Join us at Food Trucks, Fun, and Freedom!
Join us on July 26th from 12pm to 4pm for an afternoon with like-minded friends to meet our new slate of municipal candidates and mingle with state and local elected officials. A large raffle and kids...
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.
Around Town
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
News from the BDTC and opinion pieces from our members and candidates.
June 26, 2026
November 6, 2025A Huge Thank You
Thanks for the donations! Thanks to everyone who came out to support their neighbors in need, the Bethel Democrats were able to donate a total of 799 lbs of food and toiletries plus $150.00 and 2 $25 ...
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Bethel Democrats
(opens in a new tab)The Bethel Democratic Town Committee works to promote Bethel's Democrats for public office in Bethel
Children’s storytime videos from 2020 are now a political controversy? Surely we can have a more substantive conversation about the issues facing Bethel.Accountability and transparency absolutely matter. So do facts.
Meta announced in February 2025 that older Facebook Live videos would be automatically removed under its updated retention policy. That includes the pandemic-era children’s storytime videos I made to bring joy during a dark time. I did not delete these videos.
Yet here is my opponent once again repeating allegations about me without acknowledging information that is readily available through a basic search. I don’t know whether she overlooked Meta’s announcement or chose not to address it because it complicates the narrative she’s promoting. Either way, the facts deserve consideration.
And since we’re talking about transparency, readers deserve some context. The publisher of the Bethel Community Gazette, Brad Koltz, was my Republican opponent in 2024. I defeated him by 16 percentage points. His publication is now running sensational headlines about potential illegal conduct while providing space for commentary from my current opponent.
I wouldn’t ordinarily give Brad Koltz’s little “publication” the attention he’s apparently looking for. But since my current opponent has decided to amplify its allegations, I think the public deserves the facts.
What’s sad is that something as innocent as reading children’s books to families during a pandemic has become the subject of political controversy six years later. This is the kind of petty politics that discourages good people from stepping forward to serve their communities.
Newspapers have every right to scrutinize elected officials. But speculation presented as scandal is not a substitute for responsible journalism.
If we’re going to have a conversation about accountability, let’s start by getting the facts right.
about.fb.com/news/2025/02/updating-our-facebook-live-video-storage-policy/
Meta announced in February 2025 that older Facebook Live videos would be automatically removed under its updated retention policy. That includes the pandemic-era children’s storytime videos I made to bring joy during a dark time. I did not delete these videos.
Yet here is my opponent once again repeating allegations about me without acknowledging information that is readily available through a basic search. I don’t know whether she overlooked Meta’s announcement or chose not to address it because it complicates the narrative she’s promoting. Either way, the facts deserve consideration.
And since we’re talking about transparency, readers deserve some context. The publisher of the Bethel Community Gazette, Brad Koltz, was my Republican opponent in 2024. I defeated him by 16 percentage points. His publication is now running sensational headlines about potential illegal conduct while providing space for commentary from my current opponent.
I wouldn’t ordinarily give Brad Koltz’s little “publication” the attention he’s apparently looking for. But since my current opponent has decided to amplify its allegations, I think the public deserves the facts.
What’s sad is that something as innocent as reading children’s books to families during a pandemic has become the subject of political controversy six years later. This is the kind of petty politics that discourages good people from stepping forward to serve their communities.
Newspapers have every right to scrutinize elected officials. But speculation presented as scandal is not a substitute for responsible journalism.
If we’re going to have a conversation about accountability, let’s start by getting the facts right.
about.fb.com/news/2025/02/updating-our-facebook-live-video-storage-policy/
Saturday, October 10, 2:30 at Molten Java!
Join Team Lamont and the Bethel Dem candidates this weekend to talk with our neighbors about keeping Connecticut moving forward!
Never canvassed before? No worries! We start every shift with full training, talking points, and launch support before hitting the doors.
Join Team Lamont and the Bethel Dem candidates this weekend to talk with our neighbors about keeping Connecticut moving forward!
Never canvassed before? No worries! We start every shift with full training, talking points, and launch support before hitting the doors.
Debbie doesn’t get it.
And unfortunately, that was pretty clear during our debate too. Governing requires going beyond headlines, talking points and sensational claims. You have to actually understand the legislation and what it means for the people you represent.
I don’t particularly enjoy responding to the ridiculous claims or personal attacks my opponent has thrown around during this increasingly toxic campaign. I’d much rather talk about what I’ve delivered for Bethel and Danbury. But when she distorts my legislative record, I’m going to set the record straight.
Debbie says I’m “not an independent thinker” because I voted with my party 97% of the time. Here’s what she left out. There were 316 roll-call votes this year. 179 were unanimous. 233 had more than 90% agreement. Voting for a bill that passes 150–0 isn’t blindly following your party. It means Democrats and Republicans agreed.
