A Message from the “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign
To Bethel Voters, Special Election Day, Tuesday, February 7th , is almost here. The “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign, its campaign manager and, most importantly Rich Straiton, would like to th...
BETHEL DEMOCRATS: “Good for Bethel”
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee (BDTC) is the official local organization of the Connecticut Democratic Party in the town of Bethel. We are a group elected to represent Bethel’s Democrats, and we endeavor to improve our town through community engagement and political involvement. We aim to be a progressive voice for the town of Bethel, and will always support what is in the best interest of the entire community and all its people.
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News from the BDTC and opinion pieces from our members and candidates.
- February 5, 2023
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Bethel Democrats
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee works to promote Bethel's Democrats for public office in Bethel
Your town needs you!
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee is looking for volunteers interested in both running for elected office in November, as well as any registered Democrats, who might be interested in joining the town committee itself. 
If you have a passion for service within your community and are looking for ways to make a tangible difference right here at home, please get in touch!
Simply comment below, or send us a direct message. We look forward to hearing from you! 
The Bethel Democratic Town Committee is looking for volunteers interested in both running for elected office in November, as well as any registered Democrats, who might be interested in joining the town committee itself. 
If you have a passion for service within your community and are looking for ways to make a tangible difference right here at home, please get in touch!
Simply comment below, or send us a direct message. We look forward to hearing from you! 
Stop by tonight for a great cause!I'm excited to share that I will be joining Lou Milano of i95 Rock as one of the “celebrity bartenders” at the new Gallo Family Restaurant (116 Newtown Road, Danbury where Outback used to be) on Thursday February 23rd for a fundraiser benefitting the Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund.
The event begins at 6:00 PM and goes until 9:00 PM. All bar tips and 10% of the proceeds will be donated.
The Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization established to create the first memorial in our state to honor all Connecticut residents who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The memorial will be at Rogers Park in Danbury.
The event begins at 6:00 PM and goes until 9:00 PM. All bar tips and 10% of the proceeds will be donated.
The Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization established to create the first memorial in our state to honor all Connecticut residents who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The memorial will be at Rogers Park in Danbury.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Sending my love to the people of Bethel, Danbury, and all of Connecticut. Whether you’re celebrating with that special someone or spoiling yourself this year, I hope your day is filled with love. There's nothing I love more than serving the 2nd District! 💘
Some good news!Yesterday, The CT General Assembly passed legislation to make Breakfast and Lunch free (through federal grant funding) to all students in the State of Connecticut through the remainder of the school year. This means that we will NOT need to resume charges as of March 1st. If anything changes we will let you know!
Congratulations to Dan Carter on winning today’s Special Election for First Selectman. He ran a solid, smart campaign and prevailed at the voting booth.
Best wishes for the term ahead, and may you lead our town with much success!
Best wishes for the term ahead, and may you lead our town with much success!
Good Morning, Bethel!
Polls are open until 8pm tonight. Please make time to cast your ballot, and support Acting First Selectman, Rich Straiton, to finish the term the townspeople elected a Democrat to serve.
Rich has served on the Board of Selectmen since 2009, and has the expertise and experience working across town government in a bipartisan, cooperative way.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that has supported our schools.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that has fought for our seniors and our town parks & recreation services for the entire community.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that improved town finances and our bond rating.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that worked hard to revamp and revitalize our municipal water system.
A vote for Rich Straiton is giving your support to the person and party that has always supported the people of Bethel.
Please vote today! 🗳️
Polls are open until 8pm tonight. Please make time to cast your ballot, and support Acting First Selectman, Rich Straiton, to finish the term the townspeople elected a Democrat to serve.
Rich has served on the Board of Selectmen since 2009, and has the expertise and experience working across town government in a bipartisan, cooperative way.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that has supported our schools.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that has fought for our seniors and our town parks & recreation services for the entire community.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that improved town finances and our bond rating.
✅ Let’s keep the leadership that worked hard to revamp and revitalize our municipal water system.
A vote for Rich Straiton is giving your support to the person and party that has always supported the people of Bethel.
Please vote today! 🗳️
To Bethel Voters,
Special Election Day, Tuesday, February 7th , is almost here. The “Rich Knows Bethel”
Campaign, its campaign manager and, most importantly Rich Straiton, would like
to thank all of our relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow voters for their
support.
