National Issues We Support
A Federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Federal gun legislation that will protect our children, our lives and our open society
A woman’s right to make her own medical decisions – for her right to choose.
Protection and extension of the right to vote to all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity or political persuasion.
Protection of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare
Reform and Expansion of the Supreme Court
Affordable, accessible healthcare that includes people with pre-existing and mental health conditions.
An end to minority rule perpetuated by efforts to gerrymander voting districts, to impose undemocratic voting restrictions at the state level.
Elimination of the filibuster, which allows one or a small group of elected officials to impede national progress and subvert the will of voters.
Smart environmental policies that confront current challenges and future risks, and work towards a carbon-neutral economy.
Abolishment of Citizens United to reduce the influence of unlimited money on elections.
Protection of every citizen’s right to privacy.
A clear separation of church and state, which is a founding principle of our democracy and enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
A tax structure that helps the middle class and ensures that the top 1% and large corporations pay their fair share.
Immigration policies that protect our borders in a humane way, and include a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
BLACK LIVES MATTER and all that phrase encompasses; reversing systemic racism, police reform, revision of the criminal justice system, addressing housing and healthcare disparities, and education reform.
Women's rights, including equal pay for equal work.
LGBTQ equality, including protection of marriage rights.
A coherent foreign policy that recognizes the imperative of the NATO Alliance, stands for democratic values globally, and upholds our responsibilities as the most powerful nation in the world.
OUR PLATFORM
The core principle of the Democratic party is to enact policies that do the most good for the most people. What that means locally here in Kent, Connecticut is:
Affordable Housing
We are committed to preserving and expanding dedicated affordable housing, to furthering the development of multiple dwellings, and to the creation of accessory apartments; all of which should maintain the rural beauty of Kent and meet the current and anticipated needs of our community.
Additionally, we support controlled development of housing that suits our village aesthetic and offers affordable home-ownership opportunities to first-time and middle-income buyers, and to young families – the lifeblood of a thriving community.
Care and Education for our Children
We support responsible investment in education for the children of Kent. Ensuring affordable childcare, and maintaining the high-quality public education offered at Kent Center School is critical in attracting and retaining young families to our town.
All-Age Recreation
We believe the Town of Kent should provide a diverse range of recreational programs to residents in all age groups. We applaud recent improvements to Kent’s youth programming. However, we strongly encourage the development of programs that address the recreational, educational, and athletic needs of adult residents, including options for swimming and water access. Kent’s Social Services team should collaborate with Park and Recreation staff to begin utilizing ARPA funds awarded for the development of adult/senior programming.
A Long-term View of Emergency Services
We believe the Town of Kent should work in close partnership with the KVFD to develop a long-term plan which addresses increasing challenges to our current volunteer model, and which respects the KVFD’s 112-year legacy of excellence and independence as a volunteer organization. This is an issue that requires an urgent and collaborative response.
Broadband Everywhere
We support investment in broadband accessibility and infrastructure improvements.
Sustain, Preserve, Conserve
We are committed to conservation and sustainability on all fronts from the preservation and protection of our natural resources to responsible wildlife management, to the deployment of solar energy where possible, to best-practice waste management and recycling, to the reinvigoration of our sustainability committee.
We endorse the establishment of a Land Acquisition Fund. The Town of Kent needs to expand the amount of land available for town-supported uses and to address many of the policies and initiatives cited in this platform.
Rural Healthcare Access
We believe the Town of Kent should advocate aggressively for healthcare accessibility in our town and region. With the shrinking of hospital services and the closing of medical offices, accessibility to healthcare services is of growing concern to the town.
Plan for Economic Health
We advocate for the development of an Economic Development Council to generate ideas and strategies for long-term economic growth for our community. Council members should include some elected officials, business leaders, academics, residents with a representative point of view and/or relevant experience to share.
Capitalize on our Art Scene
We also advocate for the development of an Arts Council to generate ideas and strategies for maximizing the unique character of Kent as a rural art hub to stimulate ongoing economic vitality in our town. Council members should include some elected officials, some gallery owners and staff, a member of the Kent Art Association, artists, writers, and performers who live here, and residents with a representative point of view and/or relevant experience to share. An important goal of the Arts Council would be to identify and secure grants.
Alignment with National Policies
We support all national Democratic policies concerning voting rights, women’s reproductive rights, common-sense gun regulation, Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid protection, equal justice, fair taxation.