After a long career in corporate marketing, Jane became a conservator and fiduciary serving adults who face healthcare and financial hardships. For the last 15 years, she has been working specifically in elder care services.
A committed public servant, Jane is a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, a member of the Old Saybrook Board of Education, and Vice Chair of the Old Saybrook Democratic Town Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Valley Shore YMCA.
Jane’s candidacy comes with several endorsements, including from Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, CT Against Gun Violence, and American Federation of Teachers Connecticut.
What is the most serious problem currently facing the state of Connecticut? What proposal(s) would you make to alleviate the problem?
I believe the most serious problem facing the residents of Connecticut is the high cost of living, especially the high cost of housing. The lack of affordable housing has reached a crisis. Many seniors can’t afford to remain in the communities they built. Young people can’t start their families here and businesses can’t attract the workers they need. We must address this crisis, but for shoreline communities like those I seek to represent, we must do so in a way that respects the small town feel we are committed to maintaining.
As a state representative, I would support setting achievable goals for affordable housing across the state and would fund programs like HB 5390—the so-called “work, live, ride” bill which provides access to discretionary funds for qualifying communities—a much needed “carrot” approach. I’d support programs that actively re-develop existing vacant properties and brownfields to put back into productive use as housing. Also, converting vacant commercial space into housing addresses multiple issues—it avoids developing open space, keeping the character of our towns. It also makes unproductive assets more valuable on municipal tax rolls and adds much needed housing stock. In my own community of Old Saybrook, we are using ARPA money to fund a Housing Task Force that will develop a plan for building many more affordable units that fit our small town feel. We are also using surplus money to secure the necessary grants at the State level to attract developers to make these plans a reality. This is the kind of public-private partnership at the state and local level that could serve as a model statewide.
‘Book-banning’ has been a significant issue in the community—where do you stand on the matter?
As a mom of two college students, I recognize the importance books play in developing critical thinking. I support every parent’s right to decide what is appropriate for their children to read, but I equally oppose every attempt to ban and limit access to age-appropriate books in our libraries. As a member of the Board of Education, I meet regularly with educators. I understand how their expertise shapes their thinking and ensures they make terrific decisions for our children. I do not believe that I, or most members of a Board of Education, have the expertise to make these important decisions. I have also been extremely displeased to learn that many book banning efforts are not the work of well-intentioned but misguided parents. They are often well organized efforts across the country funded by right-wing extremist groups who don’t have children in our schools.
I was also disappointed to learn from the Connecticut Education Association that my opponent was opposed to a bill introduced in the legislature this term (but not passed) to limit the authority of local boards to ban books. While “local control” has its place, it’s often nothing more than a set of political buzzwords designed to divide us – to pit people against the state and stir up fear. This has no place in controlling what books our children have in their libraries.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for State Representative because I love this community and have made it my home for 25 years. It is where I raised my two sons and where I intend to retire. I believe it is critical to preserve its natural beauty and make it a more vibrant and equitable place to live.
Even as I built my corporate marketing career, I worked countless hours volunteering for school and charity events and more recently, serving as an elected member of the Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation Commission as well as the Board of Education. Like many women, I struggled to conceive but, through IVF, I was able to start my family. And through my work with the Agency on Aging and as a conservator, I have learned about the hardships many older adults and people with mental illness face and the role that the government can play in easing their burdens. These experiences have helped me recognize what’s important for our community.
Unlike my opponent, I believe you should be represented by someone who will vote your values. I will vote to protect women’s reproductive rights; to preserve our coastline from the ravages of climate change; to make life more affordable for seniors and working families; to enhance our schools, prohibit book bans and protect our children from gun violence. I think it is time for a change and for a strong voice for our district in Hartford, not to continue with someone who claims to be a moderate but votes quite the opposite.
Once elected, I will work with any colleague, no matter their party, to deliver measurable results for Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. I will fight for the unique needs of these small towns. I will work with the leadership of the State Assembly to assure our voices are heard and bring funding back to our projects. You can count on me to always represent our values.