The Patch State Legislative Debates

I have been blogging for over eight years, including as a credentialed blogger at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.  I live in Woodbridge and am running for State Representative in the 114th Assembly District.  I started blogging there and soon, my opponent started blogging there as well.

I would love to see the Patches as venues for friendly discussions about the issues our communities face.  So, I wrote a blog post welcoming my opponent to the Bethwood Patch.  I am sharing it here, modified slightly for Orange.

When I accepted the Democratic Nomination for State Representative in the 114th Assembly District here I Connecticut, I talked about how I'm not running against the Republican incumbent.  I'm running against apathy.  I'm running to get people more involved in their communities, both politically, and in terms of community service.  I'm running against an intellectual apathy where people don't know who their State Representative is or what is happening up in Hartford.

When I was asked to start blogging on the Bethwood Patch, I hesitated.  I've been maintaining my personal blog for eight years.  I'm writing on a health care blog for my work.  I didn't need another outlet for my writings.

On the other hand, I recognized the benefit that blogging might bring to me as a State Representative candidate seeking to get more people involved.  The Patch websites could be a great platform to stimulate debate.

Well, this week, my opponent has started to blog on the Bethwood Patch.  I'm very excited and view it is a small victory for my campaign.  I am managing to get others more involved and more informed, if simply by getting my opponent to post here.

I look forward to her sharing posts where she talks about her views on the issues and what she has done for the people of Woodbridge, Orange and Derby.  I look forward to her allowing comments on the posts so that we can have an open, honest, and friendly discussion about the issues that should matter to all of us in this district.  I look forward to these discussions taking place on the Bethwood Patch, the Orange Patch and any other online venues where we can get people more involved in their communities.

It would be great of the 114th Assembly District, along with the 117th and 119th districts in Orange could set an example for other districts where there would be an ongoing friendly discussion about the issues between the candidates for office.

Let's start off with a friendly welcome to my opponent for State Representative.