Opinion: Florsheim Is an Engaged Leader

Submitted by Shanay Fulton, North End resident.  Fulton is a Democratic Party endorsed Row A candidate for Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate.
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I chose to write to you expressing my hopes that we elect Ben Florsheim as the new Mayor of Middletown. Why? Ben is a fresh face, he’s young, he’s enthusiastic, and honestly the most engaging of all the candidates. In my opinion, his youth, the fact that he is Wesleyan Grad, and that he has lived in other places before choosing Middletown are all positive reasons to have him be our next Mayor.

Government and politics has in recent times been targeted towards “more youth involvement and voice”. Or the coined phrase, getting youth to “Rock The Vote!” Well a young, but very much experienced Mayor would most definitely get youth participation. The laws that are proposed affect youth, why shouldn’t the face of our community represent those youth? I am a 37-year-old woman and a mother. His age does not impact my belief in him. If anything, it demonstrates to me and my children that leadership can start at a young age.

This town is full of the older generation and longtime residents that have had years to step up and make a difference. Now that a younger, “not born here” candidate with fresh idea has chosen to do so there’s an issue and those individuals suddenly have so many progressive plans for their longtime place of residence.

Ben could have chosen anywhere in the US to attend school for 4 years and reside after those 4 years. He chose Middletown, CT. As a community we should be looking at that and thanking him for choosing our town to make his home. We claim to want students to stay in CT after graduation, but we call them outsiders when they do, creating division and promoting age discrimination. Ben became involved in the community he’s called home for nearly a decade, almost as soon as he arrived.

Ben kicked off his Mayoral campaign and door knocking in the North End, focusing on residents often left out of political conversations and showing a desire to include all residents in his plans for Middletown. Ben has also been the only candidate I’ve known to participate in Street clean-ups, talk to the community, and support small, local North End businesses along with help from his supporters like myself.

He has been so dedicated to Middletown that he has canvassed our entire 42.3 sq mile radius not skipping a beat-be it rain or shine in 90 degree weather, wearing a smile. Overall, Ben has taken his passion for government and the people across our entire state. That’s proof that Connecticut IS his home. And he’s here to stay.