Submitted by John Blankley, Greenwich
As we go into the local elections you will read lots of letters extolling the wonderful characteristics of our parties’ candidates – how diligent, experienced, and full of integrity they are. Many of them are indeed, and speaking as a Democrat I have no trouble including many of my Republican friends in this pantheon of virtue for I know they are sincere in their beliefs. I write today however not to praise any candidate but to focus instead on the Republicans’ well-worn theme that voters should concentrate on local issues and forget national politics.
In normal circumstances I could agree but this time it’s different, with all the freight that goes with that phrase. For this time it really is different. On this occasion we cannot ignore the dire circumstances of our Republic and the excesses (to use no stronger a word) perpetrated by the Trump administration. I will not trouble you with the distressing catalogue of the threats to our Democracy, for you know them all already, unless you are a MAGA supporter and think we are in no danger at all.
In order to remedy the situation and, to use another well-known phrase, “take our country back,” the people’s choices are limited to the courts, mass rallies and the ballot box. Until the midterms next year all we can really do is send the message that the vast majority of people are unhappy. The No Kings demonstrations sent that message very strongly and now one more immediate opportunity is before us, voting in the upcoming local elections. Therefore, I would urge you to send another strong message to the Trump administration, this time through the ballot box. Whatever your prior allegiances or pet local policy preferences may be, now is the time to think of the big picture. We must make it abundantly clear that we the people hold the Trump administration to blame for the blatant dismantling of our institutions, our norms of civil behavior and our system of laws. And local Republicans, some of them my friends, must suffer the consequences of their national party’s egregious actions. In short, vote for Democrats or vote for no-one.
Hold your nose if you must, I do understand the strength of party loyalty, but this is an occasion if ever there was one to tell the shade of Ben Franklin that we intend to keep our democracy.
John Blankley, Greenwich
Note: The deadline to submit letters to the editor about candidates for consideration in the Nov 4, 2025 municipal elections is Oct 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon.