With a growing number of state lawmakers - including Democrats - standing up and vocally opposing programs that Governor Dannel P. Malloy and his party leadership have put in place, two-term GOP incumbent 106th District Representative Mitch Bolinsky sees the next two years as an opportunity to affect the kinds of policies that will return Connecticut to being a state where businesses want to locate, and people want to live, not abandon.The Newtown Bee during a recent visit that one of the best ways the General Assembly can begin digging Connecticut out of its fiscal mess is to revert to a common sense practice used in both industry and in most of Newtown's households.mitchfornewtown.com.

The lawmaker, who is being challenged by Democrat Eva Zimmerman, told

"Even though we were a high cost of living, and high cost of doing business state, people realized that living here was incredible - brilliant people, well educated, great universities, and the most beautiful place you'd ever want to see," Mr Bolinsky said. "But right now our revenues are not matching our spending. So the long-term fix is increasing our revenues significantly."

The lawmaker says the only way to do this is by reversing the outgoing trend of "human equity," residents who are departing Connecticut in droves, and their employers, which provide good-paying jobs.

"That is done by reforming the tax code," he said. "And we stimulate that by widespread and effective tax relief, starting with attracting businesses that can incubate innovation and 21st Century jobs. We have to make this state a favorable place to do business again." And while the state is engaging itself in that long-term recovery, lawmakers need to dig in and "right-size state government."

According to Mr Bolinsky, about a year ago he was approached by a constituent in Newtown, asking if the state could benefit from bringing in outside, private sector consultants to help analyze the greatest challenges, and advise the state on how to overcome them.

"I don't think we're capable of doing this ourselves, and it's such a beautiful and simple idea," he said. "If we can't right our own ship, allow attrition, right-size our agencies, and redeploy our human assets into jobs that fit their talents and they do with gusto so everything is humming along. There are companies out there that specialize in this type of analysis, and helping plan for the future."

Part of what Mr Bolinsky sees happening under that scenario is developing a five-year plan, "with black ink in the fifth year, and without layoffs and tax increases. It's conceivable if we just think outside the box."

One of the major obstacles the lawmaker sees across state government now is horrible technical deficiency.

"Not only can't our state agencies communicate and share information with one another, they can barely communicate with themselves," he said, "By investing in technology, we could greatly increase efficiencies and eliminate the duplication of work when multiple agencies share responsibility over programs."

He sited the Department of Children and Families, Social Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and others that may all be working on the same cases, but providing overlapping services that are, in some cases, counterproductive to the residents who need the help.

"And we can do it for a whole hell of a lot less money than we're doing it for today," he said.

The lawmaker said this move would have direct impact on Newtown constituents, who may find themselves requiring or receiving services from one of more of the agencies involved.

"It gets them the services they want more quickly, and takes full advantage of what's being cut right now - community providers, like Newtown Youth & Family Services, or Ability Beyond, which have been suffering and underfunded for years... When something is working, you've gotta go there and learn to do what they're doing or help it thrive. You don't yank the rug out from underneath it."

Rep Bolinsky currently serves on the legislature's Appropriations, Education, and Aging Committees. He is Ranking Member (House Republican Leader) in Aging, where he has been honored by AARP Connecticut and AARP National for his policy work for seniors, and in Appropriations, he serves on the Health, Human-Services and Results-Based Accountability Subcommittees.

He has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), and the Independent Party of Connecticut. One of the most relevant achievements for Newtown that Rep Bolinsky helped champion in the latest session was working with the rest of Newtown's statehouse delegation and school district leaders, including Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, to restore educational funds after Newtown was shorted because of large federal grants received after 12/14.

The lawmaker's work helped get Newtown about $180,000 restored.

Besides priding himself on caring constituent service to the children, families, seniors, and businesses in town, he counts among other achievements: privacy protections and considerations for local families and first responders after 12/14; securing a public hearing for local voices in the Common Core implementation debate; representing children's, parents' and teachers' concerns about aggressive, state-imposed testing practices, how data will be used and student data privacy issues; championing the landmark CARE Act for seniors in Connecticut; serving as an active advocate for children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for the early diagnosis of dyslexia; preserving Newtown's historic Second Company Governor's Horse Guard; and securing millions in state grants for school safety, infrastructure, and local construction projects including Hawleyville Sewers, Fairfield Hills, and Sandy Hook Streetscape.

Before joining the State Legislature, Rep Bolinsky established a record of service to the community. In 2011, he was elected to serve as a Legislative Councilman, serving on the Finance and Administration Subcommittee and as vice chairman of the Ordinance Subcommittee. Prior, according to his online biography, he served on Newtown's Economic Development Commission for two terms, on Newtown's Board of Ethics for two terms, and concurrently is serving as a local justice of the peace.

One of the other key concerns he is facing is the issue of what he describes as "negative campaigning on the part of my opponent, Ms Zimmerman." In a letter in this week's edition, Rep Bolinsky targets a mailer being circulated that he says implies, "I didn't support the reconstruction of Sandy Hook School."

The Bee, [Zimmerman] claimed I put our school's construction 'at risk.' That's a lie. Our beautiful new school was conceived as a fast-track project like no other school in Connecticut history, and I supported it from day one... With unprecedented access, the entire Newtown Delegation and I did little besides argue, ask, negotiate, lobby and speak privately, in joint meetings, in public forums and task forces about Newtown's and Sandy Hook's needs."

"Worse, she enlisted a former teacher as her partisan hack to mislead you by exploiting our tragedy," he writes. "Using a nasty attack mailer and a letter to

The lawmaker goes on to defend Newtown's 2013 State Delegation, insisting the legislators "supported and nurtured SHES at every stage. But... the project was pulled from the school construction bill and lumped with $750 million of unfunded operational expenses ... we made sure the school measure would pass and then, all cast 'Nay' votes on the governor's budgetary malpractice."

Mr Bolinsky, during his visit at the newspaper, said that he has never, and will never employ negative campaigning or "win at all cost tactics," to try and win, or in this case, retain his seat.

"People in town know me because of my responsiveness and constituent service," he said. "I don't need to go low because I'm proud of, and can stand on, my record."

Learn more about Rep Bolinsky's campaign at