But independence also means knowing when to say No. Take HB 5362, which implemented recommendations from the Majority Leader’s Roundtable. I opposed provisions that went too far on our Main Streets and local decision-making. I voted No and led eight other Democrats to join Republicans in opposing the bill. The bill passed the House 89–58 and ultimately died in the Senate.
That’s how I approach this job. My constituents know that when I vote no, I don't hide from it. I explain why. And when I think Hartford is getting something wrong, I speak up and work to change it.
Independence isn’t about manufacturing “no” votes so you can brag about a percentage during campaign season. It’s having the judgment to know when to say yes, when to say no, and the backbone to stand up to your own side when it matters.
I’ll work with Democrats. I’ll work with Republicans. And I’ll tell either one of them no when I believe they’re wrong for Bethel and Danbury.
I take my marching orders from Bethel and Danbury, not Hartford.
Watch our debate: vimeo.com/1232420666?fl=ls&fe=ec&share=copy
And unfortunately, that was pretty clear during our debate too. Governing requires going beyond headlines, talking points and sensational claims. You have to actually understand the legislation and what it means for the people you represent.
I don’t particularly enjoy responding to the ridiculous claims or personal attacks my opponent has thrown around during this increasingly toxic campaign. I’d much rather talk about what I’ve delivered for Bethel and Danbury. But when she distorts my legislative record, I’m going to set the record straight.
Debbie says I’m “not an independent thinker” because I voted with my party 97% of the time. Here’s what she left out. There were 316 roll-call votes this year. 179 were unanimous. 233 had more than 90% agreement. Voting for a bill that passes 150–0 isn’t blindly following your party. It means Democrats and Republicans agreed.
But independence also means knowing when to say No. Take HB 5362, which implemented recommendations from the Majority Leader’s Roundtable. I opposed provisions that went too far on our Main Streets and local decision-making. I voted No and led eight other Democrats to join Republicans in opposing the bill. The bill passed the House 89–58 and ultimately died in the Senate.
That’s how I approach this job. My constituents know that when I vote no, I don't hide from it. I explain why. And when I think Hartford is getting something wrong, I speak up and work to change it.
Independence isn’t about manufacturing “no” votes so you can brag about a percentage during campaign season. It’s having the judgment to know when to say yes, when to say no, and the backbone to stand up to your own side when it matters.
I’ll work with Democrats. I’ll work with Republicans. And I’ll tell either one of them no when I believe they’re wrong for Bethel and Danbury.
I take my marching orders from Bethel and Danbury, not Hartford.
Watch our debate: vimeo.com/1232420666?fl=ls&fe=ec&share=copy
What happened to Cooper Whiteside and Brittany Islami was horrific. They and their families deserve justice and we hope today’s court proceedings continue moving that process forward.
At the same time, our neighboring Danbury community is confronting something deeply disturbing: masked men carrying a “Keep New England White” banner and chanting “White Power.”
Debbie Rizzo is asking the people of Bethel and Danbury to elect her as their State Representative. Today, she chose to use her platform to attack Democrats and immigrants while saying nothing publicly about the white supremacist demonstration in the very community she wants to represent, even invoking a debunked voting narrative.
Some things shouldn’t be partisan. Condemning white supremacy is one of them.
At the same time, our neighboring Danbury community is confronting something deeply disturbing: masked men carrying a “Keep New England White” banner and chanting “White Power.”
Debbie Rizzo is asking the people of Bethel and Danbury to elect her as their State Representative. Today, she chose to use her platform to attack Democrats and immigrants while saying nothing publicly about the white supremacist demonstration in the very community she wants to represent, even invoking a debunked voting narrative.
Some things shouldn’t be partisan. Condemning white supremacy is one of them.
We stand with our neighbors in Danbury.
What happened outside Danbury Police Headquarters has no place in our community. Bethel and Danbury are neighbors, friends, coworkers and families and hatred directed at any part of our community affects all of us.
We join Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, Mayor Roberto Alves and so many others in making clear: “Keep New England White” does not represent who we are. We stand together against hate and with everyone who calls this community home.
What happened outside Danbury Police Headquarters has no place in our community. Bethel and Danbury are neighbors, friends, coworkers and families and hatred directed at any part of our community affects all of us.
We join Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, Mayor Roberto Alves and so many others in making clear: “Keep New England White” does not represent who we are. We stand together against hate and with everyone who calls this community home.
The difference was clear tonight.
Raghib came prepared with a record of results, a command of the issues, and specific ideas for what comes next.
While others rely on partisan talking points, Raghib has spent eight years putting Bethel and Danbury first even when it means standing up to his own party.
Watch the full debate below.
Raghib came prepared with a record of results, a command of the issues, and specific ideas for what comes next.
While others rely on partisan talking points, Raghib has spent eight years putting Bethel and Danbury first even when it means standing up to his own party.
Watch the full debate below.
Bethel’s voters, at a glance…
3,990
DEMOCRATS
3,152
REPUBLICANS
5,524
UNAFFILIATED or MINOR PARTY
12,666
REGISTERED VOTERS