Group seeks to get more women into state politics

HARTFORD — Policy failures in Hartford, and what they see as a threat to progressive values in the wake of the presidential election, have prompted primarily Democratic women to form a new advocacy group.

PoliticaCT, a nonprofit organization aimed at getting women more involved in public policy such as fighting for pay equity and elective office, announced its formation Monday afternoon.

During a news conference at the state Capitol, PoliticaCT members said the event culminated a sixmonth process to recruit Connecticut’s next generation of female leaders to mentor and run state-level elections.

Board members led by co-founders Jamie Mills, a lawyer, and state Sen. Beth Bye warned that while women make up more than half the state population, they represent fewer than 30 percent of the 187 General Assembly seats, down from earlier in the decade.

“PoliticaCT was conceived after the shock of the November 2016 elections, and our realization that we are witnessing any and all progress toward gender equality be stalled, and in fact, put into reverse,” Mills told reporters.

Issue advocacy and the recruitment of progressive women are the main goals of the organization, which on Monday night held a $250per-person fundraiser at the home of state Attorney General George Jepsen in West Hartford.

The event featured an appearance by Celinda Lake, a nationally known political strategist who was involved in the recent Virginia election.

Lake warned that Connecticut used to rank eighth in the nation for women in elective office. Now it’s ranked 19th.

Reproductive rights and paid family and medical leave are among the main issues the group will seek to work on in recruiting members.

Board members include Sen. Marilyn Moore, D Bridgeport; former East Haven Mayor April Capone, a Democrat; state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D Fairfield; Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford; Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven; and Lori Pelletier, president of the state AFL-CIO. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, also a Democrat, is an honorary board member.

“It’s about electing people who will support policies in terms of economic fairness, gender fairness; who can support policies like paid family and medical leave,” Bye said. “It’s about electing women — but it’s really about advancing policies like a woman’s right to choose, unequivocal. Protection from sexual assault from harassment. Gun safety.”