Leading By Example, For Unity And For Newtown
To The Editor:
Twenty votes. That’s how close we came!
As a first-time candidate who only started knocking on doors a few months ago, this result fills me with pride. But honestly, I’m not thinking about the 20 votes. I’m thinking about the 400+ Newtowners who showed up on a weeknight to take part in real, in-person democracy. It was standing room only at the middle school, and it meant the world to me to see our town take this caucus so seriously.
When I said I was running because I care so deeply about our town and our values, I wasn’t kidding. That is why I am proudly, and with a full heart, ending my campaign for state representative.
I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to the people who filled our campaign with so much energy. There are SO many to thank, but a few poured absolutely obscene amounts of work into our crazy endeavor. Jill Soderholm, Agni Pavlidou, John Fletcher, Dan & Susan Welsh, Christine & Olivia McAndrew, Jed Devillers, and, of course, my husband Mike: I am in awe of your generosity. This is a debt I can never repay, but I’ll certainly try with NewSylum or Reverie beers anytime you ask!
To Michelle Embree Ku, congratulations. I proudly endorse you, and you have me and my entire team behind you from today until election day.
To all my supporters, especially the NHS and college students, you are the reason any of this was possible. You gave your nights, weekends, and whole hearts to something bigger than yourselves. This is not the end. Do not get disillusioned. There is so much work to do, and we need every one of you in this fight.
To the countless Newtowners who urged me to keep going and push on until August, thank you for your passion and zeal. I will channel your energy into Democratic victories up and down the ballot this November.
To any Democrat who fought hard in the primary, I hope you will fight even harder in the general election. We need you.
And to Mitch Bolinsky and the Republican party insiders in town, you are now up against a united Democratic Party. My team and I remain fully invested in flipping this seat, and you have never faced Newtown Democrats as energized as we are today.
So although I won’t be on the ballot this time, I am not going anywhere! Newtown is my home and it always will be. I stand shoulder to shoulder with Newtowners today and I always will.
Thank you, Newtown, from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this wild journey fighting for our town.
Brandon Moore
Newtown
I didn’t have enough word count to thank my full team the way they deserve, so I’m doing that here! My debt of gratitude is enormous and I’ll never be able to repay it fully.
Laura Miller and Peter Schwartz, you two were my incredible sounding boards through this entire campaign. And Laura, you kicked off my campaign launch with a speech so full of energy and humor that it set exactly the right tone from Day 1. I cannot thank you both enough for being with me from the very beginning.
Jordana Bloom, this town is so, so lucky to have you! You know absolutely everyone, which honestly is a testament to how much people around Newtown adore you. And you’re one heck of a fighter! Thank you for being such a wonderful friend, such a selfless person, and for sharing your heart so generously with us.
Arnie Berman, you were basically my campaign consigliere lol. Having you as a core part of this team made us so much better, no question about it. You’re doing great things on the Legislative Council, but I think we need you in Congress one day!
Aidan Music, it was so great to have not just another young guy on the campaign, but someone so fired up about winning and willing to put in the work to make it happen. I lost count of how many times you rushed home from work just to make a campaign meeting. I owe you a drink, or a few, anytime you’d like!
Michelle Assante, thank you so much for being so devoted to our mission and for being willing to give so much insight and feedback on the best way to accomplish our goals. Not only do I have you to thank, but I have Violet and Willow to thank too! They brought so much energy to the campaign and I am so indescribably appreciative of everything you’ve all done.
Beth Young, you are so deeply valued, not just on our campaign but in our town and on the Board of Finance. Thank you for letting me plant that giant, gaudy sign in your front yard lol, for all your help making calls, and for being committed from the very start. And a huge thank you to your daughter for starring in one of our very first campaign videos! You both are the absolute best.
And Chris Gardner, if anybody is Mr. Newtown, it’s you! Not only do I deeply appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this campaign, but I look forward to joining you in the Lions Club. I know it sounds silly, but truly one of my highlights this year was helping to raise the summer flag on the flagpole alongside you! I know we’re going to be great friends well into the future.