Denning, Healy Spar for Seat in Newly Formed State House District 42 During LWV Candidate’s Debate

Although candidates for the newly formed 42nd State House district Keith Denning (D) and Kim Healy (R) largely agree on topics including early voting, affordable housing and lowering energy costs, their approaches to tackling these and other complex issues were contrasted during a League of Women Voters Candidates Debate held Oct. 20 at Town Hall. Denning, a Wilton resident, has been a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist for the past 38 years, while Healy, also a Wilton resident, is a CPA and former auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers who was elected to the Wilton Board of Selectmen in 2021. The newly formed House District 42 includes Wilton, Ridgefield, and New Canaan. The debate was one of five held during the evening – including three races for the State House and two for State Senate.

O’Dea Defends House District Seat From Alvarez During LWV Candidate’s Debate

Affordable housing, rising energy costs, balancing revenues with expenditures and women’s reproductive rights were topics wrangled by state Rep. Tom O’Dea (R-125) and his Democratic challenger Victor Alvarez during a League of Women Voters candidates’ debate on Oct. 20 at Town Hall. The evening featured debates for five races – including three races in the state House of Representative and two races in the State Senate – including the race between Alvarez and O’Dea for House District 125, which includes Darien, New Canaan and Stamford. On the topic of the state’s controversial 8-30g affordable housing statute, both candidates agreed that the law doesn’t achieve its intended goal and needs to be overhauled. “Since 2016, I have been on record about being against over development,” said Alvarez, a New Canaan resident and businessman who has been a member of the town’s board of finance since 2020.

Dathan, Mastronardi Tackle 8-30g, Early Voting, Women’s Reproductive Rights During LWV Candidates Debate

State Representative Lucy Dathan (D-142) defended her seat against challenger Don Mastronardi (R) during the League of Women Voters New Canaan Candidate Debate held Oct. 20 at Town Hall. The debate, which was moderated by students from New Canaan High School, was one of five held during the evening, including two for races for the State Senate and three for the State House. The 142nd House District includes New Canaan and Norwalk. “Local elections are so important and truly affect our daily lives,” said Dathan, who was elected to the post in 2018, in her opening remarks.

Boucher, Maher Discuss Affordable Housing, Rising Energy Costs and More During LWV Debate

Although they differ in their approaches to the issues, Republican Toni Boucher and her Democratic opponent, Ceci Maher, mostly see eye-to-eye when it comes to topics such as women’s reproductive rights, early voting, and rising energy costs – but their views diverge more significantly when it comes to affordable housing and how to balance spending with revenue, as revealed during the League of Women Voters New Canaan Candidate Debate held Oct. 20 at Town Hall. The debate featured a total of 10 candidates participating in three races in the state House of Representative and two races in the State Senate – including the race between Boucher and Maher for the 26th State Senate District, which includes Darien, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. The event was broadcast only – no audience members were allowed. In her opening remarks, Boucher explained that she was first elected to represent the 26th Senatorial District in 2008, after having served as the State Representative from the 143rd Assembly District for 12 years.

Fazio, Crow Debate Affordable Housing, Taxes, Reproductive Rights and More During LWV Debate

Affordable housing, early voting, energy costs, women’s reproductive rights and balancing taxes with state spending were among the many topics discussed when incumbent State Senator Ryan Fazio (R-36th) defended his seat from challenger and political newcomer Trevor Crow (D), during the League of Women Voters New Canaan Candidate Debate held Oct. 20 at Town Hall. The debate – which was televised only (there was no live audience allowed) and moderated by New Canaan High School students – featured candidates participating in three races in the state House of Representative as well as candidates squaring-off in two races in the state Senate, including the heated race between Fazio and Crow, both of whom are Greenwich residents. “As soon as I got elected, I went to work across the aisle in order to solve the challenges facing our district,” said Fazio, who was elected State Senator in August 2021, in his opening remarks. “I wrote and passed legislation to improve student mental health.