Together, the House of Representatives and the Senate constitute the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA). The General Assembly enacts legislation dealing with state appropriations and finance, public welfare, the environment, public works, housing, education, civil and criminal laws, and other matters. The Senate tries all impeachments of executive and judicial branch officials. In Connecticut, members of the state’s legislative body, the General Assembly, must be at least eighteen years old and reside in the district they represent. Senate and House members serve two-year terms. Candidates were asked to respond to questions developed by local Leagues of Women Voters (LWV). Candidates enter their replies directly into Vote411, and replies are not edited by the LWV.This is the link to the CGA website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/This is the link to Sample Ballots for each Town found on the Secretary of State website: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/town-ballots
Candidate Name
Ellen Paul
Campaign Website
ellenforstaterep.com
Campaign Email
ellen.a.paul@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
8604289040
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ellenforstaterep
I have spent my career in public service, first as an aide to Congressman Joe Courtney, then as a librarian, and now as the leader of a statewide nonprofit. Throughout that work, I have learned how to listen, bring different perspectives together, and navigate government to get things done. I have spent years advocating at the State Capitol, working with legislators from both parties to pass bipartisan legislation. I am running because I don't believe our current representative reflects the values of Glastonbury or my family. Respect. Opportunity. Strong public schools. Responsible government. Trust in facts and expertise. Equal rights under the law. These values are worth fighting for.
As the director of a small nonprofit, I know firsthand how difficult it is to provide employees with good health insurance. Even modest coverage costs both our organization and our employees a fortune. Connecticut should explore allowing small businesses and nonprofits to buy into the state employee health plan, using the state’s purchasing power to provide better coverage at more affordable rates. We already use a similar model for municipalities and other public employers. As federal support declines, we should protect those most at risk of losing coverage while pursuing solutions like this that address the underlying cost of insurance rather than simply shifting that cost to the state.
We cannot meaningfully address property taxes without addressing how Connecticut funds public education. Our towns rely heavily on local property taxes to pay for schools, while the foundation of the state's Education Cost Sharing formula has not increased since 2013. Education should be a higher priority within the existing state budget. I would update the ECS foundation to reflect today's costs and prioritize state support for special education, where unpredictable expenses can overwhelm a local budget. This isn't about raising taxes; it's about where we spend the money we already collect. A greater state investment in education can strengthen our schools while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers.
As a librarian, I believe strongly in protecting individual privacy. I also hear significant concern about Flock cameras from residents at their doors, and I share their concern about the potential for misuse. These cameras may have legitimate law-enforcement uses, but no one should have unrestricted access to a record of where law-abiding people travel. I support the new state law establishing limits on how this technology and its data can be used, retained and shared, as well as requirements for oversight and accountability. A law that my opponent opposed. Going forward, we must ensure those safeguards are enforced and continue to evaluate whether they are sufficient as the technology evolves.
I tell people at the doors that my first, second and third priority is education funding. Connecticut needs to make public education a higher priority within the state budget. When the state does not pay its fair share, towns have little choice but to rely more heavily on property taxes or make difficult cuts to their schools and services. I want to change that equation. Greater state investment in education can help keep property taxes in check while protecting the quality of our public schools. This is not about raising taxes; it is about prioritizing education within the dollars the state already collects and being a better financial partner to our towns.
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