Opinion: Keep the Focus on Local Issues

Barbara Smyth’s op-ed “A Real Leader Shows You Exactly Who They Are” is clearly more representative of who Barbara is, as she continues to associate national political issues with this local election choice. Barbara seems to distract and to hide her positions on local issues, while attempting to defame and criticize her opponent, Vinny Scicchitano, in an unfair and negative manner for simply being a Republican. Photoshopping his head on a postcard next to those she views as “monsters,” including President Trump and members of his administration, is immature and does nothing to speak to the local issues that ALL Norwalk residents care about and need to be addressed in a serious and thoughtful way.  

Electing Barbara will leave a good portion of the popul[ation] of Norwalk unrepresented.  Barbara shows her true colors in her op-ed as one [who] is consumed with emotions about a national political agenda. This is a narrow-minded view that relegates others who have opinions and ideologies that differ from hers as irrelevant and unworthy of being heard in her realm of thought. Not listening to others and hearing their views is a serious err[or] in judgment in my opinion, and not conducive to productive leadership that is so critical to leading a large city like Norwalk.  

Based on her opinion piece, I am not really sure if she is running for Norwalk Mayor or President of the United States? I am not sure how trying to frame a picture of Vinny and all Republicans as an abhorred species, unworthy of representation, or viable to hold office helps her to establish her own capabilities to be our next mayor. Norwalk needs a mayor who seeks to unite and serve ALL of Norwalk, not one who is repelled by a large portion of those [who] reside in Norwalk because of pre-conceived and ill-conceived judgments of who people are because of their political affiliation.  

What we, the voters of Norwalk, really want to hear from Barbara is:

• What has Barbara proposed to do that will address the 40% increase in property taxes with loss of services and cuts to education programs?  
• What does Barbara propose to do to correct traffic and infrastructure issues from overdevelopment?  
• Does Barbara think talking up her hate for Donald Trump and attempting to link  Vinny and all Republicans to national political issues help residents of Norwalk in any constructive manner?  
• How will she help you as a Norwalk resident going forward?  
• Has she given any constructive positions regarding the issues, or is she just a puppet of Hartford influence and installed to continue on the path of destruction we have seen in Norwalk?  

Vinny put out a rebuttal to this op-ed that can be found here and says it all as to why he  would make a better leader for all of Norwalk:  https://norwalkcurrent.com/letter-to-the-editor-norwalks-election-must-be-about-norwalk/

It is so crystal clear to me, and I hope to others (whether they like or dislike me and my own views), that the choice of mayor should be about local issues, not national politics.  

Barbara Smyth is the wrong choice for Norwalk. John Kydes, a former Democrat running as an Independent, is also the wrong choice for Norwalk; his current views are inconsistent with his support when on the Common Council of the 2019 Master Plan that contributed to the challenges Norwalk faces at present.  

Please, voters, think about all I have cited, review Vinny’s rebuttal and positions, and decide who will give a voice to all of Norwalk, which is really what we have needed for some time. Don’t pass up this opportunity to change to common sense and representative  governance for all, in your choice for Mayor of Norwalk.  

Liz Conti  

Norwalk Republican Town Committee District A  

Norwalk, CT  

Editor’s note: This letter to the editor reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of NancyOnNorwalk. It has been lightly edited for grammar.