WILTON – The two candidates facing each other for the state’s 26th Senate district differ on both the state’s current fiscal outlook and what can be done to strengthen it.
On the economy, Boucher said the focus should be on retaining the state’s workforce, cutting taxes and helping the state grow in the technology and life sciences industries.
Boucher is proposing to repeal a highway tax on trucks that she says will come into effect in January 2023 and “will drive up the cost of groceries, consumer goods and services.” She also said she wants to lower the income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent for families earning less than $175,000 a year and index state income tax brackets so taxes paid on income do not exceed inflation. She also advocated scrapping the state-enforced 1 percent food tax.
Maher agreed with promoting these industries in the state, but said the state should also focus on improving infrastructure and training the workforce outside of traditional college.
She said improving public transportation, repairing bridges and upgrading other infrastructure are integral parts of getting businesses to move and stay in Connecticut. She praised the state’s highway improvements as well as recreational activities like the Norwalk River Valley Trail.
“It’s really important to the quality of life, and that’s what attracts businesses,” Maher said.
Where are we now?
Simply put, Maher said the district is in “the best financial shape we’ve had in a long time.”
She pointed out that the state had a budget surplus and an emergency fund and was finally able to pay its pension liabilities. She also noted business growth in Stamford, ASML’s expansion in Wilton and improvements in downtown Westport.
“From a local perspective, things are looking good, and from a state perspective, we’re in good shape,” Maher said.
Boucher wasn’t so rosy about her prospects.
She pointed to Connecticut’s 4.7 percent drop in gross domestic product between April and June as an indicator that the state is not in good shape. She also noted that the state’s personal income growth in the second quarter was the lowest rate in the country, while energy and food costs continue to rise.
workforce
Both Maher and Boucher said they believe a strong workforce starts in the schools.
Boucher, a former member of the Wilton Board of Education, called Connecticut’s education overall “definitely one of our greatest competitive advantages.”
She said that maintaining the workforce is a major issue for the state to maintain a healthy workforce.
“Connecticut seems to have a ‘brain drain’ problem when it comes to college grads. First, it’s expensive for them to live here,” Boucher said. She said she’s seen trends where many graduates have moved to other states, such as Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina and Florida, to pursue careers rather than stay at home.
Boucher focused on loan forgiveness incentives for young graduates who choose to work in the state to help.
“These high costs drove them away while businesses were also driven out,” Boucher said. “We should encourage graduates to stay in certain high-demand areas, whether it’s teaching or engineering for ASML. We could run lending programs for them if they work and live here.”
Maher instead focused on alternatives to traditional college as a possible solution.
“I want to look to the future and see how we educate and support youth — and that includes developing a workforce with critical skills,” Maher said. “That’s one of the reasons I love the debt-free community college, because it allows students to get an education, and it will spur our state’s economic growth.”
She said not every student wants to go to a four-year liberal arts college and that it’s important to give those students the information to pursue a technical education, whether it’s in commerce, manufacturing or construction.
Maher praised the efforts of the nonprofit organization ReadyCT, which she says works with high school students who “don’t want to be traditional college students.” She said she plans to help with that work and aims to build a balanced workforce in Connecticut.
types of industry
Both candidates pointed to industries that the district and state would like to attract or expand.
Boucher describes herself as a big supporter of the biotech and life sciences industries, particularly in the development of medicine and medical devices.
“I think we have a tremendous opportunity to not only create jobs and a resilient economy, but also a social good that goes with it, by helping people survive and live a better quality of life,” Boucher said .
Boucher said she is working with the University of Connecticut, her alma mater, to develop an entrepreneurial program focused on technology. She said she believes Connecticut has a bright future in developing new technologies like microchips.
Maher also said there needs to be a big focus on biotechnology and said fintech should be a focus for the district with its growth opportunities in Stamford.
She said there is also a tremendous need for healthcare to meet the needs of the state’s seniors and that creating more education for those in the aged care industry is vital.
Maher said she also wants to see our hyper-local inner cities thrive through partnerships with the state. She aims to support local businesses through a range of efforts, but encourages greater collaboration with the Women’s Business Development Council to help women-owned businesses.
Comments are closed.