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Craig Cubellotti

Cubellotti said that the town needs to help small businesses grow as well as attract new businesses.

“We have to start by listening to businesses,” said Cubellotti, who would like to offer them tax cuts that he feels could help spark growth. “You tax them more and they can’t hire people. It’s an endless cycle and we have to stop it,” he said.

Cubellotti said that he felt the state’s $300 million investment in the Jackson Laboratories “could have been put into low-interest loans for small businesses here and across the state.”

In running for office, Cubellotti said he’s encountered many concerns beyond the business community, as well. For instance, Cubellotti said in visits to the East Haven Senior Center, he has learned that for seniors, “their biggest worries are healthcare and how to make ends meet on fixed incomes.”

He said that when he told seniors that they were being taxed on items such as cough medicine, they were unaware of the change, but not the impact.

“That little bit adds up for them,” said Cubellotti.

In addition, Cubellotti has been vocal in his goal to eliminate the Risk Reduction Earned Credits (RREC) Program, which allows prisoners to earn credits toward their early release from prison.

“It affects public safety,” said Cubellotti.

According to Cubellotti, 775 people in the program have been re-arrested.

“The most recent was one arrested for a sexual assault,” said Cubellotti, adding that the program “is something I think needs to be looked at.”

Cubellotti, who earned an endorsement from the Independent Party, has lived in East Haven for the past 18 years. He attended public schools in town, as well as Platt Tech in Milford. Cubellotti currently serves as the assistant clerk for the planning and development committee at the state capitol. He serves on the fundraising and carnival committees at St. Vincent DePaul Church.

“It’s time for things to change and get some new voices” in Hartford, said Cubellotti. “After two years, we still have record unemployment and tax increases.”