State representative candidate Kathy Grant won the Democratic endorsement for the 87th Assembly District by a unanimous vote of the North Haven Democratic Town Committee (DTC) at its convention on May 21.

“I am truly humbled by the unity shown tonight at this convention and the new energy we have created on this town committee,” Grant said.

Former state representative Steve Fontana, who served as state representative of North Haven from 1997 to 2011, chaired the convention.

Grant has resided in North Haven for 22 years and raised her three children in the North Haven school system, with her youngest child graduating from North Haven High School this year. Grant has extensive experience in community activism, volunteerism, and public service, which has fueled her desire to run for political office. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor of science degree in political science and sociology and began her career with the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch in 1992. She went on to work at Superior Court for Juvenile Matters in New Haven and as a support enforcement officer at the Superior Court in New Haven and Meriden.

In her acceptance speech, Grant focused on party unity and the vulnerabilities of many residents. The pandemic has shed light on the growing problems residents had prior to the pandemic, not just in North Haven but in many small towns, such as food insecurities, people living paycheck to paycheck, and the high cost of healthcare, she said.

“The middle class increasingly struggles to pay health care premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, and now many people are losing their health care benefits because they are out of work, and unemployment is currently an alarming 16 percent in North Haven,” Grant said.

“Deciding to run for state representative was not a hard decision considering my extensive community service and activism,” Granted added. “My son was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age two, and since his diagnosis together we have participated in groundbreaking research through clinical studies at Yale Pediatric Endocrinology to help improve the quality of life for children and adults living with diabetes.”

Grant currently volunteers for the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center and serves on the Town of North Haven Blight Appeals Board. She is serving her second term as the Democratic Town Committee chairperson. She served as a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals from 2014 to 2019 and was treasurer for the League of Women Voters for three years, a former Girl Scout troop leader, a Green Acres School PTA board member, and a Christian educator.

Fire Commissioner Jennifer Caldwell, who also serves as the DTC’s vice chair, nominated Grant.

She said, “As the town of North Haven and the state of Connecticut navigates through this tough time, it is imperative that we elect individuals who will think outside the box and come up with solutions to the problems we face. Our town has been represented by an individual who is committed to blocking solutions, putting party above the interests of the citizens of the town. We need someone like Kathy who is committed to leadership, willing to work hard, coming up with solutions that will solve the problems Connecticut and North Haven residents face. Kathy has shown that she is willing to look beyond the way things have always been done and try something new in order to bring about positive change. She is committed to serving our community. It is because of her education, dedication, and leadership skills that I strongly support her candidacy for state representative to the 87th district of North Haven.”

“The initial goal right now is to qualify for campaign financing,” Grant said.

She is working towards qualifying for the Citizens Election Program and has raised more than $4,700 in contributions with 130 donors; 90 percent of the contributions are in district.

“People want a change in leadership,” Grant said. “They want someone who will listen to them and work towards real solutions. I raised my family in North Haven, and I know North Haven is a great place to live, but only if you can afford to do so. Many people have been struggling for a while. Looking ahead, the plan is to reach out to as many voters as possible. People want to be heard, and I intend to listen to each of them and work towards the best outcomes for all of us. This campaign will not be easy, but I know I have the support of many incredible people on this committee and throughout the town. It is not about just one person, or one party, it is about all of us succeeding and making North Haven the best it can be.”

Grant currently is employed at a rehabilitation facility in Guilford and as a per diem teacher for the Wallingford Public Schools. She is working towards a second degree in health information management. To learn more about the campaign or to contribute, visit her website at kathygrant-northhaven.com.