✅ 🗳️ Read more from Rich and team at the link below:
Special Election Day, Tuesday, February 7th , is almost here. The “Rich Knows Bethel”
Campaign, its campaign manager and, most importantly Rich Straiton, would like
to thank all of our relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow voters for their
support.
✅ 🗳️ Read more from Rich and team at the link below:
Bethel Democrats | A Message from the “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign
betheldemocrats.com
February 5, 2023 A Message from the “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign To Bethel Voters, Special Election Day, Tuesday, February 7th , is almost here. The “Rich Knows Bethel” Campaign, its campaign ...
🔵 ENDORSEMENT: CT STATE COMPTROLLER, Sean Scanlon 🔵
“I am proud to endorse Richard Straition to be Bethel’s First Selectman. As Acting First Selectman and a longtime member of the Board of Selectmen, he’s been able to hit the ground running by building on Matt Knickerbocker’s successful legacy of collaborative bipartisanship and fiscal responsibility.”
“I am proud to endorse Richard Straition to be Bethel’s First Selectman. As Acting First Selectman and a longtime member of the Board of Selectmen, he’s been able to hit the ground running by building on Matt Knickerbocker’s successful legacy of collaborative bipartisanship and fiscal responsibility.”
🔵 Rich Straiton has the experience to be an effective First Selectman 🔵
Bethel voters will head to the polls on February 7th to elect a new First Selectman. In my experience in holding this office for over thirteen years, I believe many voters misunderstand what a First Selectman does and what the job requires.
Many people believe, incorrectly, that the office of First Selectman is primarily a political position, just a scaled-back version of being the mayor of a large city. It is not. In towns like Bethel, which do not have a staff position for a town manager or a town administrator to handle the day-to-day management of the town, the First Selectman serves that management role. Management of the town easily consumes more than 90% of a First Selectman’s time and effort.
We think of Bethel as a small town, but we are really a small city. Managing and providing effective leadership for operations such as public works, highway planning, construction and maintenance, engineering, land use, property assessments and tax collections, record keeping, social services, parks and recreations operations, teen and senior center programming, requires deep and extensive public management experience. Add to the list of responsibilities our complex and highly regulated, multimillion dollar public water and sewer operations, services that are essential to public safety.
This is not to say having a “vision” for the future is not important. Of course it is. But one must first know how to run a city in order to execute one.
We need a seasoned professional to provide management consistency, who knows the ropes and has a strong track record of supporting our schools and town.
Rich Straiton is that person. He has the knowledge and the experience to do the job, because he already knows it, and he’s done it.
- Matt Knickerbocker
Former First Selectman, 2009-2022
Bethel voters will head to the polls on February 7th to elect a new First Selectman. In my experience in holding this office for over thirteen years, I believe many voters misunderstand what a First Selectman does and what the job requires.
Many people believe, incorrectly, that the office of First Selectman is primarily a political position, just a scaled-back version of being the mayor of a large city. It is not. In towns like Bethel, which do not have a staff position for a town manager or a town administrator to handle the day-to-day management of the town, the First Selectman serves that management role. Management of the town easily consumes more than 90% of a First Selectman’s time and effort.
We think of Bethel as a small town, but we are really a small city. Managing and providing effective leadership for operations such as public works, highway planning, construction and maintenance, engineering, land use, property assessments and tax collections, record keeping, social services, parks and recreations operations, teen and senior center programming, requires deep and extensive public management experience. Add to the list of responsibilities our complex and highly regulated, multimillion dollar public water and sewer operations, services that are essential to public safety.
This is not to say having a “vision” for the future is not important. Of course it is. But one must first know how to run a city in order to execute one.
We need a seasoned professional to provide management consistency, who knows the ropes and has a strong track record of supporting our schools and town.
Rich Straiton is that person. He has the knowledge and the experience to do the job, because he already knows it, and he’s done it.
- Matt Knickerbocker
Former First Selectman, 2009-2022
Bethel’s voters, at a glance…
3,990
DEMOCRATS
3,152
REPUBLICANS
5,524
UNAFFILIATED or MINOR PARTY
12,666
REGISTERED VOTERS