Conley in 40th District

Two years ago we endorsed Democrat Christine Conley in her race to unseat one-term freshman representative John Scott. We see no reason to reverse course.

Though this is a rematch one thing has changed — the incumbent. Having defeated Scott two years ago, Conley, a Democrat, is now the representative for the 40th District House seat that encompasses northern Groton and southwest Ledyard. Scott, a Republican, is the challenger and trying to regain his seat.

Conley, 36, was put to the test fairly quickly. She passed.

During a prolonged debate over the state budget, Republicans, despite being tied in the Senate 18-18 and having minority status in the House, impressively picked up a handful of Democratic votes and got their budget proposal passed.

The problem was that it was flawed and not good for this region. Steep cuts for the University of Connecticut threatened the closing of the Avery Point campus in Groton. The GOP budget cut or diverted payments to the state worker and teacher pension plans, threatening to make a bad situation worse.

When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed the budget in September 2017, Conley announced she would not support an override and called for bipartisan compromise. And that’s what happened. The veto stood, the parties worked together and a better budget resulted.

Conley also fought for the restoration of education cuts to Groton schools.

True, her Ledyard constituents were not happy with cuts in state aid to schools there, forcing a supplemental town tax increase. But getting the state finances in balance requires difficult cuts somewhere.

The incumbent would like Connecticut to follow Rhode Island’s lead and assess electronic highway tolls on trucks. Our opinion is that it is going to take tolling of all vehicles, as is done in most of the other neighboring states, to meet the cost of state transportation needs. Scott has campaigned on opposition to tolls.

During Conley’s term the state has steered $8 million in workforce training programs to feed expanding jobs at Electric Boat in Groton. Another $54,400 was secured for a dock at the Submarine Force Library & Museum in Groton, which will allow it tie into the Thames River Heritage Park.

Scott, 49, calls for change to give Republicans, and their brand of fiscal control, a chance in Hartford. But he has not made the case his representation would be better.

Our 40th District endorsement goes to Rep. Christine Conley.