Endorsement of Angie Parkinson

I previously wrote on the importance of Angie Parkinson’s political values and the intensity to which she adheres to them. Based on her seven-year service on the town council, I respect her capacity to focus on the complex pragmatics of town-based governance matters while remaining grounded in her core political values as expressed in a variety of public forums. I appreciate the unique focus she brings as a high school social studies teacher and how her position has opened her students to the greater world around them. I admire her openness to all people and her grassroots approach to coalition building and campaigning. In living out the mantra of thinking globally while acting locally, Angie Parkinson would add a tremendous amount of positive value to the CT legislature as the next 10^th District Assembly Representative.

  Angie’s underlying political passion is based on an inner drive to root out injustice on any level. This desire sparks her belief that in a country as wealthy as the United States, no one should be living in poverty, nor should those in the middle classes experience persistent economic stress. Her specific policy orientation is grounded in the need to spread the promise of equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence to all people regardless of their background, which has been a central objective of reformers in the U.S. since the 19th century. While this nation has made many advancements during the past 250 years in supporting labor, women’s and civil rights for African Americans and other oppressed minorities, the struggle continues as progress remains circumvented by many oppressive forces. In carrying the work forward into the state legislature, Angie has identified a broad range of proposals around six core priority areas designed to address central matters of social, economic, gender, racial, and political justice. Consider the following policy proposals. (https://www.angieforeasthartford.com/ ):

 ·       Assuring health care for all by creating a public option in state funded health care systems along with stronger Medicaid funding and expanded access to affordable coverage for working families.

·       Establishing a real affordability agenda by expanding childcare, creating a child tax credit, building more affordable housing, and holding energy companies’ profits to a reasonable level.

·       Strengthening public education by expanding early childhood education and developing more equitable funding sources especially for underserviced districts.

·       Standing firmly with workers and protecting their rights to collectively bargain for fair wages, strong benefits, and safe working conditions, as well as expanding state-supported apprenticeships and other career development opportunities.

·       Modernizing Connecticut’s outdated and regressive tax code and fiscal policies so we can invest in our schools, infrastructure, and communities, while creating a fairer tax system that finally asks the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations to pay their fair share.

·       Building a clean, affordable energy future by expanding municipal control over local energy choices, investing in solar, and transitioning off natural gas.

·       Enhancing human rights and vital democratic values by protecting the right to vote, limiting the influence of money in politics, reforming our justice system, and standing firmly with immigrant communities in treating them with dignity, respect, and fairness.

 

Angie’s priority areas are not separate from her core values; they are a direct expression of them. They are rooted in an impassioned regard for others and a social and political value system grounded in fairness and the pursuit of justice for all. These commitments will play out through collaborative work with colleagues in the state legislature and through sustained engagement with the broader citizenry, reflecting Angie’s grassroots approach in supporting those she serves. Taken together, her legislative practice will position Angie Parkinson to make a significant contribution to building a better society for the residents of Connecticut.