Christine Palm is the Democratic/Working Families challenger for the assembly seat in District 36 serving Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Haddam. She’s taking on incumbent Bob Siegrist (R/I), who has been in office since 2016.

Palm, a resident of Chester, has held a diverse array of positions throughout her career, including a newspaper reporter, high school teacher, and marketer of non-profit and cultural institutions; she was once owner of a bowling alley. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for essay writing.

She has also served as a women’s policy analyst for the Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors; a communications director for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women; a public information officer for the Office of the State Treasurer; and an anti-harassment trainer for Connecticut’s Executive Branch agencies. She is currently the principal of Sexual Harassment Prevention, LLC, which provides anti-discrimination training for corporate, academic, and non-profit workplaces.

“From my 10 years in government service, I saw both the power and the failure of the General Assembly in passing legislation that will help—or harm—the citizenry,” said Palm. “Everything about the arc of my life experience, from running a business to raising four sons to caring for my elderly parents and in-laws, has led me to this point.”

If elected, Palm has several priorities on which she plans to focus, including making government more affordable and efficient, keeping Social Security intact, expanding healthcare access for all residents, job growth, the Lower River Valley’s environment, women’s rights, gun safety, education, and building the tax base while keeping “small-town character.”

“I love Connecticut and abhor the constant denigration of the state by the Republican party. Our quality of life is still above that of virtually every other state in the nation,” said Palm. “It is too simple to blame all our economic woes on decisions made over the last few years; some of these bad decisions go back decades. Instead, we need to invest in the state to get our economy back on track. And we must invest in our cities so that Connecticut is once again a place where people choose—and can afford—to live.”

Christine Palm’s stance on:

Tolls: “I am in favor of electronic tolling, especially along I-95 because it makes no sense for Connecticut to be losing that income while states all around us charge our drivers to traverse them. This is a user fee, not a tax, and proceeds should be used to upgrade our infrastructure. State residents would be given a discount.”

The State Economy: “We need to diversify our economy and invest in Connecticut, rather than attempt to cut our way to stability. When I was growing up in Connecticut, we had the perfect blend of manufacturing, defense, insurance, retail, and tourism. We have become too dependent on large corporations and a few hedge funds in Fairfield County.”

School Funding: “In these dire times, maintaining funding levels is in itself an accomplishment. However, as costs continue to rise, the state’s contribution to keeping our schools excellent must also increase. I was particularly pleased to see Haddam-Killingworth High School earn a national Blue Ribbon for Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education.”

Health Insurance: “No one should have to choose between paying for housing or paying for healthcare and yet, many in our state make this draconian choice every day. I believe everyone has the right to competent, affordable healthcare, regardless of existing health conditions. I support Medicare for all or a similar system that is government-run, efficient, equitable, and compassionate.”

For more information, visit palmforstaterepresentative.org or Facebook: Palm for State Rep.