Oct. 17 -- State Rep. Christine Conley, D-Groton, who is seeking her fifth term representing the 40th House District is being challenged by Groton Representative Town Meeting member Susan Deane-Shinbrot, a Republican.
The 40th House District covers parts of Groton and New London.
Conley, 42, an attorney and Groton resident who is married, said she's seeking re-election to continue to help Groton and New London with funding issues and assist residents in getting help from the state. Conley, a Democrat who is cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party and Independent Party of Connecticut, said the area has a great team of representatives.
"I'm running because I still think we have some work to be done," Conley said.
Deane-Shinbrot, 67, who is married with two adult sons and previously volunteered with PTOs and for a graduation party at her children's schools, said she is running because she is retired, can devote all her time to the role and always wanted to make a difference.
"I see a lot in the state that I'm not thrilled with, and I'd like to make a difference at that level," she said.
Conley, said she ran for state office to get more money for Groton and help re-educate the legislature about Groton, which has a Navy base, as well as people living below the poverty line.
In her time in office, Conley, chair of screening for the House majority leader and a member of the Judiciary, Planning and Development, and Transportation Committees, said she is most proud of the 2019 passage of a bill she wrote that codified that insurers in Connecticut have to cover pre-existing health conditions.
Deane-Shinbrot, who is the Republican floor leader of the RTM and chairs the RTM's Public Works Committee and is secretary of the Groton Republican Town Committee, said she is retired after working for 35 years as a paraprofessional. She organized 200 paraprofessionals into a union and was co-president for 8 years.
Deane-Shinbrot said she learned from her father, John Deane, who was involved in local politics, that she can make changes. She said she would bring fresh eyes and life experience to the legislature, and her experience forming the union gave her the opportunity to think outside of the box in different ways.
Top issues
Conley said her top issue is to continue to assist the majority leader on housing priorities, with the state's 'fair share' study expected in December. With high rents in Groton and New London, she said they are working to build workforce housing that people, including teachers, nurses and municipal workers, can afford. She supports incentives to encourage developers to set aside a percentage of units for people with intellectual disabilities or cap by income a percentage of units.
Conley said she's working with representatives, senators and the comptroller to help small business with health insurance costs. One idea is to offer tax credits to small businesses that are providing a full array of health coverage to make those plans more affordable.
Another priority is to ensure Groton and New London get the funding they need for schools and municipal projects, she said.
She said she will continue to work with the state Department of Transportation to ensure funding for the Gold Star Bridge renovations continues, and, when lane changes begin, hear from residents about how to make the transitions safer.
Deane-Shinbrot said her top priority is lowering the tax rate, especially to keep young people and seniors in the state. She said seniors are leaving in droves, and she has many friends who have left for Florida.
Another priority is to get more mental health services for younger people in the state, she said.
"I'd like to see more counseling within the schools, and I'd also like to see more put into the preschool, elementary school age kids," Deane-Shinbrot said. "I think we forget that it's a very delicate time in their life, and I think we can capture a lot of things and keep them from going awry when they're younger."
Deane-Shinbrot said she also wants to ensure the state keeps up with the maintenance of roads and bridges.
"Every time I drive over a bridge, I always think of Mianus River Bridge, and I never want that to happen again," she said about the deadly collapse in Greenwich in 1983.
She said bridges found to be deficient need to be prioritized and immediately funded. She said the less infrastructure is maintained, the more expensive it becomes in the long run.
Electric Boat expansion, helping youths
When asked about housing needs with the expansion of Electric Boat, Conley said both New London and Groton need more middle-income, workforce housing. She said state grants can help developers, who face obstacles such as asbestos or lead at properties, build such housing.
Deane-Shinbrot supported more 55+ housing, which seniors are looking to move to -- thereby freeing up "starter homes" for younger people. She also would like to see housing with a percentage set aside as affordable.
As far as solutions to help youths facing academic challenges and mental health struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic, Deane-Shinbrot said it's important to have more interventions at younger ages and to provide resources and networking opportunities for parents through community centers.
Conley said she wants to continue and expand school-based health centers, which are beneficial to students and relieve the funding burden from municipalities.
Connecticut has $37 billion in unfunded pension obligations and a history of mismanaging its pension program. How should the State pay down this pension debt? What changes would you propose, if any, to existing pension programs for state and municipal employees? Be specific.
