Stratford Crier Voter Guide

Stratford Offices and Candidates

Editor’s Note: ALL Stratford Candidates running for office have been contacted and asked to submit information for publication.

Stratford Election Coverage: Stratford Votes

Connecticut State Senate 21^st District

 Stratford, Shelton, Monroe, Seymour

Democrat: Christopher Green, Endorsed Democrat and Working Families candidate

I was born and raised in Connecticut and worked hard through public school and as a runner to earn my way to Harvard. I was a middle school math teacher for 3 years and then spent the last 10 years running two centers of an after school math enrichment program in Connecticut, opening them and growing them to over 2000 students each week.

I live Stratford with his wife, Amanda. They were proud to welcome their first child, Francesca, earlier this year.  He also enjoys regularly working with Sterling House’s food pantry as a volunteer.

Qualifications:

I am a team builder, problem solver and hard worker who will push for transparency and efficiency in government.  I am ready to work with anyone who is committed to finding innovative ways to make things better now and into the future. I also don’t think my opponent has done enough to push for fiscal responsibility or to support our workers and our families.

He voted against a budget this year that was a great mix of tax cuts to help those who need it now with payments towards our state’s pension, debts which will save us $450 million per year and ensures our state is on the right path long term.  He also voted against paid leave for our workers and our families, which I thought was a step in the right direction to ensure our workers, when they get hurt, sick or have children, can afford to make ends meet.

I love this state and am proud to live here. We have the best community college system in the country, some of the best public schools overall, are currently ranked as one of the best states to raise a family, and have some of the lowest rates of violent crime in the country.

We are making strides for affordability for seniors – having accelerated a path to exempt most of our retirees from state income on their pensions, annuities, and social security, with a plan to do the same for 401ks rolling out in the next few years.  As your next State Senator I would work tirelessly to fight for our families and our future.

Republican: Kevin Kelly

Editor’s Note: The Stratford Crier emailed Senator Kelly on October 19th requesting a response for our Stratford Voting Issue of the Crier.  The request was for: Office Running For; A brief bio (less than 100 words); Qualifications: Information to the Stratford Crier by noon on November 1st.

There has been no response. The following information was taken for previous information sent to the Crier.

Senator Kevin Kelly is also endorsed by: the Retired Teachers of Connecticut, the Connecticut State Building Trades Council, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478, the Connecticut Realtors, the Connecticut State Police Union, the Connecticut State Fraternal Order of Police, the Connecticut chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and has been recognized by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association for a 100 percent pro-jobs voting record on key bills identified as critical to the state’s job creators, workforce, affordability, and overall economic growth.

Senator Kelly, a lifelong resident of Stratford, currently serves as the Senate Minority Leader in the state Senate and works as an elder law attorney as the owner of Kevin Kelly & Associates, PC, a Stratford law firm. Prior to working in private practice, Kevin Kelly worked as an investigator for the Department of Social Services for over 13 years. He is Director Emeritus of the Southwest Connecticut Agency on Aging. He and his spouse Cindy live in Stratford and have four children and seven grandchildren.

State Representative 120th District Stratford

Democrat:  Philip Young

I am married to Jennifer Reiley Young and we have lived in Stratford since 2006. I represented District 6 on the Stratford Town Council and was the Majority Leader from 2016-17.  After winning a special election in February 2018, I have been Stratford’s State Representative in the 120th District. Prior to my work in Hartford, I was the Head Chef at Bridge House Restaurant in Devon and I continue to nurture our garden at home to keep those skills fine-tuned and our appetites satisfied as time allows.

Qualifications:

I proudly serve on the Public Health (one term as Vice-Chair), Environment, and Judiciary Committees. These past five years have been the most challenging and also the most gratifying years of my life. The pandemic changed all our lives and being a leader during it certainly changed mine.

Legislatively, passing a minimum wage of $15 per hour, Connecticut’s Clean Air Act, balanced budgets, and leading the fight for women’s reproductive rights show what I have learned as a legislator. Securing $2 million for Sterling House, millions of additional education dollars and paying our teacher’s pension funds directly reflect my ability to secure the state’s commitment to Stratford. I believe my leadership skills, my relationships and networks, and the legislative successes of the past four years qualify me to continue this work for Stratford.

Republican: Laura Dancho

I am a life-long Stratford resident and attended public schools graduating from Bunnell High School.  I worked at various local companies before taking time to be a stay-at-home mom.  After a few years working in the Stratford school system, I am now currently employed as a Senior Coordinator in the Biology Department at Fairfield University for 23 years.  Gregg and I have been married for 42 years, and together, we have three grown children and four amazing grandchildren.

Qualifications:

In addition to my time volunteering in various capacities such as PTA officer positions, a scout leader, among others, my work on Town Council as chair of both the Ordinance and Board of Education Liaison committees has well prepared me for the next level of serving Stratford residents from Hartford.

