Election Questionnaire for Jeff Gordon, CT State Senate District 35
In your opinion, what are some of the most important issues facing the 35th Senate District, and Eastford specifically?
“As a state senator, I have focused on affordability, with more than 35 actions to provide relief to people, small businesses, and our towns. Examples include the income tax cut, expanded tax exemptions for retirement accounts, child and caregiver tax credits, day care funding, lower taxes on electric bills, and reining in prescription drug prices. I stopped millions of dollars in education cuts. I helped increase education funding, town aid for roads, and money from the casino fund to ease pressure to raise property taxes. I have more than 25 affordability proposals to help people. We must repurpose taxpayer money to fund core government responsibilities, while still cutting taxes so people keep more of their money upfront.”
How do you hope to tackle these issues if elected to the State Senate?
“I continue my strong work ethic for which I am known as a state senator, and which guided me during my 16 years as a town official in Woodstock. Through my family, professional, and community experiences, I understand what is going on, which helps me work with others on the details of what can be done. I show up to get work done and to get things done. I have a track record of working with people to find common-sense solutions for our shared issues and concerns, while supporting our values, individual and parental rights, and medical freedoms to decide, as law-abiding adults, what is best for ourselves and our families.”
Why did you decide to run for election to the State Senate?
“I was strongly recruited by the state senators before me and by many people in the community because of my 16 years of leadership on Woodstock’s Planning & Zoning Commission and as a state physician leader. I wanted to further my work for our communities. During the past four years as state senator, I have been involved in many different issues and have helped people directly through that work and through constituent services. This dovetails with my years of work helping people as a doctor.”
Talk about your background. What makes you stand out as the best choice for State Senator?
“I believe that my proven track record of common sense, working with others, listening to people, and working for people to get things done stands out clearly as to why I am the best choice to continue as state senator. I have life experiences that my opponent does not have at his young age. I have shown up to do the work and get things done for everyone I represent. I spend a lot of time in all 13 towns of the 35th Senate District, which is not just a way for me to connect with people, but also to bring to my work at the Capitol an informed, grassroots perspective.”
Can you share a personal story or experience that highlights your commitment to public service?
“My many years as a doctor show me every day why it is important to fight to put people over profits, fight against insurance companies, and fight against corporatization of healthcare and hospitals. One of the many experiences I am proud of was when I fought and won against an insurance company that denied, time and again, lifesaving surgery for a constituent of mine. He now has an opportunity to live and to be with his family.”
What is the most important thing you would say to an undecided voter heading to the polls on Nov. 3?
“These are serious times. It requires serious people. It requires fighting for what is right and against what is wrong. It requires common sense. I have shown myself time and again to be that person during my years as a doctor, during my prior years as a town public official, and currently as a state senator. Leadership with experience matters. You cannot replace it, especially with people who do not have it.”
THE LIGHTNING ROUND
1. Coffee or tea? Coffee
2. Early bird or night owl? Night owl
3. What’s your favorite restaurant in the 35th District? I like so many of them, so it is hard to choose — but I love pizza (which is why I created the 35th State Senate District Pizza Trail).
4. What song do you always turn up when it comes on? “Take On Me,” by A-Ha, and “Born to Run,” by Bruce Springsteen
5. What was your favorite subject in school? Science
6. What’s one TV show you could watch over and over? MASH
7. If you suddenly had a completely free Saturday, how would you spend it? With my family, doing outside work in my gardens, or building LEGO. A trifecta would be to do all three in the same day.
8. What’s one thing you’re surprisingly good at? Any hidden talents? Math and reading books.
9. What’s your favorite local place to visit? Any of the parks in northeast Connecticut
10. Finish this sentence: “People might be surprised to learn that I …” Am a Lego fan and have a big collection that goes back to the 1970’s.