To The Editor:

Dear fellow unaffiliated voters of Newtown. We’re the majority. 28% of voters belong to the Republican party. 31% belong to the Democratic party. We represent 42% of Newtown’s electorate! Whether we turn out to vote, and who we vote for, will determine Newtown’s future. Who do you want to represent us?

Do you despise the two-party political system? Are you frustrated that they hold an almost exclusive grip over our election choices? Do you subscribe to “People Over Politics,” not as a campaign slogan, but in the literal sense? Yeah, me too.

Turns out I’ve been overthinking how to vote this year. The choice is really quite simple. Especially at the top of the ticket for the Legislative Council and Board of Selectmen, the people charged with setting the tone, the direction and making the big decisions that will impact all of Newtown going forward.

I simply cannot vote for anyone choosing to associate with today’s Republican Party of Trump. Too many of our relatives died fighting the fascism and authoritarianism they promote and protect. Too many others spend/spent their lives dealing with and fighting racism, sexism and xenophobia. We all saw what happened on January 6th, and then we all saw the violent insurrectionists get pardoned. We all see the unfettered market manipulation happening before our eyes. And, we all work too hard to have the fruits of our labor handed over to Billionaires and dictators, here and abroad, in exchange for private jets and development rights.

It’s true that most local Republican Party of Trump candidates, including some I consider friends, are nice, reasonable people. But that’s not enough. Choosing to compartmentalize and look the other way is not enough. I haven’t seen any of them stand up or speak out against the self-enriching, felonious, vile, or dehumanizing behavior their party endorses, enables and tolerates. Like it or not, silence is complicity. It’s also true that they share their endorsement with a Legislative Council candidate who published a tantrum threatening to sue all residents for “gross stupidity” when a bipartisan vote protecting our first amendment rights didn’t go his way, and another LC candidate who published slurs referring to constituents she didn’t agree with over our first amendment rights.

I commend everyone who has the moral integrity and fortitude to cut ties with the Republic Party of Trump and disassociate with what it stands for today, including Neil Chaudry (Police Commission) and Tom Long (LC-3). All things equal (and they’re not — these guys are both highly qualified, experienced candidates), Tom and Neil’s strength of character alone deserves our vote. As for the rest of the candidates, not voting is not an option. But this unaffiliated voter cannot … will not … vote for candidates who willingly trade their morals, ethics, values and sense of right and wrong, for the endorsement of today’s Republican Party of Trump.

I hope you agree. Because silence is complicity … and Newtown’s future is in your hands.

Dave Ackert

Newtown