Welcome to the West Hartford Republican Party

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BREAKING NEWS: VERBAL ANTISEMITIC ATTACK ON RTC TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE & CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Friday, August 15, 2025 - Today, one of the West Hartford RTC candidates for Town Council (Ben Lewis), and one of the West Hartford RTC candidate Campaign Managers (Ari Schaffer), were subjected to a verbal attack with rhetoric that has become far too common in West Hartford. Why anyone would think that this person's behavior and antisemitic ranting is acceptable, is beyond reason. Ben and Ari were just having a morning coffee together.

While as PROUD REPUBLICANS, we fully support a person's right to free speech, we would hope that our Democrat opponents and the West Hartford DTC would join us and also denounce this behavior. We would also hope that anyone who knows this person would pull him aside and have a strong conversation that convinces him that this behavior is the EXACT reason why support for Democrats nationwide is the lowest it's been in many decades and why Democrats are now leaving their party and joining us.

We hope that when West Hartford voters go to the polls this November, they think about how our candidates are working to change this toxic environment.

CANDIDATES SPEAK AT SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL MARCH

August 10, 2025

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🚨 BREAKING: The West Hartford Republican Town Committee Proudly Endorses Our 2025 Slate of Candidates!

West Hartford deserves better — and this year, we’re delivering a bold, experienced, and energized team ready to restore balance, accountability, and common sense to our local government. 💪

✅ Town Council Candidates:
• Al Cortes – Incumbent and voice for fiscal sanity
• Dr. Gayle Harris – Tireless education advocate
• Kyle Zelazny – Attorney and principled policy thinker
• Ben Lewis – Local business leader and first-time candidate
• John Lyons – Civic leader, podcast host, and former Democrat
• Dr. Jason Wang – Physician, community advocate, and former Democrat

✅ Board of Education:
• Miriam Bleich – Respected child advocate and passionate parent leader

For too long, one-party rule has pushed West Hartford toward overdevelopment, rising costs, ignored infrastructure, and out-of-touch policies. This slate represents a clear alternative — grounded in real-world solutions, broad experience, and genuine community engagement.

🗣 “We’re not here for political theater — we’re here to improve schools, lower taxes, attract new businesses, and restore civil discourse,” said Chairman Shawn Daly. “The time for change is now.”

🔴 Two former Democrats. Six bold leaders. One mission: a stronger, more affordable, more responsive West Hartford.

👉 Join the movement. Learn more at www.whgop.com
📩 Questions? Reach out to: chair@whgop.com

📅 November is coming — and change starts at the local level. Let’s take West Hartford in a new direction together. 🇺🇸

#WeHaRTC #WestHartford #RealChange2025 #LocalLeadership #WHGOP #BalanceMatters #CommonSenseStartsHere

Pictured left to right: Dr. Jason Wang, Ben Lewis, Dr. Gayle Harris, Kyle Zelazny, Miriam Bleich [not shown - Al Cortes, John Lyons]

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West Hartford RTC at “Celebrate West Hartford”

June 8, 2025 - The West Hartford Republican Town Committee participated with a tent at “Celebrate West Hartford” on Sunday, June 8, from 12pm - 6pm. The event was an incredible success as we handed out nearly 1,000 promotional items like bottles of cold water, red mini bottles of bubbles, patriotic slap wrist bands and hand held paper fans. We had numerous conversations with voters in West Hartford and added names to our subscriber list, interested in seeing our RTC e-newsletter. Below are some photos from the event.

In Memory of beloved West Hartford RTC Member, Town Councilor and State Representative, Bob Farr

We are saddened to share the passing of Bob Farr, a lifelong West Hartford resident and dedicated public servant. Bob passed away on May 27 at the age of 82. A true pillar of our community, he served on the West Hartford Town Council and spent over two decades in the Connecticut General Assembly representing the 19th District. Known for his integrity, tireless work ethic, and thoughtful approach to policymaking, Bob worked across the aisle to champion meaningful reforms in criminal justice, public safety, and social services. He was a long-time member of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee and remained deeply engaged in public service throughout his life. Our thoughts are with his beloved wife Diana, his children, grandchildren, and all who knew and admired him.

The West Hartford Republican Town Committee is dedicated to promoting core conservative principles and policies within our town. We work diligently to ensure that the views of our members are represented in both local and state government.

Through lobbying, community outreach, and fundraising efforts, we strive to make sure the voice of West Hartford Republicans is heard loud and clear. We believe that by advocating for responsible fiscal policies and limited government, our citizens can enjoy a better quality of life.

The Republican Town Committee is also committed to engaging members of the community in a meaningful dialogue and helping them understand how they can make a difference. We provide education and awareness on current issues, host events to get people involved, and work with civic organizations throughout the area.

Our goal is to create an informed and engaged electorate that will support candidates who represent our shared values. We believe that by working together, we can make a positive difference in West Hartford.

Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend our events. Please RSVP.

To donate to the West Hartford Republican Town Committee sending in a check by mail, please make the check payable to:

The West Hartford Republican Town Committee

You must include a completed and signed “Form-P” with your check (see button to the right) with your check. Mail the check and completed Form-P to:

West Hartford Republican Town Committee

ATTN: Ted Mancini - Treasurer

375 Ridgewood Road

West Hartford, CT 06107

Click this button to download the Individual Contribution Form-P

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Issues Facing West Hartford Citizens

Issues for West Hartford Citizens

Tax Policies: The burden of excessively high property taxes and concerns about the efficient allocation of tax revenues continue to be major points of contention for advocates of fiscal prudence.

Education Reform: A notable concern lies in the absence of a Finance Committee equipped with a sunset budget system for the Board of Education (BOE). Furthermore, the lack of a Curriculum Committee and the adoption of hyper-progressive curricula have led to diminished parental rights and an urgent need for more transparency in school policies.

Housing Development: The issue of overdevelopment persists, with current projects offering "affordable housing" solutions that fail to address genuine low-income housing needs within the community.

Zoning: State-level initiatives aimed at removing local zoning authority raise significant concerns. These efforts threaten local control, compromise community character, and risk creating bureaucratic inefficiencies that adversely affect housing affordability and fail to meet diverse community needs.

Public Safety: Ensuring adequate funding for first responders, addressing increases in certain crimes, tackling illegal panhandling, and enforcing laws remain key areas of concern for residents.

Traffic Control and Pedestrian Safety: Recently implemented traffic measures have fallen short of expectations. There is a strong need for alternative approaches that deliver meaningful improvements, alongside enhancing road conditions and increasing the mileage of re-paved roads.

Cultural Values: Ongoing threats to free speech, religious liberty, and traditional values represent important challenges for conservative residents. Heightening awareness of these issues is crucial to maintaining a balanced ideological representation within the community.

Our community supports students, families, parents and seniors

Members of the West Hartford Republicans come from all walks of life and share a commitment to making their community and the world a better place for everyone. We therefore support the Republican Party's initiatives by endorsing candidates for public office and lending our time and expertise to those candidates' successful campaigns.

Town Hall: 50 S Main Street 4th floor West Hartford, Connecticut

Our monthly meetings are held at the Town Hall on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The West Hartford Republican Town Committee is committed to serving all West Hartford residents. Attend a meeting. Get involved!