To the Editor:
Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” Most people have taken the phrase literally—interpreting it to mean voters care most about the issues that touch their daily lives. But to me it means more. It’s a reminder that what happens on our streets, in our schools, and in our town halls doesn’t stay here. It shapes the pipeline of leadership for our state and country.
Consider this: the next Marjorie Taylor Greene, the next Matt Gaetz, the next J.D. Vance—they won’t appear out of thin air. They will start small, running for school boards, city councils, planning commissions. And people like them are doing that right now, in communities across America.
Even if you think Old Lyme isn’t one of those communities, let’s not forget the other side of that truth. The next Barack Obama, the next Pete Buttigieg, the next Chris Murphy—they too are out there, serving on local boards, answering calls from neighbors, running not for fame, but to make their communities better. That’s how leadership begins.
We live in a time when the line between local and national politics has nearly disappeared. National battles over book bans, over how history is taught, over immigration, redistricting, tariffs, and women’s rights—have all come here.
Justice Louis Brandeis once called states “laboratories of democracy.” I would add: so are towns. The choices we make ripple outward. They set examples. They build momentum. And in this moment, when democracy itself feels fragile, those choices carry more weight than ever.
When we cast our votes in November, we must see candidates for what they are. Not just neighbors willing to serve—though that matters. Not just people offering to wrestle with budgets, zoning, or infrastructure—though that matters too. But as guardians of a broader idea: that democracy works best when decent, ethical, thoughtful people are willing to step up, take the heat, and serve the public good.
Our job – all of us – is to stand with them. Because what happens here shapes not just our town’s future, but the direction of our country. The story of America is not written only in Washington. It’s being written in towns like Old Lyme, in elections like these, with choices made by people like us.
So let’s choose wisely. And let’s hold candidates accountable for their choices. In this moment, you cannot wear the jersey and claim you’re not on the team.
Most of all, let’s send a message that despite what Donald Trump and his party are trying to do nationally, here in Old Lyme, democracy is alive and well.
Sincerely,
Dave Rubino,
Old Lyme
Well said, Dave.
NO KOOL AID HERE.
Thanks for writing this. We need to hear it more and more.
The United States is more accurately defined as a constitutional republic. Partisan politics starts at home and not in the national arena. While we recently had a gun violence walk out at our High School, some of those same kids that participated in that walk out also celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We can agree to disagree but when certain people, specifically the author of this letter, writes letters about the other candidates based on false misleading information than we create the a culture that cultivates division.
So let’s choose wisely. And let’s hold candidates accountable for their actions.
Framing elections—especially at the local level—as a battle between good and evil is not only divisive, it’s counterproductive and reductive. Voters should evaluate candidates based on their experience, character, and ability to address local issues—not on party labels or presumed alignment with national figures. That’s why I’ve supported Democratic candidates locally when they’ve demonstrated integrity, competence, and a commitment to serving our town. Likewise, many Republicans in local government are dedicated public servants who care deeply about their communities and work hard to solve real-world problems—just like some of their Democratic counterparts.
And when it comes to highlighting Democratic leadership, we can certainly do better than Pete Buttigieg or Chris Murphy. They don’t represent the kind of pragmatic, results-driven leadership that earns respect. If we’re looking for examples of thoughtful Democratic leaders, consider:
• Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who has shown strong executive leadership and a commitment to bipartisan problem-solving.
• President Bill Clinton, whose policies and economic stewardship helped shape a decade of prosperity.
Proud to be a Republican.
Sincerely,
Dwayne Basler