The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received November 2, 2022.
On November 8th, I’ll be voting for Paul Crisci for State Senate, and I encourage you to do the same. Paul is bright, affable, and earnest, and has worked tremendously hard to get to know his would-be constituents. He has routinely made himself available for speaking engagements, question-and-answer sessions, and all manner of local events. Although he is a very busy man, Paul has no airs about him, and never makes you feel that he would rather be somewhere else.
Paul’s campaign slogan is No Politics, Just Common Sense. So, when Paul visited our RTC in Killingworth, I took the opportunity to hold his feet to the fire and ask some tough policy questions, fearing that there might not be enough substance to satisfy a conservative person like myself. To my surprise, Paul had a firm grasp of each issue I brought up, and demonstrated a very reasonable, centrist position on a wide range of topics, from parental rights to gun control. It became clear to me then that not only had Paul done his homework, but he also genuinely wished to represent all his constituents, not just those of us on the right side of the aisle, and he was frank about that fact. Honesty, common sense, and a commitment to problem-solving are rare and refreshing characteristics to find in a politician.
There are plenty of reasons to support Paul Crisci, but perhaps the most compelling is his unapologetic support for law enforcement. Paul’s opponent, Christine Cohen, voted for HB 6004, the so-called Police Accountability Bill, which stripped officers of their qualified immunity, driving many officers into early retirement, and discouraging potential officers from entering the field at all. This bill has not only put our men and women in blue in harm’s way, but it has also put at risk those very communities that most depend upon law enforcement. Rather than coming to the aid of distressed communities, Senate Democrats like Christine Cohen took advantage of their constituents’ fear and anger and exploited them for political gain. The fact that many Democrats have touted skewed crime statistics from the Covid lockdowns as evidence of the efficacy of their bill should tell you all you need to know. HB 6004 represents a dark chapter in Connecticut politics that must be brought to an end on Election Day.
I cannot claim to know Ms. Cohen’s mind, but it seems to me that she, like many Democrats, buckled under pressure from sources outside of Connecticut, including the DNC, and voted in lockstep with her party to approve this disastrous piece of legislation. When I questioned Paul Crisci, it would have been easy for him to give me the answers I wanted to hear, but he didn’t – he told me what he really believed. That is exactly the sort of person we need representing us in Hartford, someone who thinks for himself and does not succumb to political pressure.
Thomas Paine famously wrote of the Revolutionary era that “these are the times that try men’s souls.” I believe we are living in such times now, and the last thing we need are representatives who are more interested in advancing their own careers and placating higher-ups in their party establishment at the expense of their constituents. Paul Crisci is no such man. He is an independent thinker with creative, thoughtful solutions who is not afraid to push back on his own party. I plan to vote for Paul Crisci for State Senate, and I hope you will turn out on Election Day to do the same.
Attorney David J. Cutillo – Vice Chair, Killingworth Republican Town Committee
