Wasserman Says She Will Seek A Sixth Term

By Steve Bigham

At age 76, State Representative (106th District) Julia Wasserman is feeling good and still going strong. The fiery state leader was nominated by K. Michael Snyder and her fellow Republicans Tuesday night in Bethel. If elected, she will return to Hartford for a sixth term.

“I’m here to say. I’m not going anywhere,” she joked of her plans to remain in office for at least two more years.

The 106th District includes northwest Newtown and most of Bethel.

Mrs Wasserman, who shows no ill effects from her triple bypass surgery 15 months ago, ranks among the longest serving current members of the state House of Representatives. And with no challenger having yet come forward, she is expected to return to the seat she has filled since 1990.

Known for her tireless hard work, Mrs Wasserman has been a leader in the disposition process of Fairfield Hills. Last year, the bypass road through the campus was named Wasserman Way in her honor.

 Mrs Wasserman, coming off a successful legislative session, admitted her decision to seek reelection did not come easy. This past year has been a trying one for the strong-minded state representative. Her husband, Dr Louis Wasserman, died in June of 1999.

“It has been a very bumpy year,” Mrs Wasserman admitted earlier this year.

During this past session, the Walnut Tree Hill Road resident succeeded in getting three of her bills passed, which she saw as a significant accomplishment in light of her status as a member of the minority party in the House. Also, the Program Review and Investigations Committee, which Mrs Wasserman chairs, voted out several bills, which eventually passed.

Topping the list of Wasserman-initiated bills is legislation designed to allow charitable organizations the right to hold onto more of the money they raise rather than pay large sums to auditors. Mrs Wasserman’s efforts were prompted by Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company, which has been forced to pay in excess of $13,000 for audits each time it raises $100,000 or more. Thanks to the help of Mrs Wasserman, audits are no longer required unless the organization raises $200,000 or more.

Mrs Wasserman also led a successful push to get the state to convey to Newtown a 3.6-acre parcel known as Oakview Field. The land, located at the corner of Oakview Road and Wasserman Way, is used for youth soccer and lacrosse.

The state representative from Newtown also led a successful effort for passage of an identity theft bill, which will allow a victim of an identity theft crime to sue the violator for damages. Mrs Wasserman said she pursued the bill after some Newtown residents called to say their Social Security numbers were stolen.

Mrs Wasserman continues to keep a close eye on the disposition of Fairfield Hills and is pressing the state’s Department of Transportation to move forward with the replacement of the railroad overpass on Church Hill Road. She is also focusing her attention on the revitalization of Sandy hook.

In 1998, Mrs Wasserman easily defeated her only challenger, Charles Noe of Bethel, who ran as an independent.