Incumbent State Senator Linares Faces Strong Challenge from Democrat Bjornberg

Determined to recapture the state senate seat in the 33rd District, which Democrats held for many years, a united Democratic Party has now fielded Emily Bjornberg, as the party’s candidate. Bjornberg, 32-years-old, is a resident of Lyme, the wife of an Iraq War veteran and the mother of two children, ages 4 and 7.

The basic theme of Bjornberg’s campaign is that the incumbent Republican State Senator Art Linares, although he may be a personable young man, is ideologically out of sync with the residents of the Senate district. That district encompasses 12 Connecticut River towns including Lyme, as well as Essex, Deep River, Chester, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, along with six other neighboring towns as well.

Specifically, Bjornberg faults Linares for: voting twice against raising the state’s minimum wage; being against a reduction in income tax credits for state residents; voting against public school funding; and having the third worst record in the State Senate in supporting environmental legislation.

Positions that the Democratic candidate mentions in her campaign literature are her support for: increasing state assistance for small businesses; responsible management of state finances; holding the line on local property taxes; standing up for all women and their right to make their own health care decisions; helping every veteran to find work and end veteran homelessness; and, finally, she would, “Protect the environment of our beautiful and unique Connecticut River Valley.”

Tough Race Anticipated

Bjornberg said at a recent campaign event on the Ivoryton Green, “It is going to be a tough race.” Although differing with the incumbent on many issues, she acknowledges that he, “Is marvelous in following up on citizens’ complaints.” However, ideologically, she stresses that she strongly disagrees with many of his Linares’ legislative positions.

As for endorsements of her candidacy, Bjornberg said that former State Senator Eileen Daily, who held the post for over 20 years, has endorsed her, as has incumbent State Representative Phil Miller. Miller said at the recent Ivoryton function that Senator Linares is, “A nice young person, who has no clue as to what is going on.”

Miller also expressed the fear that Republicans would spend enormous amounts of out-of-state money to keep Linares in office in Connecticut. In addition to Miller, attending the Ivoryton event was: Judge of Probate Terrance Lomme, who is running for re-election; Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman and Essex Selectman Stacy Libby.

In her remarks in Ivoryton, Bjornberg noted that her family (the Reynolds family of Lyme) had lived in the region for seven generations and presently runs a local car dealership.

At the Ivoryton event, every seat was taken in the building on the Green and some supporters estimated that as many as 40 people were present to hear what the candidate had to say.

If elected, Bjornberg would become one of 36 members of the Connecticut State Senate. Representative Phil Miller characterizes the 33rd District as, “A grand, sprawling district. “

Also at the event, a supporter mentioned that if she were elected, Bjornberg would be entitled to a low numbered license plate for her car. In response, the Democratic candidate said firmly, “I would never run for office for a license plate.”