Hinger says, by comparison, early voting turnout has been meager

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD – Three nights before the municipal election the local Republicans are holding a Roaring ‘20s party at their 247 Federal Road Headquarters.

Isn’t this sending the wrong message? A century ago the 18-year-old vote didn’t exist. That didn’t occur until 1972.

Aren’t you writing off the younger members of Generation Z by holding such an event?

Wouldn’t it be better to try to draw a crowd by showing a video of Arlo Guthrie at Forest Hills?

Karl Hinger, 31, the Republican nominee for first selectman in the November 4 election, replies, “There is no deeper message. It is a costumer party on the day after Halloween.”

Hinger says that the early voting percentage in Brookfield is “much lower” than in its initial outing during the 2024 presidential election.

He said last year 52 percent of ballots were cast in early voting. He indicated that this year it might be less than 25 percent.

“Even by municipal standards, early voting is really down this year,” he commented in an interview with Patch.com. “Election Day is going to be much more important this year than last year.”

He faces incumbent Democrat Steve Dunn, 70, who is seeking a non-consecutive fifth term. The Democrats have captured the first selectman’s office in six of the last eight municipal campaigns, even though there are about 800 more registered Republicans in this upscale suburban town. The largest bloc are the unaffiliated voters.

Hinger said that is “kind of hard to look at trends” since it is only Connecticut’s second year with early voting.

However, he added, “Early voting, like absentee voting, trends Democrat.”

Hinger said Republican President Donald Trump and state Rep. Marty Foncello (R-107) of Brookfield lost in early voting but prevailed in the overall vote a year ago.

“People have busy schedules so it is better for vote early than not at all,” he commented. “:However, there are a number of issues. If [negative] information comes out about a candidate in the last week you are happy if you saved y our vote for Election Day.”

It is a radical concept, but Democratic former President Barack Obama endorsed mandatory voting 10 years ago and more recently former Connecticut Secretary of the State Miles Rappaport co-authored a book supporting that concept.

According to USA Today, Australia has mandatory voting and more than 90 percent of the voters cast ballots in the national elections.

Said Hinger, “I don’t think it is a good idea. Compulsory voting means that people who really don’t follow the issues or want to participate; if you force them to vote, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to study the issues. People should be able to opt out.”

How valuable are lawn signs in a municipal campaign?

“At least a couple of percentage points,” Hinger said. “Voters are more likely to vote for a name that they recognize.”

He added, “I don’t think the cost of lawn signs is justified to the turnout they bring.”

Thus, is this like the time the high school principal said that if it were up to him there would be no spring football practice. Instead, those student-athletes should devote that time to studying for final exams. However, any coach that followed that advice might have javelins thrown at him the next fall if his team has a subpar start.

Commented Hinger, “That is exactly the case. If one party doesn’t buy lawn signs and the other does, you are putting yourself in a vulnerable position.”

He said maybe the answer is to approve an ordinance that bans them. The town does not allow larger signs such as the “billboard” type that are posted in neighboring Danbury.

Hinger is vice chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

When the next term starts in December there will be a combined Planning/Zoning Commission, a municipal charter revision that was approved in 2023.

“I think there will be growing pains,” he said of the change. “But I think it is for the best.”

Republican former Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has said that voters should not cast their ballots for a candidate who is ideological.

Remarked Hinger, “Some voters are more comfortable with what you see is what you get. But I think it is better for elected officials to understand some of nuances of government. It is always better to have politicians willing to consider new perspectives, because circumstances can change.”