NEW CANAAN — Republican Fred Wilms is trying to return to the 142nd District seat in the state House that he lost two years ago.
But Democratic incumbent Lucy Dathan questioned her opponent’s “commitment” for resigning from the state pension committee the day after he lost the 2018 election as one of the reasons to not send him back to Hartford.
The two candidates clashed this week in a virtual forum hosted by the New Canaan League of Women Voters.
Wilms said his experience negotiating contracts in Norwalk would be an asset to the state if he again represented the legislative district, which includes New Canaan and Norwalk.
“It’s having the political will to renegotiate and make structural changes to union contracts and state finances,” Wilms said.
Dathan said she shared the concerns expressed by Wilms, but pointed out he resigned from a state pension advisory commission the day after he lost in 2018. That appointment was independent of his elected post, she said.
“We need commitment,” Dathan said.
“That’s a backhanded compliment,” Wilms responded, saying the Democrats in Hartford were not interested in his suggested changes.
Wilms said Dathan’s endorsement from the Working Families Party was a “red flag” to him, saying the group is beholden to state employees unions.
“The state is controlled by politicians from Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford, and affiliated with state employee unions,” Wilms said. “Their polices and interests are the exact opposite of New Canaan.”
He expressed support for New Canaan police and for restoring qualified immunity, protecting officers acting within the scope of their duties, which he said was eliminated by the Police Reform Law.
Wilms said he is opposed to all regionalization, calling for local control of schools and zoning.
Highlighting her experience as a CPA, investment banker and chief financial officer, Dathan said, “Connecticut is at a crossroads, and needs a comprehensive and stable vision for the future.”
Dathan said that starts with improving the state’s transportation infrastructure. She said the aging infrastructure is one of the “key inhibitors” to businesses opening in Connecticut.
“Status quo is not an option,” she said of the state’s aging highways, bridges and railroads.
During his last term, Wilms said he took the lead in directing car sales tax to the special transportation fund, and was told by the former commissioner of the state Department of Transportation that it would fill the fund for the next five years.
“Unfortunately, the current administration and my opponent voted to divert those funds back to the general operating fund,” Wilms said.
Dathan, citing the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, said the special transportation fund was raided only once — in 2003 — and that she voted against any attempts to divert the money.
Dathan said tolls could help cover transportation improvements, but Wilms fears that money would get diverted.
With regard to a proposal to give the state final say on affordable housing, Wilms recalled a proposal from then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for transit-oriented development, which would give the state the right to override local zoning within five miles of a train station. That bill was defeated.
“The new bill is the Malloy bill on steroids,” Wilms said. “They’re trying to cram affordable housing where it doesn’t belong.”
Dathan agreed, saying she she stood against party leaders on school regionalization and would oppose attempts to override local zoning.
“Lucy voted with her party 97 percent of the time,” Wilms said. “I’m glad to hear regionalization doesn’t fall into that category.”
“Ninety percent of the work we do in Hartford is on a bipartisan basis,” Dathan replied. “In a sense, I voted more times against my party than with my own party.”
To achieve racial justice, Dathan said health care and housing need to be at a reasonable price, and there needs to be environmental justice.
Wilms said there is a lot to do in that area, and said he sees charter schools as an answer.
“I oppose charter schools,” Dathan said, claiming they take funds away from schools that legitimately need the money.
Both candidates found the response to Eversource to Tropical Storm Isaias in August unacceptable.
Wilms said he liked the new system that establishes metrics to hold utilities accountable for performance.
He also spoke in favor of the Long Island Sound wind project, solar energy and electric cars, saying he fought for Tesla’s right to sell its autos in Connecticut.
Dathan called helping constituents during the power outages after Isaias one of the toughest situations she has faced as a legislator, and said the problem extends past Eversource to internet providers such as Optimum.
