As a woman and a mother and grandmother of girls, I am acutely aware of the need for reproductive health care. I need that care to be provided by a doctor who will protect my privacy as well as help me make decisions that are best for the health of myself and my family, not best for the self-regard of male Republicans.

I am increasingly concerned about the erosion of rights under Republican government and have been hoping that a candidate who shares my values would step up to challenge the state assemblyman for my district, Devin Carney. That principled challenger is Colin Heffernan. Since law school, Colin has been dedicated to protecting the rights of women. His principled positions stand in contrast to those of Carney, who voted against the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act to protect providers and patients in Connecticut from laws in other states that would, for example, subject a doctor to criminal prosecution for providing care to a woman who has experienced a miscarriage.

I am deeply concerned about Republicans trying to stand between me, my daughter and granddaughters, and our doctors, and that is why I am voting for Colin.

Anne Stevenson-Yang

Westbrook