State Senator District 35

Lisa Thomas

13 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Democrat

CEP Status: participating

Website: lisaforeasternct.com

Age: 58

Marital Status: Married

Current Residence: Coventry

Current Job: Public School Teacher in Windsor CT

Previous Job: Public School Teacher, Hebron, CT

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Education: BA Vassar College; JD Uconn School of Law

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Connecticut’s revenues will sharply decline as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and, unlike Congress, Connecticut has a balanced budget requirement. What changes would you make to balance the budget? (If you want cuts, be specific what will be cut. If you want to raise taxes, be specific about which taxes.)

Connecticut cannot tax or cut its way to a balanced budget in the face of an estimated 30% drop in revenue for FY 2021. Federal assistance to states will be necessary and must be part of the next Congressional relief package.

What can be done to improve the business climate in Connecticut while COVID-19 continues to be a risk?

Connecticut has done a good job overall managing the pandemic and preparing for a safe reopening of our economy. Only by protecting our residents from the virus can our economy and businesses climate improve. We need to continue to be vigilant and must support our businesses with necessary support including an extension of $600 weekly additional unemployment benefits and an improved payroll protection program.

What specific legislation would you support to reduce racism in Connecticut?

I will support legislation that promotes affordable housing in all of our communities. That will require addressing exclusionary zoning rules that bar affordable housing, multi-family housing, and perpetuate segregation in our state. I will also support legislation that addresses disparate impacts of racism on access to healthcare.

With so much uncertainty ahead about COVID-19, how would you ensure that the people's business – both at the legislature and in all of our elections – will be conducted effectively, and with full participation, in the safest possible manner for the foreseeable future?

I support no excuse absentee ballots and mail-in voting. I also support the use of ADA compliant, secure and accessible ballot boxes in every town.

With higher education facing major changes because of the pandemic, what steps will you take to make sure that Connecticut’s residents have access to college and/or other job training that won’t leave them tens of thousands of dollars in debt?

I support the recent legislation that provides debt-free community college education. I also support expanding our vo-tech high school programs, advanced manufacturing programs in our community colleges, and developing high quality apprenticeship programs - especially in the trades sector.

What is one specific policy you support to help protect African Americans as an at-risk group during the pandemic?

here are many reasons why African Americans have suffered disproportionately from corona virus. One primary reason is a failure to provide frontline, essential healthcare and service employees personal protection equipment. All frontline workers should be provided with adequate, essential PPE. Connecticut must continue to monitor and regularly test nursing home workers where outbreaks have been common.

What should Connecticut do to re-tool our public health for COVID-19 and the possibility of future pandemics, while also addressing other chronic illnesses that put people at risk every day?

How can Connecticut lower healthcare costs while also improving quality and access to care?

I support a public option as proposed by the legislature in 2019. A public option would provide an affordable, high quality option on the Access Health exchange and expand access to those who remain without healthcare. I also support negotiating drug prices with Pharmaceutical companies to reduce costs.

Daniel Champagne

1 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Republican

CEP Status: participating

Website: www.champagne4senate.com

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Current Residence: Vernon

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