Letter: “We believe this moment in time is not ‘politics as usual.’”
To the Editor:
We are inspired by Westport women who came before us – Republicans and Democrats alike – who rallied and door-knocked and wrote letters and took personal risks for over seven decades in pursuit of the right to vote.
Today, more than 100 years after the 19th amendment was added to our constitution, women are still not equal under the law. This is both unethical and un-American. Overturning Roe v Wade was, quite simply, a violation of our dignity and human rights.
Join us in mobilizing the power of the collective to promote women’s issues in 2022. Issues that are personal,familial and community focused. Issues that include privacy and individual freedoms and the education, safety and well-being of our children. Issues that impact the identity and vitality of our town.
When we cast our ballots in November, we must vote for policies, candidates and parties that validate our equal status, shared values and the survival of our democracy. Throughout history and in societies across the globe, women have united against marginalization. Demanding that our elected officials stand up for the rights of more than half the population is fundamental to our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Committed to moving forward in our homes, our schools and workplaces, our village, our state and our country, we respectfully ask you,friends and neighbors from diverse political ideologies,to:
Recognize your power.
Accept your responsibility.
Vote in the best interests of yourself and your sisters, daughters, mothers, girlfriends and granddaughters.
As Westport suffragists Lillian Wald, Amelia Shaw MacDonald Cutler, Sara Buek Crawford, Anna Holden Mazzanovich, Laura Gardin Fraser, Rose O’Neill and others bravely did over 100 years ago, stand up for the women and girls you know and don’t yet know, in Westport and in destinations far from here. Our causes are also theirs.
Women of Westport unite. And V O T E.
Signed, Jessica Hill Jen Greely Kate McGarvey Trudie Gubitz Andrea Berkley Ebru Halper Nancy Axthelm Gery Grove Lindsay Weiner Miriamne DeMarrais Lisa Hofmeister Julia Marx Rebecca Martin Jen Gorin Michelle Mechanic Lauren MacNeill Liz Leggett Courtney McCrea Haley Lieberman Erin Loranger Danielle Teplica Denise Michalowski Kara Sullivan Gail Berritt Joelle Berger Vicki Volper Jill Saluck Abby Tolan Megan Rutstein Robin Weinberg Melissa Kane Anne Burmeister Amiee Altschul Sally Potter Annie Zimmerli-Haskell Amy Benjamin Linda Gordon Jill Nadel Sarah Benjamin Alexandra Benjamin Jordana Latzman Laila Latzman Liz Milwe Sarah Kelly Darcy Hicks Melissa Post Candace Banks Lorraine Pallumbo Lauren Kreizer Lisa Newman Danielle Dobin Laura Franklin Lauren Karpf Kris Jandora Netta Levy Donna Bacro Wendy G Batteau Sara Kempner Pegeen Rubinstein Hannah Spencer Ali Stanley Leslie Blank Haley Schulman Karen Salsgiver Coveney Shayna Green Marjorie Jacobson Stacie Curran Sivan Hong Karen Driscoll Miryha Fantegrossi Kate Tarrant Cynthia Cornell. Julie Cochran Linda Costello Anne Bowens Eliza Bowens Natasha Johnston Bonita Messman Rama Iyer Galia Gichon Mariana Servin Carrie Blasberg Jaimie Dockray Jenny Perlman Sara Jordan Sydney Hunter Esme Hunter Kate Kornfeld Jenny Lukens Jane Lukens Ifeseyi Gayle Marjorie Almansi Maureen Tarrant Elizabeth Kessler Stacie Waldman Kelli O’Hara Naughton Jen Meerow Berniker Sarah Green Caroline Motyl Tomira Wilcox Cathy Kim Walker Linda Mandel Weatherly Hammond Courtney McMahon Diana Mashia Ana Johnson Aline Kultgen Ronnie Aaron Hammer Ashley Moran Deborah Alexander Maria Freeman Melissa Levy Sara Holt Reiss-Schmidt Jas Silver Stephanie Tang Patra Kanchanagom Ellie Magnuson Kit Tingley Emily Croce Bihl Shannon Vindiola Inés Riera Brooke Davies Christina Trudeau Alison Luisi Deirdre Doran Julie Keil Riordan Michaela Rome Amy Herrera Eileen Winnick Jeanne B Klinge Jennifer DeLeonardo Seena Cushman Amanda Holt Corey Phyllis Freeman Carol Anne Ances Nancy Anderson Marcia Falk Helene Jacobs Dana Aussenberg Susan Eastman Dina Upton Hannah DeQuadros Lisa Eisen Sheri Gordon Lauren Gladstein Elizabeth Malaspina Coe Tracy Brenner Tyndale Brickey Bloom Michelle Backus Mia Anderson Allison O’Dell Sarah Caro Elizabeth Woodson Katie Apton Libby Spader Alex Cirasuolo Pam Barkentin Elise Zimmerman Jodi Christensen-Hardin Carolanne Curry Melinda Greenlee Lindsey Allen Emma Allen Georgia Allen Margo Amgott Lindsay Blass Vicki Lopez Marley Lopez-Paul Leslie Gransberry Kathryn Sonne Elizabeth Sonne Joan Polayes Dalma Heyn Josephine Deignan Lindsay Shurman Lauri Weiser Cathy Brodows Kate Frascella Diane McCoy Celeste Lacroix Joan Gillman Allyson Stollenwerck Jill Totenberg Jenae Weinbrenner Jessica Newshel Bobbi Essagof Elizabeth Canner Susan Hendee Patricia Gabal Betsy Sunderji Marjorie Donalds Jodi Ross Aviva Ross Georgette Geller Julia Petro Valerie Greenberg Michelle D’Auria Kiana Danial Diana Shayon Nathalie Jacob Barbra Utting Angela Benzan Linda Pryde Helene Jacobs Prill Boyle
To add your name to this letter, email Jessica Hill at jmbhill24@gmail.com
We invite Westport women and high school girls (able / soon able to vote) to add their names. The letter will be published locally in advance of the November election.