We are making progress in funding the pension systems. The Budget of 2017, fiscal guardrails, and budget surpluses have allowed us to pay more than $8.5 million in debt. Additional payments to the pension system have allowed our pension system to grow from 36% funded in 2016 when I took office to 57% percent today. Funding our pension system at a higher rate has improved the State's bond rating and improved our fiscal outlook. We should continue to increase the funding of our pension system.
Rents are unaffordable for many working, disabled, and retired people, and youth are losing hope that they'll ever be able to afford a home. Do you believe the State needs more affordable housing? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to increase affordable housing? If no, why is more affordable housing not needed?
We need more housing at all levels, especially workforce housing at various starting salaries. I support developments that set aside some housing for disabled individuals, income-restricted, and veterans. I support these projects with a variety of grants. I also support first-time homebuyer programs. Groton and New London have residents of all income levels, and supporting housing for everyone, apartments, condominiums, multi-family homes, and single-family homes is essential. Everyone deserves a safe home to live in.
Is climate change a problem for the State? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to address climate change. If no, why is it not a problem?
Climate change is a problem for every State. My district includes two shoreline communities, Groton and New London, which have already seen the effects of climate change. When repairing infrastructure, we consider building and maintaining bridges, roads, and drainage with stronger storms and rising sea levels. I have supported infrastructure, seawalls, and bridge repair funding and grants. I have supported and voted for the Connecticut Climate Protection Act, which updates emission targets and provides tax credits and appropriate fee waivers for businesses that commit to moving forward with renewable energy. This bill passed the House in 2024, and I will continue to work on these initiatives.
Susan Deane-Shinbrot
Connecticut has $37 billion in unfunded pension obligations and a history of mismanaging its pension program. How should the state pay down this pension debt? What changes would you propose, if any, to existing pension programs for state and municipal employees? Be specific.
Connecticut's unfunded pension obligations of $37 billion are a significant burden, threatening fiscal stability and diverting resources from essential services. To address this, we need a multi-pronged approach. First, we should consider issuing pension obligation bonds at low-interest rates to refinance some of the debt, buying time and potentially saving money if managed responsibly. Second, a transition for new state and municipal employees from defined-benefit plans to defined-contribution plans, such as 401(k)-style programs, could be implemented to prevent the debt from growing. Current employees' pensions should be protected, but modest adjustments like increasing employee contributions and modifying cost-of-living adjustments can help make the system more sustainable. Lastly, a more aggressive approach to funding the pension through a mix of budget surpluses, targeted spending cuts, and potential asset sales can provide additional capital to pay down this debt. Transparency and independent oversight are also critical to ensure responsible management moving forward.
Rents are unaffordable for many working, disabled and retired people and youth are losing hope that they'll ever be able to afford a home. Do you believe the state needs more affordable housing? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to increase affordable housing? If no, why is more affordable housing not needed?
Yes, Connecticut needs more affordable housing to support working families, retirees, and young people. A balanced approach to housing affordability involves several steps. Streamlining zoning regulations, particularly exclusionary zoning laws, is essential to encourage development in high-opportunity areas, allowing for multi-family units and mixed-use housing. Offering tax incentives and public-private partnerships can stimulate the development of affordable housing projects. Additionally, expanding down payment assistance and first-time homebuyer programs would empower young families to purchase homes. Addressing housing affordability requires not only building new units but also revitalizing existing housing stock in underdeveloped areas, improving access to transportation, and promoting job growth to align housing and economic opportunities. Finally, rent stabilization policies can help protect tenants without disincentivizing developers from investing in new housing.
Is climate change a problem for the state? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to address climate change. If no, why is it not a problem?
Climate change is indeed a problem for Connecticut, impacting coastal communities, agriculture, and overall public health. The state should take a proactive approach to address climate change with balanced and practical policies. Encouraging clean energy development is essential -- expanding the state's commitment to wind, solar, and other renewables can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Providing tax credits for businesses and homeowners who invest in energy-efficient technologies will encourage a transition toward sustainable practices. Enhancing public transportation networks, promoting electric vehicles, and setting energy efficiency standards for buildings will help reduce the carbon footprint. Also, investing in coastal resilience projects is critical to mitigate rising sea levels and protect vulnerable communities. Finally, collaborating with regional states through initiatives like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will help Connecticut contribute to a broader effort to combat climate change while fostering economic opportunities in the clean energy sector.