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We Must Do Better

Over the last eight months, I’ve had the privilege of traveling all over this beautiful community, knocking on thousands of doors to learn about the issues facing the residents of Madison and Durham, about the dreams they have for themselves and their families, and about the things getting in the way.

Many of my conversations have been joyful and filled with gratitude for this community and for the combination of luck and hard work that put each of us here. Others have been challenging and filled with frustration with the state of our economy and what feels to people like irresponsible leadership not making good on its promises. I’ve heard a lot about our president, even more about our governor, and in almost every conversation, about a political climate spanning the ideological spectrum that is divisive, cynical, and counterproductive.

If one thing is clear, it’s this: We must do better.

Yet amid the doubt, uncertainty, and struggle, another theme emerges: that the people of Madison and Durham are hopeful about the future.

We all have so much we love about the 101st District, and in many ways this campaign has been a celebration of what makes our home so special. It’s also been a reminder of what’s at stake, and, more important, of where we must turn to find the solutions that will take Connecticut forward: to one another. It is among our teachers and firefighters, our nurses and lawyers, our students and seniors and everyday public servants that we will find the strength and courage to solve our biggest problems—not only here in our state, but across our country.

I’m so grateful to my many neighbors for helping me see this, and for giving me the opportunity to earn the privilege of representing them in Hartford next year.

John-Michael Parker

Madison

John-Michael Parker is the Democratic candidate for the 101st Assembly District.