Greenwich Time

Grateful for endorsemen­ts

- Kimberly Fiorello is the Republican and Independen­t candidate for state representa­tive for Dist. 149.

In the open race for State Representa­tive for District 149, both CT Realtors and the National Federation of Independen­t Business publicly announced their endorsemen­t of my candidacy. I am honored and delighted by these pro-business and pro-growth endorsemen­ts, and humbled by the gravity and meaning of their trust in me.

CT Realtors represents more than 17,000 members involved in all aspects of real estate in Connecticu­t. The National Federation of Independen­t Business is our state’s and our nation’s leading small business associatio­n. It exclusivel­y defends the voices of independen­t business owners and their employees.

These two separate organizati­ons represent the businesses that form the critical underpinni­ngs of our state’s economy. The member Realtors and small business advocates did not have to weigh in on this House race, but they did.

CT Realtors said, “The Associatio­n carefully evaluates candidates in determinin­g who may best ensure there is a positive environmen­t for living in or transferri­ng property in Connecticu­t. Real estate is essential to economic recovery and stability in the states and helps to build communitie­s.”

National Federation of Independen­t Business said they believe “that (I) will be committed to the needs of thousands of Main Street small businesses and their employees in Connecticu­t when (I am) elected to serve in Hartford.”

In endorsing my candidacy, they chose the person who will fight to pare back excessive taxes and clumsy regulation­s. They valued the candidate who will champion good policy and not sacrifice the interests of her district to appease the party line.

They chose the person who will not be bossed around by Hartford cronies, but rather will uphold our towns. For example, by not ceding to Hartford the right to regulate our own zoning in Greenwich and Stamford, for which there is legislatio­n currently drafted for state-controlled zoning.

They endorsed the candidate who has faith in her neighbors to make the best decisions for themselves, and who will not abide by Hartford picking winners and losers, and micromanag­ing their livelihood­s.

These endorsemen­ts are particular­ly meaningful at this time as our economy is not secure, the real estate market while experienci­ng an uptick at the moment has been weak for over a decade, and small businesses in Greenwich and Stamford are suffering. There are serious decisions that have to be made. The person whom voters pick to represent them locally will impact their towns for the next generation.

I pledge to wisely reduce taxes and fees, and eliminate unnecessar­y regulation­s whenever possible. I believe we can come together to make the hard and right choices needed to secure our future, so we and our children can pursue our hopes and aspiration­s right here in Connecticu­t.

Thank you very much to CT Realtors and the National Federation of Independen­t Business and to all their members, who are real estate profession­als and small business owners, for their trust and endorsemen­t. We can reignite economic opportunit­y for all. We are all neighbors and we are in this together.

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