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106th District Profiles-Bolinsky, Romano Find The Electorate Welcoming, Full Of Ideas

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106th District Profiles—

Bolinsky, Romano Find The Electorate Welcoming, Full Of Ideas

By John Voket

(This is the third of a three-part series introducing candidates appearing on Newtown ballots on Election Day, and at The Newtown Bee’s Candidates Forum October 16 at Edmond Town Hall.)

The decision by Democratic 106th District lawmaker Chris Lyddy not to seek a third term opened up an opportunity for some new blood to represent most of Newtown’s residents in Hartford for at least the next two years. And two residents of the district have taken aim at securing that seat: Republican Mitch Bolinsky and Democrat Lisa Romano.

During separate interviews with the candidates, both began by commenting how much they are enjoying campaigning, knocking on doors and encountering the residents who will be one or the other’s future constituents. Both also noted that many of the residents they encounter have no shortage of ideas about how Newtown’s next state representative needs to dig in, creating jobs, boosting the economy, and leveling out or reducing the tax burden faced by home and business owners alike.

“I heard some complaints about taxes at the state level, but not as many as I initially expected,” Ms Romano said. “But people have a lot of concern about the local budget, which means it’s more important than ever [to send a lawmaker to Hartford] to retain the grants already coming back to Newtown — like the educational cost sharing and PILOT grants.”

Ms Romano said part of her campaign strategy involves meeting with local elected officials like First Selectman Pat Llodra and Board of Education Chair Debbie Leidlein.

“Both of them have said this is a priority,” Ms Romano said.

She said in the case of Fairfield Hills, the potential to get some of the designated property developed commercially is being hamstrung by the cost of hazardous materials abatement in the former state hospital buildings.

“Pat Llodra told me what’s holding up development is the cost of that cleanup,” she said. “So I sought out the chairman of the legislature’s Commerce Committee who told me that asbestos was recently added to the municipal brownfields grant [program]. It just has to be tied to an economic development component.”

Ms Romano said she also spoke to two small business owners recently who both complained about the amount of paperwork they are being required to complete. One of those business people who was not very computer proficient also told her he is having a hard time transitioning all of his state filings from paper to the web.

“If I’m elected in November, I will be looking into a way to reduce the sheer volume of documentation that businesses are facing, particularly tax filings,” Ms Romano said. “I’d also like to see if there is a way to help make it easier for people to start a small business.”

The Democratic contender said she is hearing a lot of complaints about the cost of gas. And she wants to examine how other states with lower gas taxes derive the revenue Connecticut receives from its notoriously high gasoline tax.

“I’m also hearing some grumbling about corporate welfare being used to attract or keep large companies in the state,” Ms Romano said. “But I’m sure these [incentives] were not frivolous ventures. The people who work or will work at these companies spend a lot of money in Connecticut.”

She did commit to learning how to possibly increase the ratio of high tech businesses in the state, especially those that conduct a lot of their commerce via the Internet.

Ms Romano said she is hearing from teachers as well, who are continuing to express concerns about students not getting the necessary support they need to succeed from home. But the candidate said she would like to work on ways to help students take more responsibility for their own education.

“The most successful people are largely self-motivated,” she said.

As she continues to campaign and prep for media interviews and the upcoming Newtown Bee candidates forum, Ms Romano said she is researching a number of initiatives and legislation that has come out of Hartford in and since the last legislative session.

“I’m also keeping an eye on incumbents, and what they are going to be supporting in the next session,” she added.

‘Too Much Government’

Mr Bolinsky said as he continues campaigning, he has been flattered, receiving e-mails from spouses of those he has visited with asking him to come back to meet them, too.

“The reception I am getting door-to-door is amazing,” Mr Bolinsky said. “I know I have a pocket of recognition in [Newtown’s] third district because of my service on the council, but I think because of my townwide mailings, a lot of people outside my council district know me by name when I walk into their yard.”

Mr Bolinsky said he is engaging a lot of residents who are fed up with “too much government, too much taxation and no balance of power to try to put a stop to that taxation freight train.”

In the beginning of his campaign, the GOP contender said he was hearing a lot about job creation and reducing the tax burden, especially on state seniors.

“But over time the conversation has changed a bit,” he said. “Now it’s more about turning the Connecticut ship around. I’m hearing about how prohibitively expensive it is to do business in the state. That burden of expense doesn’t make it easy to add new employees.”

He said if his campaign is successful in November, Mr Bolinsky will go to Hartford looking to create the first increase in “net new jobs in 20 years — 21st Century jobs in high tech, biopharmaceuticals, and lean manufacturing.”

His platform has attracted the attention and endorsements from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, as well as the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Mr Bolinsky said he wants to provide additional help by reducing the cost of energy to homeowners and businesses.

“We pay the second highest electrical costs in the nation after Hawaii, and gasoline and fuel oil taxes are at historic highs as well,” he said. “But I have to believe revenue from gas taxes are down right now because nobody passing through Connecticut is filling up their tanks. Right now gas is 10 cents a gallon cheaper right across the border in New York.”

And since he says Governor Dannel Malloy is guarded about how much new tax revenue is coming in, Mr Bolinsky is afraid that more tax increases are in the offing.

“That’s why state residents need more representatives like me — who will stand up for no new taxes,” he said. “Truthfully, I’m even talking with a lot of Democrats who don’t see things changing for the better.”

Along with having regular conversations with incumbent lawmakers DebraLee Hovey, Dan Carter, and Senator John McKinney, Mr Bolinsky said he is talking with new, young legislators like Shelton’s Jason Perillo about how to approach his first few weeks on duty if he is elected in November.

“They’re all telling me to listen, to take good notes, and to really understand what I’m being asked to do,” Mr Bolinsky said. “I’m going to be ready to hit the ground running. Even though the session doesn’t begin until 2013, I plan to begin getting ready the day after the election.”

If he gets the chance to serve Newtown in Hartford, Mr Bolinsky said he will head to the capital armed with the perspectives of the residents he has met, as well as town leaders.

“But it’s important for people to know that I’m not doing this because of any personal ambition,” he said. “I’ve been in Newtown for 12 years and my family and I really adore this place. So anything I can do to make Newtown a better place will mean I’ve been successful.”

Hear more from the 106th, the 112th, and Second District legislative candidates October 16 during a live forum at the Edmond Town Hall theater beginning at 7:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

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