Letter: ‘Beth Cliff a brave voice for families in House District 112’

To the Editor:

“They kind of forced our hand.” That’s what a fellow Easton Dad said to me at the soccer fields this past weekend. I had worn a T-shirt that highlighted the Republican Party’s authoritarian turn. Both of us were once registered to vote as Republicans, and we both changed to unregistered voters in response.

I’m not one to talk politics at the soccer fields. In over 10 years in Easton, I’ve rarely ever discussed politics with friends, let alone people I’ve just met. But, times are different, and it’s important to have difficult conversations. So, I wore the shirt.

While a shirt alone doesn’t change much, the conversations it sparks with neighbors can make a difference. That’s why I wanted to share that Beth Cliff is much braver than me and is the right choice for young families this election. Once you cross certain lines, like supporting policies that seek to limit personal freedoms, you become part of the problem. Beth’s opponent this election, Tony Scott, is a part of the problem.

Tony Scott tries to distance himself from the candidate, Donald Trump, but in politics, policies drive priorities. Agenda 47 and Project 2025 together are the policy agenda and planning documents of the Republican party. Tony Scott has already told voters how he feels about these cornerstone Republican documents.

In a September 2021 article in the Monroe Sun, Mr. Scott was quoted saying that his party needed to, “Make sure we’re doing the right things for Monroe and for our morals that we’ve established as Republicans — and keep moving forward.” (Emphasis added)

Therein lies the problem. In addition to wanting what they see as best for our towns, which is perfectly fine, they also want to enforce the morals of the Republican Party.

Notice that Tony Scott didn’t say American morals, he said Republican. He said these words 259 days after the January 6th attack on the Capitol in Washington, D.C. He likes Trump’s policies and wants to uphold Republican morals. The Republican platform is all about allowing the minority to enforce their narrow world view on the majority. When authoritarianism is at the top of a party’s ticket, it’s the policies that allow the takeover to happen.

That’s why Beth Cliff is stepping up. But, she’s not just running against Trumpism, she’s running to bring real benefits to our towns. Her policies focus on what matters most to working families: reducing household expenses across the board — housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, groceries, childcare and healthcare. Beth understands Connecticut families are feeling the pinch, and she will seek solutions that ease the burden.

But she won’t stop there. Beth also understands that addressing climate change isn’t just about preserving the environment, it’s a massive opportunity. She’s committed to bringing clean, green, prevailing wage jobs to our state, positioning Connecticut as a leader in green energy.

With her leadership, we can create programs that help consumers lower their utility bills by making climate-friendly choices, while strengthening our economy. This is the kind of forward-thinking leadership our towns need.

Beth also champions excellent public education, free of MAGA influence. She will fight to expand funding for pre-K and vocational programs, ensuring that every child in our districts gets the best start in life. As a member of the majority party, Beth can secure the state funding we need for infrastructure investments and community programs.

Beth is the right choice not just for her distinguished career in business, strong moral code that transcends politics, and policy priorities, but for her bravery.

We live in unprecedented times for our Republic. It takes courage to stand up to a party running on fear, vitriol, and hate. Beth Cliff is choosing to do something, and she’s doing it with policies that truly serve our families and communities.

Neighbors, I’m asking you to do something too. Support Beth and ask your neighbor to do the same.

Jonathan J Webster,

Easton resident