Finance pros face off in the 142nd
Dathan promises to bring fresh perspective to Hartford
NORWALK — New Canaan Democrat Lucy Dathan vows to use her finance background to tackle Connecticut’s budget crisis while protecting residents against the policies of Republican President Donald Trump.
Dathan, who is running for the 142nd District seat in the state House of Representatives, said she’s helped venture capitalbacked technology companies think strategically as part of her work as a chief finance officer for 15 years.
“I’ll deploy those skills along with my 25-year accounting and finance experience on Connecticut’s budget crisis,” Dathan said. “I’ve spent my working life helping companies succeed in today’s economy and can do the same for our district, as well as be a voice for us all in Hartford.
As a finance expert and mother, I will bring a fresh perspective to resolving the tough issues facing Connecticut.”
Dathan is running against incumbent Republican Fred Wilms, elected in 2015 to represent the 142nd District, which includes West Norwalk and part of New Canaan.
She said she agrees with Wilms that Connecticut is in crisis but not on how to address it.
“We need to be more strategic, by investing in education and transportation and growing our middle class,” Dathan said.
Dathan said she woke up in shock the day after the 2016 presidential election — “I had a difficult time recognizing the country that I love” — but had her faith and optimism restored after knocking on more than 4,500 doors and speaking with people as part of her campaign for the state House.
“I know that the divisiveness is not representative of the people I have spoken with, and I want to bring all your values to Hartford,” Dathan said.
Dathan said she’ll focus on health care, education and climate change preparedness if elected. On health care, that means defending the Affordable Care Act from Republican attacks while pushing for a public option.
“The public option will allow individuals and small businesses to buy into the Husky Health program or state employee insurance program,” Dathan said.
Dathan said the state’s education cost-sharing formula has been improved in recent years but doesn’t go far enough to “deliver Norwalk’s fair share.” She said the ECS formula places too much worth on property values, leading Norwalk to receive significantly fewer dollars than towns with similar income levels such as Danbury.
“I will be a forceful advocate for Norwalk to balance for this inequality,” Dathan said. “Norwalk schools should be as good as its surrounding towns, and this state funding is critical for success.”
More broadly, Dathan said Connecticut must focus on adult education and provide affordable training at community colleges for 21st-century jobs.
“This will create a vibrant workforce, which will also attract business to our state,” Dathan said. “These high-skill jobs will pay a living wage and open a path to the middle class for Connecticut residents.”
Dathan sees worsening flooding along the Five Mile and Silvermine rivers as evidence of climate change. If elected, she said she’ll fight to ensure the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has the resources it needs to help towns like Norwalk plan for increasingly severe weather. That means upgrading storm-sewer systems and securing hazardous waste sites in Norwalk that are at risk of flooding, she said.