A track record of success
Since being elected as State Representative of the 101st district in 2020, I’ve been able to connect with thousands of constituents and help the people of Madison and Durham get the support they need from their government. I’ve cosponsored and led passage of bipartisan legislation that supports our students and teachers and schools, conserves our environment, protects our public health, and so much more. And I’ve listened to the needs of our community and secured over millions in state aid for projects across the district—from the Durham Library to the Academy Community Center and the Madison Surf Club.
During my time in the Connecticut General Assembly I’ve learned a lot—about myself, about our community, about what it takes to make real change at the capitol. It’s been challenging and rewarding, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, working closely with Democrats and Republicans to help Connecticut get through the pandemic and make sure we emerge stronger and more resilient on the other side. Here’s some of what we got done:
Secured over $5M in state funding for projects across the district, including:
Academy Community Center, Durham Public Library, Garvan Point, Durham Town Website, American Legion Post #79, Madison Cultural Arts
Cut over $650 million in taxes with a budget that:
Creates a Child Tax Credit, Cuts property taxes for retirees, Cuts the car tax, Extends the gas tax cut, Extends free bus service, Cuts pension and annuity taxes
Investing in our community by
Addressing Children’s Mental Health Needs, Cutting Taxes to Combat Inflation, Keeping CT Safe with Juvenile Justice Reform, Making CT More Affordable for Residents, Maintaining CT’s Fiscal Integrity, Advancing Environmentally Conscious Initiatives
And in my first term, here’s how I’ve used my voice to advocate for our community and priorities:
Led passage of HB 5430, An Act Concerning Opioids, codifying a number of critical policies to combat the opioid epidemic in the state - including the expansion of evidence- based treatments and harm reduction measures.
Co-chaired Connecticut’s Future Caucus, bringing bipartisan legislators together to create policies that will benefit future generations.
Secured funding for CT’s Statewide Stroke Registry, a critical public health measure that will improve treatment, support healthcare providers and save lives.
Co-hosted the General Assembly’s Arts, Culture, and Tourism Summit, bringing together legislators, industry professionals, and state officials to discuss the unique challenges facing these sectors.
A vision for our future
When I launched my first campaign for State Representative I was inspired by my community—the place where I was born and raised, and where I’d returned to start my family—and the values we aspire to. Today, we’re living in a different world. While the worst is, we pray, behind us, we continue to live in the shadow of a historic global threat that’s dominated our lives since early 2020, the long-term impacts of which will likely reshape our economy, our healthcare system, and our ways of being for years to come.
And yet, so much remains the same. On one hand, many challenges endure: unaffordable, inaccessible healthcare; women’s reproductive rights under attack; gun violence and addiction in our communities; a mental health crisis not just among our youth, but large swaths of our population; the education and achievement gap; lack of affordable housing; a workforce crisis affecting small businesses and giant industries alike; underfunded transportation infrastructure; insufficient voting access; climate change; racial injustice.
On the other hand, of course, our ideals persist, too. The essential goodness of our community has shined brighter over the last two years than I can ever remember in my lifetime. The resilience of our neighbors—teachers, healthcare workers, public safety officials, small business owners, parents and caregivers, town officials and volunteers—to overcome the seemingly endless adversity of this time encourages every one of us to face each new day with grace, grit, and humility.
I believe that the role of our government is to take care of people, prepare them to succeed, and build communities in which they can thrive. I’m proud of the role I’ve been able to play in helping shape such a government in Connecticut, and I remain inspired by my community and driven to continue the endless work of building a more just, equitable, diverse, inclusive, and sustainable future that each of us, in our own ways, seeks to create.
If I earn the privilege of serving the 101st district for two more years, I pledge to:
Continue fighting for
Our schools and students and teachers, our environment, our economy, and our democracy—and to help foster diversity and inclusion among our community and our state
Continue leading on
Public health, Education, Economic development
Defend and expand
Affordable and accessible healthcare, reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, voting rights
I would love to hear from you about what’s important to you in the next two years, so please reach out to me at jmp4ct@gmail.com to share!
