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Melissa Ziobron

Running for State Senator

4 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Republican

CEP Status: participating

Website: www.melissaziobron.com

Age: 46

Marital Status: Married

Current Residence: East Haddam

Current Job: Legislator, 34th House District

Previous Job: Economic Development Coordinator, Town of East Haddam

Previous Job:

Education: CCSU, Nathan Hale Ray HS

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?
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?
Would you support legislation to "ban the box," prohibiting employers from asking the question about criminal convictions on a job application?
Where and how should state government focus its efforts in order to grow jobs?
How should the state address disparities in the Education Cost Sharing formula? What specific modifications would you suggest, if any?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
How should the state balance the needs of vulnerable populations with the reality of another large budget deficit?
Would you vote for a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana? Why or why not?