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09/12/2022 01:30 PMThere is officially another candidate in the District 35 State Representative race: Green Party Candidate Hugh Birdsall of Clinton.
On Aug. 31 the Green Party officially endorsed Birdsall to be its candidate on the ballot for the state representative in District 35. The 35th House District represents Clinton, Killingworth, and northern Westbrook.
Birdsall is a part-time musician and works part time as the education coordinator for a Mystic based nonprofit called Reforest the Tropics which works to fight climate change. Birdsall is also a member of the Clinton sustainability committee and the Clinton Tree Committee. Birdsall ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Clinton Zoning Board of Appeals in the 2021 election.
Birdsall said that he was inspired to run so that he could bring attention to issues he believes not enough people are talking about.
“I think I might be able to shed a light on issues that won’t get a light shed on them at all,” Birdsall aid.
In particular, Birdsall said he was interested in spreading the word about ranked choice voting as well as sustainable living and climate change issues.
“I think there’s a lot of concerned people interested in the same things,” Birdsall said.
The Green Party fielded candidates in the District 35 race in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections, though all the candidates were unsuccessful. Since 2014, the District had been represented by Republican Jesse MacLachlan, however he dropped out of the race and was replaced on the ballot instead of seeking a fourth term about three months before Election Day 2020 to focus on his business career. Since 2020, the District has been represented by Democrat Christine Goupil, who is seeking reelection.
Birdsall will now face off against Goupil and Republican candidate Chris Aniskovich. Like Birdsall, Aniskovich and Goupil are also Clinton residents.
Birdsall encouraged voters to read the Shoreline Green Party Facebook page for updates on his campaign.