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Send Them Back

We’re blessed to have two amazing, experienced people representing us: Christine Cohen as our State Senator of our 12th District and John-Michael Parker as our Representative of the 101st District. Christine is an intelligent, personable, business-savvy, humble, visionary, and well-respected senator at the Capitol in Hartford. She’s proven her leadership skills as an effective and hard-working chair of both the Environment Committee and Transportation Committee of our legislature. She is a conscientious, energetic, and bipartisan legislator who understands fiscal, environmental, health, safety, social justice, and transportation concerns. She’s been an advocate for small businesses in our state, sensible gun legislation, community college affordability, and balanced fiscal policies.

John-Michael Parker has a proven track record of representing our district as a man of intelligence, integrity, initiative, foresight, grace, and bipartisanship. He has helped craft legislation about quality mental healthcare, environmental protection, care for seniors and veterans, fiscal responsibility, voting rights, and youth, arts, and education advancements. He’s adept at reaching across the aisle in Hartford to build consensus among his peers, and he is known as a bridge builder with a wide breadth of knowledge.

But the most salient characteristic of both legislators is their desire and patience to LISTEN to their constituents to hear our concerns. When I ask Sen. Cohen to speak to a group, she cheerfully obliges, educating us about the legislative process, proposed bills during the session, and how we can be better advocates ourselves.

Rep. Parker meets with me each autumn to share his vision of the upcoming session and to accept my “legislative wish list,” usually focused on environmental issues. I believe not too many legislators anywhere take their responsibilities as seriously and with the dedication we see in Christine and John-Michael. They are true public servants. Please join me in voting for both of them on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to send them back to Hartford.

Nancy Leckerling

Madison