‘I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work’

To the Editor:

As we close in on the final days before the election, I want to express my appreciation to the citizens of Monroe, Trumbull and Easton who have been so gracious and forthcoming as we have talked about the important issues we face as a town, and as a country. I am running to be your state representative, and I am more fired up today than when I launched this campaign back in May.

Almost every day I’ve been out talking with people at their doorsteps and attending community events. You have shown me that our values are aligned, and that there is a lot of quiet energy and desire for a change in representation to ensure these values stay strong. Every day I am humbled by the many volunteers who have spent hours working with me to ensure their concerns will be addressed. I am ready to go to work in Hartford.

Among the many takeaways from my talking with folks, here’s some of what I’ve learned:

1. Protecting core freedoms. You have told me that protecting our personal freedoms is one of the fundamental issues at stake at this time in our nation’s history, and I agree with you. I am unwilling to stand by and watch as these rights — and more — are at risk. We must do all we can to build a firewall in our state legislature, to protect against encroachment that threatens our great democracy and rule of law. Respecting the inherent dignity of every person is a lesson my parents taught me, and I have worked to protect individual freedoms throughout my adult life. The endorsements of Planned Parenthood Votes and Reproductive Equity Now acknowledge this commitment to protecting the rights of individuals, as do my years of active volunteerism.
2. Affordability an issue for working families and businesses alike. You are concerned about affordability whether related to housing, taxation, healthcare, childcare, utilities, eldercare, food, transportation, or any of the other expenses that families deal with. I share these concerns and my endorsement from the Connecticut Working Families Party recognizes my commitment to address these kitchen table issues. The endorsement of multiple unions, including SEIU, AFSCME, 4Cs and more — unions that are made of up tens of thousands of hardworking people here in Connecticut — reflects my understanding of the challenges that workers, the backbone of our communities, face.

At the same time, I will not abandon the legitimate concerns of businesses who need to keep costs in check and protect their margins and customers. Making sure Connecticut is a draw for corporations and small businesses is critical to all our lives here in Fairfield county. So supporting workers and businesses is a both, not an either/or.

Indeed, my support of CBIA [Connecticut Business and Industry Association], my signing of their Reimagine CT pledge, and my successful business career itself underscore my commitment to Connecticut businesses.

Ihave a master’s degree in business and spent many years in consulting and at business schools teaching smart business practice. Both my and my husband’s 30+ year careers have been about helping people and organizations build better business performance. It has defined both of us.

I will be a strong voice for both workers and businesses in Hartford.

3. A seat at the table to bring back funds to Monroe. Another topic that has come up in my walks that is important for townspeople to understand, is the value of being part of the current majority party. On the ballot you will see my name on three lines, but my being part of the Democratic party will benefit us all, regardless of your own personal party preference. This is because the majority party in our CT legislature is Democratic, so it is they who set the agenda and decide priorities — that’s the way the system works.

As a member of the majority party, I will have a seat at the table and be able to bring Monroe’s priorities to the forefront. I can fight to get our fair share of resources to put against roads, schools, and other important infrastructure projects that improve town living. Monroe especially has not been in this position for a while. If you compare our record to other towns in the area, you’ll see the difference. It’s time for that to change for those of us in the 112th.

4. Gun safety. The continuing issues of gun safety is also on your minds — what happened this fall at Masuk has been too scary. We can be proud to live in communities where our state is a leader in facing these challenges, but we cannot let up on our focus to keep us all safe. This is important to high schoolers, innocent youngsters playing at home, victims of domestic abuse, and sadly, so many more. Especially given the terrible history of gun violence in this part of Connecticut, I was gratified to have received the endorsements of Connecticut Against Gun Violence (endorsed with a Grade A rank), and Mothers Demand Action in addition to Mental Health Now.
5. The generational lifespan: seniors and the next generation. As I’ve shared with folks I’ve met, I know firsthand what many of us are going through when it comes to managing both ends of the generational lifespan. My beloved elderly parents needed attention and care even while I was managing a career and a household with teenage daughters — that squeeze so many of us can relate to. So I understand the issues facing our seniors and their families and want to help address them. At the same time, I know we need to work hard to make sure the world our children inherit — including its climate, culture, rights, and lifestyles — is both protected, and given room to develop in new ways. Our children’s future world depends on the actions we take now. My endorsement by the Young Democrats of Connecticut underscores this commitment to setting the next generation up well for the future.
6. Collaborative problem-solving vs. party politics. Finally, you have shared with me your concern about the divisiveness of partisan politics and the potential threats to our rights and freedoms, and I agree. It was particularly gratifying to have been endorsed by the Independent Party of Connecticut.  They recognize my commitment to working in a collaborative manner with anyone and everyone who has good ideas. This kind of coalition-building is the key to finding practical solutions that can become effective policy. Being a blindly loyal party member is not as important as doing the right thing for our citizenry.

The right choice for the 112th. In closing, I want to assure folks that regardless of one’s party preference — in both local and national politics — I am committed to representing everyone in our district, listening to us all, and being our collective voice in the legislature.

My background, experiences, priorities, featured articles, interviews, letters to the editor, and endorsements — all found on my website — can give you the confidence you need to make the right choice for Monroe, Easton and Trumbull. I ask for your vote, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.

Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], and review my website, BethCliff.vote.

Thank you for your support.

Beth Cliff

Easton, CT