In my time on the Town Council, we have worked as a team to reduce the mill rate over the last five budget sessions.  Families are affected by rising costs from groceries to utilities, and the loss of control from education to local zoning.  I will take my bipartisan, common-sense, and life-lesson approach to work for positive change for Connecticut families as well.

State Representative 121st District Stratford

Democrat: Joseph P. Gresko

I was born and raised in Stratford and am a proud graduate of our school system.   I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Central Connecticut State University.  I’ve worked as a weather forecaster, a radio news reporter/anchor at WICC/WEBE and served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the House at the State Capitol.  I volunteer at the Stratford Health Department Food Bank and the Housatonic River clean-up.  I’m a member of the Stratford Rotary, the Lordship Fathers Club, the Lordship Improvement Association, the Stratford Oldtimers Athletic Association and an auxiliary member of the local VFW Post 9460.

Qualifications:

I’ve been a successful state representative for six years, having helped reduce taxes (removal of state income tax on social security, pensions, 401ks, property tax credit on personal state income tax, lowered the Stratford vehicle mill rate, expanded EITC) and brought additional state funds back to Stratford (grant for the South End Community Center playscape, Sterling House upgrades, ECS money).  I serve as the House Chair of the Environment Committee and assisted constituents navigating Covid protocol unemployment issues. I received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council in 2019 and Connecticut Water Works in 2022.

Republican:  Greg Burnes

Editor’s Note:  The Stratford Crier emailed Greg Burnes on October 19th requesting a response for our Stratford Voting Issue of the Crier.  The request was for: Office Running For; A brief bio (less than 100 words); Qualifications: Information to the Stratford Crier by noon on November 1st. There has been no response from Mr. Burnes.  Information listed was obtained from on-line sources.

Greg Burnes has not yet completed Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.  The following information was obtained from a profile by The Greenwich Time:

Education: Quinnipiac University, BS; Sacred Heart University, MBA.

Political/civic experience: Connecticut Commuter Council Member; Knights of Columbus Council #61 – Chancellor; Our Lady of Peace – Men’s League; Connecticut  Air and Space Museum – Lifetime Member.

Top two issues: 1) Affordability & Tax Relief. 2) Safer Communities.

Judge of Probate

Democrat Judge Max L. Rosenberg

Max L. Rosenberg has made his home in Stratford for almost twenty years, where he and his wife, Osi, are raising their sons, Zohar (16) and Asher (14), and three rescue dogs, Archimedes, Eureka, and Ambrosius.

Max runs a law firm in Stratford, focusing on resolving his clients’ personal, financial and legal matters. The cornerstone of Max’s practice is respect, compassion, and care, earning him hundreds of positive client reviews, and the respect of his colleagues.  Reviews and endorsements can be seen on websites such as Avvo.com, Lawyers.com, and MartindaleHubble.com. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer from Thompson Reuters and achieved Client Choice Awards through Avvo ratings.

Max is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School. He earned a Masters from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary, and a Bachelors from Fordham University.

Max supports our community through volunteering during beach and park clean up events, planting sea grass in Short Beach, and working with a variety of civic and charitable organizations to better our town. He has been awarded several Senatorial Citations for humanitarian work he has lead in the community. He enjoys participating in Stratford events and gives his time freely, especially during the holiday season. He has been honored to sing the National Anthem in Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies. You can find Max around town, walking his dogs, visiting tag sales, or singing karaoke at the VFW.

Qualifications:

Being the Judge for the last four years, I have kept the court open and accessible throughout the pandemic. I hold conservators accountable for their decisions, keeping our most vulnerable safe. A number of my decision were published by the Quinnipiac Probate Journal ensuring our court is transparent.

I believe a Judge of Probate must show compassion, respect, and dignity both for those in need, and the family and friends that care for them. My core ethics align with the duties required of a Judge of Probate. I have had to make hard decisions with families and share in their burden, and I have had the joy of bringing families together through adoptions. Regardless the type of hearings in the court, the parties in front of me are treated with compassion and respect.  It is important to me that everyone has a voice in the court.

It has been my honor to serve as Judge of Probate, and I hope you will allow me to continue to serve as Stratford’s Probate Judge.

Republican: Lisa Knopf

Lisa Knopf is the most qualified and experienced candidate and asks for your vote.  She has been an attorney in Stratford since 1991.  Lisa Knpf’s legal career has focused on family law, real estate law, and probate and elder law.   She has drafted and probated Wills and estates.   She has represented children, mothers, fathers, the mentally ill, guardians, and conserved persons with honesty and integrity.  Lisa has personally been a guardian and conservator, so she knows exactly how such matters should be handled.  If elected, Lisa would involve community groups supporting children with the court’s work and provide public information sessions about probate matters at gatherings of civic organizations, community centers, and nursing homes.  Lisa is the most qualified and experienced candidate.  She asks for your vote.