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03/22/2016 03:30 PMRepublican Noreen Kokoruda announced last week she is seeking a fourth term as the 101st General Assembly District state representative this November.
Representing Madison and part of Durham up in Hartford, Kokoruda said she wants to continue to serve her constituents.
“It is amazing how many people you can help,” she said. “It can be an DMV issue, a tax issue, a business issue, and people call up and most of the time I am able to help them. I just love that part of the job.”
A Madison resident for more than 30 years, Kokoruda, a former selectmen, also served as chair of the Beach & Recreation Commission and served on the Town Hall Building Committee, among other roles. Kokoruda said her work in town gave her a good foundation for her work in Hartford.
“I work really well in a bipartisan manner. I got good training here in Madison,” she said. “I think I have made my mark up there as far as people trust me and want to work with me.”
As a representative, Kokoruda serves on the General Assembly’s committees on Children, Appropriations, Aging, and Education. Kokoruda said she has worked hard in Hartford to support Madison education as well as education programs across the state.
“When I sit in a Madison school and I see what we provide for those kids, it is not provided to all students,” she said. “This achievement gap is very real. I realized when I got [to Hartford] if all I did was bring back more money for Madison I would have been a disappointment to myself. I realized the achievement gap is not going away. This is our future workforce.”
As Madison moves forward with possible changes to its school facilities, Kokoruda said she will be ready to play a role in the process.
“There are school construction funds and anything that can be done in terms of state aid is my responsibility and I will do it,” she said. “I do worry about some of these costs, so we have to watch that.”
In addition to her committee work, Kokoruda said she’s provided a strong voice for small business and has advocated for true state budget reforms.
“The whole conversation this year is the budget,” she said. “Towns are accountable; it is the state that is not accountable. We need structural changes. They are trying to put Band-Aids on without actually fixing anything.”
First Selectman Tom Banisch said Kokoruda’s push for long term budget planning and dedication to her constituency has been an asset to Madison.
“Noreen continues to serve all of us,” he said. “Her passion for constituency work is remarkable...Since taking office she has helped Madison with $1.4 million [in grants] for our Downtown Center Project and the Strong Field renovations.”
Since being sworn into office in 2011, Kokoruda has won several awards for her work including a Children’s Champion award from the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, Legislative Award from the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, and Advocate for Youth award from the Connecticut Youth Service Association.
Kokoruda said she is ready to continue to serve up in Hartford for another term.
“I have proven leadership and I have a long history of giving good service and putting Madison first,” she said. “I have a strong work ethic. [Voters] should know I am going to work every day for [them] and I will be their voice and I will listen.”