To The Editor:

As a candidate for State Representative, I am so proud to have been born and raised in Connecticut. As Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz said at my campaign launch on January 10, “Brandon bleeds Connecticut.”

Some have suggested that I “haven’t lived here long.” That’s a bit odd! I am a third-generation Connecticut native. I left our state to serve on active duty in the US Army, not to work on Wall Street or pursue a cushy job elsewhere. I fought overseas because I love our state and our country and felt an obligation to defend it. I will never apologize for my military service, and I question the intention of anyone who would ask a veteran to do so.

Others have noted that I have never held elected office. That is true! I am not a politician. Instead of holding office, I held a commission as an Army officer handed to me directly by President Barack Obama on May 28, 2014 on the hallowed grounds of West Point. Amid combat in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, I gained lived experiences that prepared me for a lifetime of service to our state.

Since returning home, I have dedicated myself to Connecticut. I worked for Governor Ned Lamont and Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz, implementing workforce policies that helped thousands of residents secure well-paying jobs. I helped parents, veterans, and unemployed residents achieve the American dream.

Connecticut is not a place I discovered later in life. It has always been home. As my husband and I raise our family in Newtown, I am immensely proud of our community. From the Labor Day parade to trick-or-treating on Main Street to the Turkey Trot, I love our town deeply and am committed to serving it. My home is, and always will be, Newtown.

Brandon Moore

Newtown