To the Editor:
In July, New Canaan Republicans gathered for our traditional biannual caucus, an approach that has guided our nomination process for generations. Caucus voters selected Arvid Bajaj, Scott Gress, Pavla Levin, and Penny Young for Town Council, and Hugo Alves, Phil Hogan, and Julie Toal for the Board of Education. They also endorsed our uncontested candidates, led by First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectman Steve Karl.
Ordinarily, this would have united the party behind a strong slate for November’s town elections. Instead, the process has been undermined. After losing in the caucus, Kim Norton chose to re-enter the race despite having pledged beforehand to support the caucus winners.
Since then, her campaign has been marked by attacks and misleading claims. Let me set the record straight:
Kim has not been endorsed by either the local Republican party or through the Republican caucus, which was open for every single Republican in New Canaan to vote in;
The Republican caucus results were released immediately to the entire RTC mailing list and shared with the media;
The results of the Republican caucus were decisive enough not to trigger a recount; and
The winners are funded by a normal and fully transparent multi-candidate committee which is working closely with the RTC to retain our Republican majority.
The caucus is a deeply democratic process that empowers all Republican voters to select our Republican candidates. In July, those caucus voters sent a clear message—supporting a respected incumbent and three newcomers for Town Council while rejecting combative campaigning and negative messages.
Please join me in voting for our caucus winners. They have earned our support and have campaigned the right way – uniting, not dividing. They won the caucus because they are the most qualified candidates. They have ignored many personal attacks and focused on delivering for the voters. Efforts to undermine the caucus process and the party by slinging mud at the RTC and other Republican candidates should not be rewarded.
Let’s all vote for the positive this year!
Chris Wilson, Former RTC Chair and
Treasurer of New Canaan GOP 2025