One thing that stands out between campaigning in 2024 versus when I first campaigned for First Selectman of Southbury in 2011 is the number of times people ask me: “Aren’t you concerned about your personal safety as a candidate”.

That never happened in 2011 or 2013 or 2015. 

But now I hear it very often. 

Of course, it is not just me, but so many people involved in public service.  It runs the gamut from judges to legislators to election officials (see recent article in New York Times on April 14^th: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/13/us/politics/election-workers-threats.html?searchResultPosition=1).  I, like many, believe this is caused by the coarsening of political language that incorporates calls for violence.  The vast majority of people know not to act on this inappropriate language.  However, some are prone to this type of behavior and the political language of certain people can encourage them to engage in physical violence.

Although this is a national problem, it can and has happened locally.  We did begin to see that threat evolve during Board of Selectmen meetings in 2014.  IT began with inappropriate language directed at members of the Board.  This led the head of the police force to ask me if I wanted police presence at Board meetings, something that I had never contemplated before.  Instead, I chose to ask two well-known religious leaders in Southbury to attend the meeting.  Their presence calmed things down.  Some of the instigators complained that this was a violation of the separation of Church and State.  Apparently, they were ashamed of their behavior in the presence of clergy.

When I am asked about if I am concerned about political violence directed at me, I say I am.  However, it only makes me feel that running for an elected office is more important than ever. By doing so I am taking a stand against those who think violence can be used to intimidate political speech.  In the book called “The Mortal Republic”, the author explores why the democratic Roman Republic devolved to an authoritarian regime ruled by an Emperor.  A key contributor was the rise of violence as an alternative to the debate and discussion that was an essential part of how decisions were made in the Republic.  That is why for me, what unfolded on January 6, 2021 was so alarming. 

We cannot take for granted that our democratic form of government is immune to destructive forces that undermined the Roman Republic.

I have already called upon both candidates for the Republican party to join me in a joint statement that we will run campaign’s that our children/grandchildren can be proud of including calling out our supporters if they use inappropriate language. Neither has responded to my request.

As always, I appreciate hearing from you. With Best Regards, Ed