Since we have two accomplished Democratic candidates with proven track records up for re-election, why change now? State Senator Christine Cohen and State Representative John-Michael Parker have worked tirelessly to advance and support sound policies and grant programs that benefit Madison.

On several occasions, I have heard Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz describe Christine and John-Michael as “rock stars” in the Connecticut state legislature, meaning that they are both well-known, respected, and highly regarded by their peers. And well, they should be.

A small business owner, Christine is vice chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, with a top priority to promote the small business economy. She chaired the Senate Environment Committee for four years; she is chair of the Bioscience Caucus, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and she currently chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. She also founded the bipartisan Coastal Caucus to improve coastal resiliency in shoreline communities.

John-Michael is the executive director of the nonprofit Arts For Learning Connecticut, bringing arts and culture to our schools. He currently serves on the Environment Committee, the Public Health Committee (vice chair), and the Government Administration and Elections Committee. He co-chaired Connecticut’s Future Caucus, bringing bipartisan legislators together to create policies that will benefit future generations, and he co-chaired the Arts, Culture, and Tourism Caucus.

Together Christine and John-Michael have secured millions of dollars in state funding for projects in Madison.  Importantly, they both support women’s reproductive rights, common sense gun legislation, children’s mental health, and environmentally conscious programs. Let’s vote to return them to Hartford on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Bill Stableford

Madison