To The Editor:

My name is Peter Schwarz and I’m a candidate for the Legislative Council in District 1. Over the past weeks, I’ve been talking to voters and promising them “I’ll try my very best to make us all proud of Newtown.”

What does that mean ?

The past few years have seen us sometimes picking fights with each other at the expense of what brings us together as neighbors. It’s not most people who act out this way, just a vocal few on each “side,” but it discourages many people from being more involved in the community because they don’t want to get pilloried for having a sincerely held opinion.

I think we all realize that’s not a good situation for building a community. There is no scoreboard, there are no winners and losers on social media, there often is only a sense of anger, frustration, and a diminished sense of “us.” I think we all know we have to dial that back to move forward.

We first have to take baby steps.

When our friends and colleagues ask us “How can you even talk to those people?” we have to change that to “Well, at least our town seems to get along and get things done.” There will always be a small number of people on both sides of every discussion who get satisfaction from being loud and extreme. Let’s take the first steps to reclaiming calmer debate. We can make Newton better today and tomorrow, if we work together.

I would be honored if you would vote for me on November 2.

Peter Schwarz

Newtown