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Edward Charamut

Running for State Senator

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Party: Republican

CEP Status: participating

Website: www.charamutforstatesenate.com

Age: 60

Marital Status: married

Current Residence: Rocky Hill

Current Job: Insurance

Previous Job: Insurance

Previous Job: Insurance

Education: Univ of CT - Business

Will you support top-down efforts to regionalize local services with an eye toward more efficiency and reducing the state's obligations regarding ECS and/or other funding for towns? How would you go about it?
Bottom up is the way to go - local boards and councils and town/city staff have a great idea who they can work with and partner up with when it comes to neighboring towns and programs. We need to show case where this is already working more and more.
Where and how should state government focus its efforts in order to grow jobs?
We msut ease the tax burdens on businesses but also cut back on "unfund state mandates that cause local towns/cities to collect higher property taxes on businesses.
Would you support legislation to "ban the box," prohibiting employers from asking the question about criminal convictions on a job application?
No
Based on estimates that out-of-state drivers would contribute 30-40% of overall revenue if highway tolls are implemented in Connecticut, would you support tolls with or without offsetting cuts in the state's gas taxes?
No,, would not support tolls, this is just a tax on our citizens.
Eversource and some out-of-state entities appear to be attempting to buy control of Connecticut's water resources, and some of our quasi-public water agencies have signed away large amounts of water to commercial interests with little regard to future water shortages. What can you do to ensure that Connecticut residents maintain control of public water supplies in perpetuity?
I need more information on this issue.
Much of Connecticut is economically and racially segregated because many towns lack affordable housing and local zoning regulations prohibit multi-family dwellings. How would you propose incentivizing municipalities to start allowing multi-family units and other affordable housing options?
Towns and Cities are already looking to developing multi use districts where developers are being required to build residential mixed with commercial all in a walking type community. The residential component should be mixed between low cost and upper end units as well
How should the state address disparities in the Education Cost Sharing formula? What specific modifications would you suggest, if any?
Stop, reduce and eliminate unfunded mandates as outline in the CCM Connecticut Conference of Municipalities most recent publication. The State must fund any mandate we issue. The Formula needs to be more transparent and predictable so the local authorities can budget properly.
Should the government's response to the opioid crisis be to focus on law enforcement to stop drug dealers, or improving access to treatment for addiction and reducing the overprescription of painkillers?
Whatever can be done to save lives must be looked at and factored into our states response.
In 2016 the Connecticut Retirement Security Program was created. It will give over 600,000 residents in our state a way to save for retirement at work. Knowing that employees are 15 times more likely to save merely by having access to payroll deduction, how will you continue the implementation of this important program?
Of course saving for retirement is a very important issue for all of us. I believe individuals need the flexibility to pick and choose how they meet these goals.
The 459,000 family caregivers in Connecticut provide an estimated 427 million hours of care each year. Nationwide, nearly seven in ten caregivers report making work accommodations because of caregiving, including arriving late/leaving early, cutting back their hours, changing jobs, or stopping work entirely. Would you support a family leave law that provides paid leave to employees who have to take time off for family caregiving purposes?
Yes, only if there is a tax credit to businesses participating in such a program.
Would you vote for a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana? Why or why not?
No I would support medical uses and necessary research
How should the state balance the needs of vulnerable populations with the reality of another large budget deficit?
all expenses, programs and costs need to be reviewed and prioritized before we agree to spend on them
A recent report found 40 percent of Connecticut residents can't afford basic needs such as housing, food, health care, or child care. What would you do to improve their situation?
I believe we can call on our local NonProfit community to pick up where the State of Connecticut just isn't qualified and/or skilled or able to provide these kinds of services. The State could then pass down the funds they budgeted to the nonprofits picking on these issues.
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