“Think Globally Act Locally” is a bumper sticker one finds on Subarus with Vermont license plates driven by hippies in Birkenstocks. It is also a good idea. One’s individual vote is almost infinitely insignificant at the national level and isn’t much more potent statewide. But locally, you can make an impact. You can sway a general election. You can definitely sway a local party caucus, especially if you take a few like-minded friends along.

Act Locally

Local engagement is the best way to protect taxpayers’ money, homeowners’ neighborhoods, our school’s academics, and our kids’ childhoods. They are under threat from government unions, from states menacing our towns’ autonomy, and from efforts to turn schools from their focus on teaching to Petri dishes for social experiments. If taxpayers and parents don’t get involved, then our interests and our kids’ interests will be undermined by those most hostile to our values.

New Canaan

What can you do locally to best protect your town? In New Canaan, the most impactful moment is the Republican Caucus on Tuesday July 25^th at the Saxe Middle School. You can stay as long or as briefly as you like; it is as simple as slipping in to vote (doors open earlier but voting will be from around 7:15 PM to 9 PM). Stay for speeches and the results only if you want. What should Republicans hope to come out of this process? Perhaps the best way to answer is to invert the question and ask: what should Democrats hope for in their opponents?

Tuesday Stakes

Democrats should hope for either fellow travelers or weird losers. And they do more than hope; Democrats have actively intervened in Republican nominating battles across the country in recent years. They hung onto the Senate and limited the House majority by putting their thumb on the scale of Republican caucuses, helping their favored candidates -- both closet Democrats and picks that lose in the fall. The same shrewd tactics apply locally. I don’t fault them for trying.

Principled Winners

So in short: local politics matters especially in caucuses and locally the Republicans are currently our majority (or rather plurality) party. And there are endless ways to bring glee to adversaries between falling for either their handpicked choices or general election losers. But we also have the chance to make smart choices and support some fresh new voices. Hoyt Davidson wrote that,

"Our next selectman must have not only the competence and experience to get the job done, but also the temperament and thoughtful humility to include all voices in the decision process."  

That is certainly what voters want. The only question is whether that message is delivered by fellow Republicans this week or by Democrats in November. Too often nationally we’re governed by a corrupt and cranky gerontocracy. We need not do the same locally. We have a chance to pick new leaders who will both win in November and then serve with principle. New Canaan Republicans are fortunate to have principled winners on the ballot Tuesday in Dionna Carlson, Steve Karl, Eric Thunem, Matt Campbell, Matt Wexler, and Lara Kelly. 

If we get July right, November will be easy. If not, not. 

Chris DeMuth Jr

New Canaan CT

Saturday July 22, 20233