May 20, 2025 Speech by Dan Fitzmaurice

 

I want to thank each of you for coming out this evening. It means a lot to me and to everyone stepping up to be part of this campaign.

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My name is Dan Fitzmaurice, and I’m running to become Orange’s next First Selectman. This is truly a humbling moment for me because I love this town, and I know that we can make it even better.

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I grew up right next door in Milford, and I’ve always felt a strong connection with Orange. I spent countless hours swimming at the community center on our ARAC swim team, hot summer days at our Park and Rec camps, choosing the best birthday presents at Jesse’s Toys, and getting ice cream at Dip Top after school events.

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When my wife, Sarah, and I were searching for the right home in the right town to raise our family, we chose Orange. And we couldn’t be prouder to live here.

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Like many of you, being a parent is my biggest responsibility, but I’ve also worn a lot of hats in my career: musician, teacher, nonprofit executive, and public policy advocate.

I’ve held leadership roles at the local, state, and national level—always focused on helping organizations better serve everyday people and their communities. I’m known for rolling up my sleeves to improve their bottom line and fix longstanding issues. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to Town Hall: honest, hands-on, and focused on results.

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I’m not a politician — but I am a problem solver.

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And we need problem solvers right now, because there’s so much at stake. Top-down decisions coming from Washington DC every day are driving up the price of everything, making us feel less secure, and chipping away at our basic freedoms.

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There’s no room for that in Orange.

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We need Town Hall to reflect our small-town values. We need leaders on every board and commission focused every day on actively protecting what makes Orange so special.

But when people in power keep brushing serious concerns under the rug, real harm happens to real people. That’s exactly what’s going on right now in a town just up the road. My heart goes out to our neighbors in Bethany for the terrible tragedy they’re facing. We cannot let that happen here. As First Selectman, I promise to never let that happen here. We owe our community, and especially our kids, so much better than that.

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That’s why I know that local government matters. What happens in Town Hall shapes our day-to-day lives more than almost anything else. The folks on our local boards and commissions decide how our tax dollars are spent, and whether our schools, parks, and public services get the attention they deserve.

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That’s what I value about living in a small town like this—where everyone can get involved and contribute to our success. As a parent and in my career, I know that the best solutions come from bringing people together, listening to each other, and solving problems side by side.

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That’s why this campaign isn’t just about me. I’m proud to run alongside a full team of dedicated Democratic candidates who love this town as much as I do. (round of applause)

Together, we are going to lower your taxes and improve essential services our children, seniors, and small businesses rely on.

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And once your friends and neighbors meet these incredible candidates, they’ll be first in line to vote for them when the polls open early this fall on Monday, October 20. Mark your calendars!

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If you love our community as much as I do, I hope you’ll make a donation and sign up to volunteer before you even head home tonight. I’m honored to serve this campaign, our Democratic party, and—most importantly—our community.

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And if we start working together today and show up together in November, we will flip seats up and down the ballot. Then I’ll get right to work serving as your next First Selectman.

Thank you.