Brookfield's Elections

I have never written a public letter before. I’ve never involved myself in local politics either. (However, in 26 years of being eligible, I’ve also never failed to vote in an election or on a town or school budget.) But something arrived in my mailbox this week that was so deeply disturbing, I could not ignore it.

The mail I am referring to is a campaign flyer put out by the local Republican Party in Brookfield inviting folks to a “meet and greet.” It includes the highlights of each Row A candidate’s campaign platform. At first, I was glad to have received it since I am an Independent and am meticulous about making my election-day decisions based on the individual candidates, not on party line – especially when it comes to local elections (which really should have nothing to do with political party and everything to do with each candidate’s vision for his or her community.)  But then I read the mailer and found myself deeply concerned about the Republican Party’s endorsements this fall.

There were 9 candidates on the flyer, all men. Each outlined the key goals of his candidacy. But what I read beneath their names was a laundry list of budget cuts and spending reductions. We always expect such promises at election time, so I was of course, not surprised. (Frankly, I’d be concerned if there was no mention of responsible economics from candidates seeking town management positions.) But what was disturbing was there was nothing else to their campaign. It wasn’t what was in this mailer that disturbed me…it was what wasn’t there.

Here’s what I would have expected from someone running for local office… A reflection of their vision for our town, a sense of passion or love of our community and its residents, an appreciation for the role that the community plays in the quality of our individual lives, and a plan to enhance or at least preserve that. None of that was apparent in the flyer. It surprised me that the folks whose pictures were featured see themselves as leaders because the ad failed to convey any sense of leadership at all. Their platforms are completely devoid of passion or inspiration or a sense of direction for our town. It lacked highlights of their resumes that reflect their qualifications and related experience to demonstrate to me that they are qualified for the positions they seek. And, while they outlined some specific budget reductions, the pitch failed to convince me that they could accomplish those goals since they seemed to lack the expertise or the leadership skills to achieve them.

It seems they have one agenda and one agenda only…to cut spending. And that is the sole reason they are seeking office. But firstly, that is easier said than done and without specific experience in the field of financial management, I don’t see how this group could accomplish that without destroying our community. None appear to come from related fields. I can’t tell what their educational backgrounds are or what they do for a living or know anything about how they manage their own finances (although I recognize one as the man who painted my kitchen and I know another had some financial trouble of his own a few years back.) But more importantly, the positions they seek are much more dynamic than their focus is and none of the candidates seem to have any sense of the complexities of the jobs they are applying for, other than the fact that they want it to cost less to live here.

So, here is the conclusion I have drawn from their flier: These candidates don’t care anything about my community. If anything they seem to resent it. I can’t figure out why these men are running for public office, except to avoid paying their taxes. They have no vision for where they would like to lead us (which probably doesn’t matter because they don’t have the skills necessary to lead anyway.)

But I love this town.  And I don’t want to turn it over to people who don’t – to people who only care about money and have no appreciation for the things I value in our community. I want to vote for candidates who are inspired to run for office by a passion for our community not by resentment for it – people who are seeking office because they have a vision for their leadership and are ready to serve that vision. I want to hear from candidates who want to sell me their vision and who can prove to me that they have a plan, and the experience to get us there. I want to know that they are seeking office because they love Brookfield as much as I do and they want to protect it and nurture it because it is their home. Instead, what the Republicans have offered me are candidates who seem to view our town as nothing but a selfish money suck. It pains me to think that a group that so clearly harbors such angry resentment toward our town may be put in charge of its care.

And just when I thought I could not be more upset that these narrowly-focused men might take over our town government, I noticed their campaign slogan… “For Brookfield”… Ironic because these guys don’t seem to be “For” anything. In fact, from what I have come to learn about their politics since receiving the flyer, they are in fact AGAINST everything. These are not the people I want making decisions about our schools, our library, our police force, our roads, local commerce, open spaces, sanitation, development, parks (or countless other aspects of community life that collectively shape the character of our town) and especially not our town  or school budget. I don’t want the men in this flyer making decisions that will affect my family, my property values.  I don’t believe they have Brookfield’s best interest at heart…or mine. I believe the only interest they have is the size of their own wallets. I will be voting Row B this year. I believe in progress and I believe in Brookfield and I believe that the candidates who received the Democratic endorsement (some of whom are Republicans) do too. In fact, I’m counting on it. And I think, if you look at the flyer again through that lens, you will join me.