Bristol voters need to do better when choosing which candidates for political office they believe will most competently and honorably represent their best interests. Recent experience indicates more due diligence and less emotion is called for when deciding who is most deserving of their vote.

Voting is so much more than about feelings. Family ties, friendship, shared nationality or party affiliation in and of themselves are inadequate measures of competence and integrity. Another factor to weigh in the process of doing your due diligence is how opportunistic might the candidates be who are asking for your vote.

There is a difference between taking advantage of an opportunity and being a political opportunist. In November, we had an election to choose who would represent the residents of District 68 in the state legislature.

While any resident of the district was free to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the race, only three did — Laufton Ascencao, Andy Tyska and William Hunt. We now know about Mr. Ascencao. Perhaps better due diligence before the election might have spared us the difficulties and expense his resignation in disgrace will now cause.

Mr. Tyska did the honorable thing. In taking advantage of an opportunity to run for state elected office, he chose not to run for reelection to Bristol’s town council.

Because of Mr. Ascencao, a special general and maybe a primary election will be necessary. Mr. Tyska and Mr. Hunt will likely run again, as well they should. Personally, I hope these two gentlemen are the only candidates in the special election for District 68. However, I understand that one or more recently elected town council members from one or both towns composing District 68 may opt to be political opportunists. I truly hope they choose not to do so.

Any town council member could have done what Mr. Tyska did — make a choice between running for town council or the state legislature. No other town council member did. Should any town council member now decide to run for state representative and lose, he or she loses nothing.

Unlike Mr. Tyska, they risk nothing by running. Their position on their town council is secure. However, should he or she win the District 68 race, they would have to give up their town council seat. Their action would thereby trigger another special general and perhaps primary election for their town, the cost for which would be borne by their town’s taxpayers. Under a worst case scenario, I understand those costs could reach as much as $30,000.

I strongly urge all incumbent town council members of Bristol and Warren to choose loyalty to the citizens who elected them versus pursuit of political opportunism. Each town council member made a conscious choice in November to run for town council and not for state office. Now is not the time to be selfish and opportunistic.

Do right by your constituents. Serve out your tour of duty in the position for which you were elected. It is a matter of duty, honor, town.

Pete Hewett
Bristol