Address to EH DTC

Good evening, everyone—I will make this as quick as I can…. Thank you for being here tonight and thank you for making this caucus process go as smoothly as it did! Congratulations to everyone being elected or

re-elected to the East Haven DTC!

I want to take a few minutes to talk with you all about a decision I made recently. I have decided to seek election to the Connecticut House of Representatives. I’m running to become your next Democratic

representative in the Connecticut House.

Why This Race Matters

The truth is, East Haven has not had Democratic representation in the State House since 2019.

Our current Republican representative has run unopposed in the last two elections. That’s on us as Democrats. And while I understand that the political climate over the past few years made it difficult, the reality is this: East

Haven deserves a voice in Hartford that reflects our values. We deserve a seat at the table.

Vision for Representation

I am running because I want to be the next Democrat to represent East Haven in Hartford—and I want to be a representative who works collaboratively to deliver real results for our town. That means working with our Democratic State Senator, Christine Cohen.

It means partnering with our neighboring Democratic representatives in Branford and throughout the region.

It means working closely with Mayor Carfora to support and advance his priorities at the state level.

And it means collaborating with our Town Council and Board of Education so East Haven gets what it needs—and what it deserves—from the State of Connecticut.

Here’s an example of What Collaboration Can Do Just last month, Senator Cohen and Branford’s Democratic delegation helped secure $100,000 in funding for the Branford Food Pantry. That’s what effective Democratic representation looks like. That’s what happens when leaders work together. I want to bring that same energy, focus, and collaboration to East Haven—to secure funding for our own critical needs and long-overdue

projects.

Why Now

With the way national politics are heading, strong Democratic representation in Hartford is more important than ever. This is where we protect our values, support working families, invest in education, and ensure our communities are not left behind.

Personal Commitment

Most of you already know me. You know that I listen. And you know that once I hear what needs to be done, I get to work to make it happen. That’s exactly how I will serve you in Hartford.

Call to Action

Tonight, I’m asking for your support—because this campaign will not be easy. Right now, I need your financial support.

To qualify for public campaign funding, I must raise a required amount in individual contributions. Every dollar matters, and every contribution gets us closer to running a competitive, winning campaign. Later—once funding is secured—I will need your time, your voices, and your energy to help me win this race.

This will be a hard fight. But it is absolutely winnable—if we do it together.

Closing

I have an amazing team assembled right now. Cindy Sparago will be my campaign manager, Rich Esposito is the campaign treasurer, and Rich DePalma is the Deputy Campaign Treasurer. I have the support of Mayor Carfora, I have the support of Town Council Chair Joe Deko, I have the support of Town Council Vice Chair Lou Pacelli, I have the support of DTC Chair Joe Santino, have the support of DTC Co-Vice Chair Tina Hedley and the support of DTC Secretary Lisa Balter.

I truly hope I can count on each and every one of you—for your support, your trust, and your belief in what we can accomplish this for East Haven.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in this campaign. And thank you for helping make this change happen.