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10/26/2022 09:00 AMBesides the gubernatorial election, voters in Clinton, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook will also have an important state senate race to weigh in on: The race between two-term Democratic incumbent Norm Needleman and Republican challenger Brandon Geoff for the District 33 seat.
District 33 includes the towns of Clinton, Westbrook, and part of Old Saybrook as well as Chester, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, and Portland.
The Harbor News spoke to both candidates about why they are running and what issues are important to them.
Norm Needleman (Democrat)
Norm Needleman is the incumbent and Democratic candidate for the District 33 State Senate seat. Needleman, an Essex resident, and has also served as the town’s first selectman for over 10 years. At the state level, Needleman is the chair of the Energy and Technology Committee and is a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Transportation, and Commerce Committees. Professionally, Needleman is the founder and CEO of Centerbrook-based Tower Laboratories.
Asked why he wanted to run for re-election, Needleman responded, “The same reason I’ve been in public service a while now: the universe and this community has been really good to me. I feel an obligation serve and its my way of giving back.”
If elected, Needleman said he would like to continue working on the energy and technology committee.
"Assuming I stay chair of the Energy Committee, I want to further some of the bills we passed,” said Needleman. That work included legislation that would increase renewable energy sources over the next decade as well as increase access to solar energy.
“I want to do everything I can with the trash problem in the state. How we handle our solid waste over the next 20 years is going to be a very big deal,” said Needleman.
Affordability is also a big issue in the state and Needleman said that finding solutions that are fair to businesses and employees is important.
“Contrary to some of the negative reputation of doing business in the state, the State, through programs, has really helped me as a business owner,” said Needleman. “It is a balancing approach, though. How do we help business and employees both succeed? I’m a big advocate for Democrats reconnecting with the working poor in eastern Connecticut and, in my district, to find ways to help.”
Needleman said that while some issues are outside of the State’s control, there are still things that could be done to assist with economic issues.
“I think dropping the gas tax for a period of time has helped some people, but I’d like to have seen the diesel tax raise postponed,” said Needleman.
One area Needleman said he is proud to have made progress is on making changes to the Transfer Act, which requires the disclosure of environmental conditions when a property is transferred that, in some cases, could be excessive, according to Needleman. Under the act, sellers of properties that had had certain businesses on them, in the past, had to confirm that no spills of hazardous waste ever took place on the property. The issue was that it could be difficult to prove that, over decades of use, no spills ever took place. It took Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) investigators away from more serious issues and could result in exorbitant costs for inspections that discouraged development.
“You could end up taking the blame for something that happened 100 years ago,” said Needleman.
Earlier this summer, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that paved the way for states to pass laws restricting abortion, making an already hyper partisan issue even more of a hot button. Asked his stance on abortion Needleman said, “I think it’s a choice 100 percent between a woman, her health care provider, and her conscience. It enrages me that people who profess government should not play a role in personal decisions rally to this issue.”
“I think our law here is a good law, and I think it’s good we strengthened it. I think what goes on in a woman’s body is her choice,” said Needleman.
Needleman said that he is committed to working with both sides to accomplish goals that he thinks will help people.
“I have a record that proves that,” Needleman said. “On the state level, I’ve worked to build consensus, and as first selectman, we’ve passed budgets unanimously for the past seven or eight years. The public trusts us because we work together. The more we listen the more we learn and the more we get done.”
For more information on Norm Needleman’s campaign, visit normforsenate.com.
Brandon Goff (Republican)
Brandon Goff is an East Hampton resident who is also a member of the East Hampton Town Council. Previously, he sat on East Hampton’s Brownfields Redevelopment Agency, and served in the U.S. Navy for five years. Goff now works as an electronics technician for an aeronautical engineering company and still serves as a Navy reservist.
Goff said he was motivated to run “from being on the Council and getting more involved. I was seeing more and more the importance of good communication at the state level. It didn’t seem like we were getting much help here. I didn’t want to just complain so I stepped up.”
As for what he sees as the biggest issue he’d like to work on, Goff pointed to improving the economy.
“The biggest issue is inflation and recession. I feel there’s more at the state level we can do,” said Goff.
Goff said he would have advocated not to raise the tax on diesel. He said he would also vote against tolls should the legislature consider the idea.
“I’m worried in the next couple of years if things don’t change, we’ll see it,” said Goff.
Goff said he would like to see more schools work towards educating students about options outside of college.
“The biggest thing is more jobs and getting people more training for jobs,” said Goff
Another area that Goff said he wants to work on, if elected, is repealing portions of the police accountability act that was passed in 2020.
“It starts with the name first of all – no wonder some departments are having trouble filling vacancies,” said Goff.
In particular, Goff said he felt the bill added more work and expenses to departments without improvements in serve.
“I think cameras for officers is a great thing, but I wasn’t a fan of every town having to pay for it. It didn’t seem very thought out, and I’d like to revisit that and look at other options,” Goff said of the bill.
Goff said that he is most proud of the fiscal management he has displayed since his election to East Hampton’s Town Council last year.
“The first budget I was a part of, we had an almost flat budget with nobody losing jobs. The mill rate went up about .01 of a mill because of insurance costs but that was it,” said Goff.
“I’ve also been a part of pushing forward on pursuing more grants and businesses as well as working with surrounding towns on tackling some issues together, which is something more towns are doing now,” said Goff.
At 26 years old, Goff said he has a unique insight into some issues that others may not.
“I think it really helps when it comes to labor issues to have someone my age and experience what people my age have to deal with. I also think not having been in politics that long I’m a normal person. I don’t have a six-figure salary,” said Goff.
Earlier this summer, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that paved the way for states to pass laws restricting abortion, making an already hyper partisan issue even more of a hot button. Asked his stance on abortion Goff said, “the state has a great law since the 90’s that covers abortion, and I like what we have. I am pro choice; I am OK with overturning Roe v. Wade at the federal level, though. I’m not a big fan of the federal government telling every state how things should be or the state government telling every town how things should be.”
When it comes to solving partisan blockades, Goff pointed to a vote on allowing marijuana regulations to be developed in East Hampton where he bucked the traditional Republican stance and voted in favor of the move, citing the economic benefits.
“That is the issue I have with Norm a little. He talks intelligently but then, when it comes down to it, he votes how his party votes. I argue with Republicans all the time. I’m very fiscally conservative but if it’s something that takes away right or something I don’t feel comfortable with I don’t support it just because it’s from a Republican,” said Goff.
For more information on Goff’s campaign, visit brandongoff2022.co,.