The 23rd House District has benefitted from strong representation in the General Assembly thanks to Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, who is seeking election to a sixth term.

Rep. Giuliano serves in the best tradition of moderate, pragmatic Connecticut Republicans. With her seniority in the General Assembly, she provides an important voice calling for fiscal moderation and provides a necessary counterpoint to those who will always turn to taxes, not budget cuts, to balance the state budget.

Yet Rep. Giuliano, 59, also recognizes a role for state government in helping meet the infrastructure needs of her communities, supplementing the cost of schools, and providing a human services safety net. This year she was named a "children's champion" by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance. And Rep. Giuliano has fought to make sure her district of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and southern Westbrook gets its fair share of state aid.

An environmentalist, Rep. Giuliano has been recognized by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for her efforts at preserving the environment. She recognizes the ecological importance of the lower Connecticut River Valley that drains into Long Island Sound, having worked to pass laws that protect local watersheds, retain open space and protect natural resources.

As a school psychologist, and ranking minority member of the legislature's Education Committee, she will play an important role in continuing to push for education reform. Like us, she was disappointed with a 2012 reform bill that, while a big step forward, still fell short.

"The bill before us substitutes studies and pilot programs in the place of comprehensive and bold reform, especially in early literacy," Rep. Giuliano said at the time.

Rep. Giuliano is on target in promoting manufacturing and the growth of home-based businesses as a way of getting Connecticut's economy moving. She recognizes that state budgeting, tax and economic development policies must be coordinated and stable to make that effort possible.

She faces Democratic challenger Adam Stillman, 45, an attorney. Both candidates live in Old Saybrook. The central focus of Mr. Stillman's campaign is a program to bolster the housing market and get real estate sales moving. He is correct in recognizing the critical importance of that market.

But in Rep. Giuliano he faces a lawmaker who has done her job well. We see no reason to change course and so endorse Rep. Marilyn Giuliano in the 23rd House District.