Bob Siegrist graduated from Haddam-Killingworth High School in 2001 and went on to study political science at Quinnipiac University. While he said he has always had an interest in politics, it wasn’t until 2014 that he ran for office, taking on Phil Miller. He lost that election, but tried again in 2016 winning the seat to represent District 36, serving Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Haddam, his hometown.

“I was sick of the direction the state was going,” said Siegrist. “I’m 35 and people my age have been moving to different states. After a pretty grueling campaign in 2016 with lots of door-knocking, I won that race.”

Throughout his two-year term, Siegrist has served on the several committees, including Public Safety & Security, Insurance and Real Estate, and Veterans, which is close to his heart as his father is a veteran. He has worked on a trio of projects that he’s particularly proud of, including improvements to water that had traces of arsenic in sections of Haddam, work with the Deep River Housing Authority to secure grant money, and upgrading the Valley Shore emergency communications 911 system working with the Town of Essex.

“It goes beyond me to other community leaders and selectmen, but those are projects I’m happy to have gotten done in the short two-year term,” said Siegrist, who said he values bipartisanship. “I’ve cosponsored bills that Democrats have introduced and Democrats have cosponsored mine. It’s definitely worth it when you think about your community.”

If re-elected, Siegrist plans to continue to be available to the community, hosting coffee hours, budget hours, and town hall meetings. Siegrist also feels that finalizing and adopting the state budget should take priority and “needs to be done first so we can do our jobs right.”

Over the years, Siegrist has worked in many local businesses from his first job at The Charthouse to his current job with a landscaping company. He and his girlfriend are raising their three-year-old son and they enjoy spending time with family, including his two nieces.

“Growing up here since I was 12, working in this district. I’m working for the constituents, fighting for them and it’s an honor to be up there,” said Siegrist. “When I wake up every day I don’t think about Washington; I think about Connecticut and the towns I represent, especially this district. You might agree with me or not, but when I hit the red or green button in the chamber, I’ve done my research.”

Bob Siegrist’s stance on:

Tolls: Against. “The cost of living in this state is too high, taxes are too high, and tolls are just another tax.”

The State Economy: “It’s sad and when I knock on doors, it’s unbelievable to hear the number of people who can’t afford to live here. One just told me, ‘If it wasn’t for my grandchildren, I wouldn’t be living here’ and that hurts your heart. I’m born and raised here and I don’t want to see people leave.”

School Funding: “We should have a fair formula for ECS [Education Cost Sharing]. The governor tried to take away for certain areas and this whole district was zeroed out. It’s like Governor [Dannel] Malloy doesn’t care about the state and it upsets me beyond belief. It’s not right or fair. We have to work together for our schools.”

Health Insurance: “The Affordable Care Act might be here to stay—Congress hasn’t repealed it. I hear from a lot of people who can’t afford health insurance and it’s something that goes back to Republicans and Democrats working together. It’s about people’s health—we shouldn’t be making money off of it.”

For more information, visit Bobsiegrist.com or Facebook: Siegrist for Connecticut.