Brendan Saunders, the Republican challenging Norm Needleman to represent the 33rd State Senate District, canceled his interview with Harbor News and did not respond to requests to reschedule for this feature.

The 33rd State Senate District serves Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Portland, Westbrook, and western Old Saybrook.

Saunders, a resident of Clinton who grew up in Westbrook, is a former minister who now hosts a podcast for young adults focused on life and faith. He serves on the Hospitality Advisory Board of Manchester Community College and is director of sales and marketing at the Courtyard Marriott in Cromwell. He and his wife, Mary, have a daughter.

Describing himself a Reagan Republican, Saunders is running to “lower the cost of living, build a better business climate, and make sure that everybody has a voice in Hartford,” as he told Harbor News in a previous interview. He promises on his website to “fight to reverse the trend of raising taxes and fees” and believes that lowering taxes will create a more “business-friendly climate.”

On healthcare, he advocates for a free-market approach emphasizing “competition, cost sharing (copays), transparency, consistent pricing for all goods and services, and consumer choice,” according to his website.

More information about his campaign, including two videos, visit saunders4senate.com.