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07/19/2022 02:41 PM

Clinton Party Heads to Meet to Talk Civility


In an era of increasing political polarization, the leaders of the Clinton Green Party, Democratic Town Committee (DTC), and Republican Town Committee (RTC) may be planning a summit this summer to commit to civil discourse on a local level.

In an effort to promote healthy debate, keep campaigns out of the mud, and perhaps even find common ground among political opponents, Eric Bergman, the chairman of the Clinton Green Party, thinks he has an idea that could help.

Bergman told the Harbor News that he has reached out to Paul Gebauer, the chairman of the DTC and Brendan Saunders, chairman of the RTC, about holding an informal summit between the three to discuss local issues. Both men were receptive to the idea Bergman said, though more details needed to be hashed out.

“What I have in mind is very much in the preliminary stages,” said Bergman.

A date and an exact breakdown of what the men would talk about, whether or not it would be open to the public, and whether another party would be invited all still need to be decided, Bergman explained.

In general, Bergman said he wants the three party leaders to speak about issues affecting Clinton, their differences, and perhaps even discover some common ground.

“The whole idea is to show the local populace that people of various ideologies can sit down and be civil. I think it would make the culture a little bit healthier,” said Bergman.

Bergman also has a third goal he hopes to accomplish: a commitment to keeping campaigns out of the gutter. Besides being the chairman of the Green Party, Bergman is a former member of the Clinton Town Council and is a teacher at the Morgan School, and he said he’s seen his fair share of local political parties trading barbs about other candidates and pointing fingers at each other.

“I think we’ve seen too much for the mud-slinging in years past. I’ve seen less of it more recently, but I think it really turns a lot of people off,” said Bergman. “It’s time we act like adults and set examples for other people and the kids in this town who see what adults are doing and mimic that behavior,” said Bergman.

Reached for comment, Gebauer emphasized that both he and Saunders will want candidates from their respective parties to win elections and said they would be committed to that. However, he also said that Bergman’s idea was a good one. \

“I thought it was a fine idea. I’m not sure what we’ll talk about. I do however know Brendan and I am positive it will be a friendly discussion,” said Gebauer.

Saunders did not respond to an email seeking comment for this story.

This year, Connecticut voters will decide state legislature races, meaning voters will select some candidates who reside outside their specific town. When asked if he has coordinated with leaders from the other towns that share Clinton’s senate and house districts Bergman said that he was planning on keeping the meeting to Clinton leaders for now.

“I think it would be even better next year when we have a municipal election, but I still think it’s good to do this now,” Bergman said, though he added he would keep the possibility of including other town’s party heads in mind.