Luke,

First of all, congratulations.

I write to you as a former four-term House member and long-time friend of Congressman John Larson.

I have an idea of the pain that Larson and his supporters are feeling. Having political power and losing it rather abruptly is something I, too, have experienced.

You are about to join the greatest deliberative democratic body in the world, one in which relatively few Americans have been members.

I had never been in that incredible House chamber before I was sworn in at age 29. A half century plus later, I still remember the goosebumps.

Like you, I ran against the Democratic Party establishment. I was one of 75 new Democrats elected to the U.S. House. We were called the “Watergate Babies” as the first freshmen class following the Nixon scandals. Most of us knew we had a lot to do and a lot to learn.

Twenty years ago, when Chris Murphy won that seat that I had once represented in the northwest part of the state and Joe Courtney did the same in the opposite corner, I wrote a piece for the Washington Post with some advice for their freshmen class.

So here I go again. I hope these tips might help with your transition to becoming Congressman Bronin and a critical member of Connecticut’s delegation.

(I realize you still have a general election to win, but it’s a pretty safe bet that you will. If the Republican candidate beats you, these tips could help her, too.)

My tips:

Term-limit yourself

You spent a lot of time and money selling the idea that people stay too long in Congress, so term-limit yourself. I did that a very long time ago, when first running for Congress.

It was something of an accident. But I think it turned out to be a good thing. I was speaking at Newtown High School and some student asked me “You say people stay in Congress too long. So how long will you stay?

I immediately answered, “If you see me there after five terms (ten years), tap me on the shoulder and remind me that I said I wouldn’t serve longer than that.”

My off-handed comment made headlines. And I was stuck with it. So I left after four terms, ran for the U.S. Senate and got beat. I don’t regret it.

But do it. Try five terms. Maybe six. Commit to leaving before somebody makes you leave.

Make Congressman Larson a mentor

I know this will not be easy. It may take a bit of time and some convincing, but John is a team player. He wants his current constituents, your future ones, to continue to have quality representation.

There are several reasons why this makes sense. First of all, John is immensely popular in the House Democratic Caucus. As you know, he was its chairman for some time. And quite frankly, there are going to be some mixed feelings from other members, old and young, over your beating him. A lot of them think you beat him simply by talking about his age. I assume even you would admit that there wasn’t much to criticize in his record as a progressive champion.

So, his mentoring you, for everyone to see, could quickly boost your image with fellow House Democrats. To say nothing of the fact that you could learn a lot from him. About how the place works. About how to get things done. About how to be a fierce progressive advocate while still being able to attract support from more conservative members – and even some Republicans.

Take him to breakfast one day soon at one of his favorite East Hartford diners.

Make surprise visits to other members’ offices

Shortly after the “Watergate Babies” class was sworn in, I got some advice from one of the older long-serving members.

“Go visit other members’ offices, unannounced. Just walk in and introduce yourself. Meet the staff and talk to the member. It’ll be the start of some very good relationships.”

I took that advice. This sort of thing is not common in Congress. But it allows you to show some initiative and, yes, humility, from a member that is viewed something of a renegade. It helped me make friends I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Become an advocate for Connecticut’s cities

Some years ago, you and I had a conversation about how our state’s cities are basically islands, sometimes even islands of despair, surrounded by affluent suburbs.

Many decades ago, someone had the not-so-bright idea of abolishing county, regional government here. It released the more affluent suburbanites from any real collective responsibility for our cities. Make this an issue.

This is something of a no-brainer for you. There are several other former mayors in the House —from Phoenix and Houston, for example.  One of them, Rep. Richie Neal, the former mayor of Springfield, is likely to be the chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, the one on which Larson serves.

Neal will surely miss his long-time pal, But he’s a grown-up and knows you won fair and square. Get to know him. Do some work with him to help cities across the country.

Become a leader for changing how money controls our politics

You just ran in a system that is awash with money from the wealthiest and vested interests. The system is broken. It’s not something that’s easy to fix, but, at the very least, show your constituents that you see it as a big problem.

You’re also in a good position to talk about how Connecticut’s public finance system for state offices has diminished the role of money considerably.

Become a House gym rat

From your school days you know how sports enhances friendships and bonding.

There is a gym several floors under the Rayburn Building. I spent a lot of time there, playing full court basketball — too much time in the eyes of my staff.

There were no party lines on that court. One of your first, unofficial acts, should be to show up down there.

Join a members’ prayer group

I don’t know if you’re religious or not, but this is a great place to build friendships and bridges. 

Like the gym, the prayer groups have no party lines.  Members let their guards down and become something like “regular” people.  I formed important partnerships with friends across the aisle on issues like human rights by just showing up at these early morning meetings.

Make sure the goosebumps haven’t disappeared

As I wrote to Murphy and Courtney and the other freshmen two decades ago, when you leave the Capitol late one night after a very long day and you look up at that lighted dome, if the goosebumps aren’t there, send in your resignation letter.

Best of luck, Luke.

Toby Moffett of Branford is a former four-term member of Congress from Connecticut, 1975-`983.