State Senate, Representative Seat Debate to be Held on October 18th
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and the Westport Library are pleased to once again bring a vibrant and informative debate to the community this election season. This year three races will be covered in this interactive and moderated candidate forum, that of State Senate and two State Representatives districts.
The event will be held live in the Library and on Vimeo on Tuesday October 18th at noon.
The debate will feature; Toni Boucher and Ceci Maher vying for the State Senate in district 26, Jonathan Steinberg and Alma Sarelli for Representative of the 136th district, and Nicole Hampton and Dominique Johnson for the 143rd Representative district.
“We have been doing these types of debates for years with the Library,” said Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber. “This one will cover a lot of ground, giving the candidates room to explain their positions and what they stand for.”
“This is all part of our mission to bring information to the community in this case through a debate,” said Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the Library. “It’s also another collaboration with the Chamber who we enjoy being partners with on so many things.”
The debate will be moderated by Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber.
For further information and streaming go to www.westportwestonchamber.com/debate2022
Letter: “they should vote for Ceci Maher.” says Naughton
To The Editor,
I’ve been working for the past five years to pass a Medical Aid in Dying law in Connecticut. I’ve testified multiple times before the Public Health Committee of our State Legislature, given interviews on the subject to newspapers, TV, and talk radio programs, and now I’m writing in support of Ceci Maher’s candidacy for State Senator from the 26th district.
Maher is an ardent supporter of medical aid-in-dying, and her opponent, Toni Boucher, is not.
I spoke with Toni Boucher a few days ago and asked her where she stood on the issue. She repeated to me the words I’ve heard all too frequently from legislators who want to defeat this reasonable measure. She used the code words expressing concern for “people with disabilities and old people” who might be pressured into seeking “assisted suicide,” pejoratives far too often used by opponents.
Let’s get it straight: In the 25 years since Oregon first passed this law, and now with 10 more states and D.C. on board, there just hasn’t been such a problem reported. And, it would be a felony. In the past three years, the CT Medical Society (Physicians) have gone from “against, to neutral.” The CT Nurses Association moved from “opposed to favorable.”
And recent Connecticut polling is clear: 75% of CT residents want this legislation passed.
If your readers want it passed, they should write to their State Legislators, and if they are residents of the 26th District, they should vote for Ceci Maher.
James Naughton
Weston
Republican, Democratic Town Primaries Tuesday, August 9th
The Town Clerk and Registrars of Voters announce the following regarding the Republican Primary and Democratic Primary scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
When: Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Hours and Locations: As with any election, voting is between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. All polling locations are the exact same for every Westport voter as they would be for a general election. To find your polling location follow the link: https://www.westportct.gov/government/departments-a-z/town-clerk-s-office/find-my-state-and-local-representatives.
Absentee ballot applications are already available through the Town Clerk’s office as they would be for any general election. The drop box is NOW available at the rear of Town Hall for receiving applications and absentee ballots. For more information on absentee ballots: https://www.westportct.gov/government/departments-a-z/town-clerk-s-office/elections-voter-registration.
Only Enrolled Party Members May Vote in a Primary: Connecticut has a closed primary system. Only enrolled Democrats may vote in the Democratic Primary, and only enrolled Republicans may vote in the Republican Primary. The deadline for changing from one party to another to vote in the primary has already passed. However, an unaffiliated voter may select a party up to noon the day before the primary, changing to one of the major parties. If you are unsure of your party status, you can look up your voter registration at https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx.
Registration Cut-off: Applications to register by mail must be postmarked by the 5th day before a primary OR a person can apply online or in-person until noon on August 8.
Note: There is no election day registration for primaries. Accordingly, all electors must be properly registered before the day of the primaries.