable voice on the Board of Selectmen. Our outstanding Board of Education candidates who ran in contested races finished very strong, with Lauren Connolly Nussbaum was just 61 votes short of winning a four-year seat, and Josh Kaye was just a few percentage points behind the incumbent Republican running for a two-seat. Our candidates deserve our deep gratitude for representing the best of our town and our party. As reported in this morning’s New Canaanite, the Republican hold on Board of Education seats is narrowing, with the voting differential between the two parties now down to 4%, compared to 24.5% just six years ago. The marathon goes on.
Our outstanding slate of candidates who bravely put themselves out to the public against all odds to take on leadership roles in our town government. Despite being the minority party in New Canaan, we Democrats worked tirelessly and challenged the opposition in an effort that didn't leave anything on the table. The Democratic Town Committee and our slate candidates embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and passion to make our community better. Our team knocked on doors, made thousands of phone calls, attended meet and greets and got the word out about how the Democratic slate would work on behalf of all New Canaan’s citizens. Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a political race, especially in a local election where you know and care about the candidates and where you believe so much is at stake.
So while last night didn’t go the way we wanted and hoped, our efforts reflect a trend that we Democrats increasingly offer New Canaan voters a strong, forward-looking alternative to the longstanding ruling party. In the light of this we should always remember to support one another. We are a community within New Canaan. We can be proud to be Democrats and never shy from standing up for our values and beliefs. We will continue to care for one another and to fight the good fight.
Special thanks go to our candidates, our supporters, our hard-working volunteers, our family and friends. And most of all thanks to all of you who voted!
Best wishes,
Christina Fagerstal, Chair
New Canaan DTC and its members
