Politics & Government

Candidates For State Representative Talk About 'The Top Three Issues' Facing the District

Candidates John Samperi (R) and Tom Vicino (D), who face off for the office of state representative in the 35th assembly district November 6, give voters insight into the issues.

 

Patch asked the two candidates for state representative in the 35th district (Clinton, Killingworth and a portion of Westbrook) what they believe are the top three issues facing the district and a general overview of their plans to address those issues.

In alphabetical order, here are their responses:

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

John Samperi (R)

My first and most important issue in running for the 35th District House of Representatives is to restore some common sense principles in Hartford.  Don’t spend more money than you have, if it is not broken-don’t fix it, and if it is not working-get rid of it. There is too much nonsense and pandering going on in this State.  The current administration is creating ways to spend money that caters to special interest groups and that needs to come to a halt.  When a bill is placed before me, my first thought will be, “does it make sense-does it help the people of Connecticut and will it raise taxes."

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Going along this line, I want to stop wasteful spending and treating the revenue coming in like it is the government’s money and not the ‘people’s’ money.  If I looked at every dollar coming in as one that was earned on the back of a laborer with a family to feed, I would be more careful how it got spent.  The current administration is handing out money like candy on Halloween!  Case in point, building the bus way from New Britain to Hartford at a cost of $600 million dollars.  Everyday you can look in the newspapers and see where the Malloy administration is handing out our hard earned tax dollars at will with no thought to where that money came from and what it takes to earn a dollar.  Under many years of a democratically controlled house and senate, we have seen the State go deeper and deeper into a deficit putting a huge burden on future generations.  This also keeps us business unfriendly. No one wants to come to Connecticut to pay more in taxes, food, housing, gas, etc!!

On that line, my last issue of major concern in the job market in Connecticut.  We have been labeled as the most business unfriendly state in the country.  We have seen no job growth in at least 20 years.  Businesses are fleeing the state along with the residents.  The regulations on businesses are destroying their incentive to stay here. I would like to get rid of a lot of the burdensome regulations and taxation and make this a great place to do business.  I would like to see small business stay here, manufacturing want to be here, and laborers be able to afford to raise their families here.  Connecticut is a beautiful state with good people. We cannot let it be destroyed with a lack of common sense leadership in Hartford.  We need a balance of power in this state.  Right now, the democrats have the house, the senate and the governorship.  They can do whatever they want with YOUR money.  That needs to stop!

Please vote for me…a common sense, fiscally responsible Republican who will help restore balance in Hartford.

 

Tom Vicino (D)

Thomas Vicino, a Clinton selectman running for state representative in the 35th House District, outlined his platform for the most important issues in the Nov. 6 election: Creating more jobs, continuing education reform and increasing state aid for small towns while keeping taxes in check.

“Creating jobs by expanding manufacturing, construction, life sciences, green energy and health information technology should be one of our highest priorities,” Vicino said. “One of the best ways to create jobs is to make more grants available to small businesses to hire and train veterans and others who are unemployed. While offering some infusion of money into local businesses, we will create jobs and help get people back to work, while also developing business and getting the Connecticut economy back on track,” he added.

“We also need to expand our efforts to reform Connecticut’s education system by making sure that pre-school programs are funded and that teachers have the tools they need in their classrooms,” Vicino said.

“Finally, we need to get our state back on solid financial footing by eliminating waste in government, stressing efficiency and adopting results-based accountability. By doing these things, we will be able to provide more aid to small towns and keep taxes down. It will also allow us to better promote tourism – a $12 billion a year industry – and protect our natural resources,” Vicino said.

“If we can accomplish these goals, all of our citizens, including our most vulnerable and financially strapped families and businesses, will be able to prosper,” Vicino said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here