Mount Student Runs for Office
11/1/2017
Senior Joseph Britton campaigns to be councilman at-large
Riverdale, N.Y. – Many college students remain conflicted about the 2016 presidential election, but 21-year-old Mount student Joseph Britton ’18 is doing something about it—he’s running for office in his hometown of Danbury, Connecticut. For the past two months, he has been campaigning as a Democrat for one of the city’s seven councilman at-large seats.
“I want to inspire my generation to get involved,” Mr. Britton said. “You can sit idly and be upset, but if you don’t do anything to change the situation, it’s a moot point.”
After the results of the presidential election got him fired up, Mr. Britton, a sociology major with a concentration in criminology and justice—and minors in business and political science—wanted to get involved with his local government. He contacted Thomas Saadi, who serves as Democratic Leader on the Danbury City Council, for volunteer opportunities. In June, Mr. Britton took it a step further—he talked to his parents and made the decision to run for office. He sent a letter of intent to the Democratic Party and earned their support and nomination. He also met Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, the U.S. Representative for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, who advised him to go door-to-door and talk to the people of Danbury.
“I’m a rookie, I learn as I go,” Mr. Britton said regarding his campaign. “I learn from incumbents, and the younger candidates have a Facebook group and they bounce ideas off each other.” However, he is primarily a student. “School comes first,” he said. “All this has been built around my education.”
In addition to taking six classes this semester, Mr. Britton serves as the Senior Class Vice President, the public relations director for the CMSV Players, frequently volunteers with campus ministry, and does his part in keeping the campus clean with the Mount’s Green Team. Despite all his commitments, he’s found time to run his election campaign. His staff is comprised of his Mount Saint Vincent roommate and campaign chairman Owen Smith ’18 and his mother, who serves as his campaign treasurer.
For the past two months, he has been taking a train to Danbury on Friday mornings after class to work on his campaign. He’s been going canvassing, meeting and talking to voters, and attending fundraisers, all in time to take the train back to the Mount on Sunday evenings. In September he organized a fundraiser, which earned him the support and donations of family, friends, and fellow Mount students. He’s raised $1,810, which has been enough to fund the old-fashioned campaign he had in mind. He’s bought lawn signs, printed and distributed flyers, and built a website.
This past Saturday, Mr. Britton attended the final Democratic rally in Danbury, going door-to-door for one last push before the November 7 election. On Election Day, he plans to visit each polling place and talk to voters. He’s also thinking about organizing a rally at Mount Saint Vincent, “not necessarily for this campaign, but to inspire other students to get involved and run for office,” he said.
Mr. Britton is running on a platform that features four main points: education, improving the city’s infrastructure, stabilizing Danbury’s mill rate, and restoring the city’s downtown area. “I’m the product of Danbury public schools,” Mr. Britton said. “In overcrowded classrooms, you’re not getting the attention you need.” That’s why he wants to make Danbury’s classrooms less crowded and the teachers less underpaid.
Furthermore, he wants to improve Danbury’s infrastructure by establishing a “City Streets” fund, which would utilize part of the motor vehicle property tax to repair city streets regularly, resulting in safer roads. He also plans to work on stabilizing Danbury’s mill rate (property tax), which has been steadily growing for the past 16 years. This way, he hopes to support small local businesses, which do not benefit from the tax breaks that attract the big companies coming into the city. Lastly, the Mount senior wants to revitalize downtown Danbury by supporting local businesses, such as bakeries and cafes, which will make it a lively neighborhood.
“If I lose the election, I still want to inspire my generation,” Mr. Britton said. Although he is interested in a career in politics, his service-oriented mindset drives his dream of becoming a police officer. “I came to Mount Saint Vincent because the school prides itself on service,” he said. “I want to lead a life of service. That’s how I see myself as a person.”
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of professional accomplishment, service, and leadership in the 21st century.