The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
3 endorsments made
HARTFORD — In its first round of endorsements, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has chosen three Democratic Middlesex County candidates for the General Assembly.
In all, nine Senate (one a Republican) and six House candidates (two Republicans) were chosen, according to a news release.
State Rep. Matt Lesser, D-100th, is running for 9th District Senate in Middletown, occupied by Democratic state Sen. Paul Doyle. Mary Daugherty Abrams is running for Republican state Sen. Len Suzio’s seat in the 13th Senate (which includes Middletown and Middlefield), and Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman, is seeking to represent the 33rd District (Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton,
Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook), a spot held by Republican Art Linares.
All were invited to complete CTLCV’s Survey on the Environment this summer, according to the release. These endorsements represent the first of several rounds.
“Connecticut deserves lawmakers who will fight for renewable energy, clean air and water, and open space,” Lori Brown, CTLCV executive director, said in a statement. “All of the candidates we endorsed today have either established themselves as true leaders in the legislators or made real commitments to be champions for the environment if elected.
During his time in the House, Lesser worked to address his constituents’ concerns about snapping turtles, and his leadership led to protections being passed in 2018. Lesser also led the charge to ban fracking waste, and has been a strong proponent of the State Water Plan, the release said.
Abrams has voiced strong concerns for the health of the state’s children. Speaking as a grandmother and former teacher, Abrams indicated her support for bans to toxic tire mulch in playgrounds and carcinogenic flame retardant chemicals in children’s clothing, according to the CTLCV.
Needleman has taken a strong stance about the importance of combatting climate change and investing in clean energy to grow the economy, the release said.