Somers vies for fifth Senate term vs. Parrella in 18th District
Republican state Sen. Heather Somers, incumbent in the 18th Senatorial District, is running against Democrat Andrew Parrella, a former Groton city councilor and a member of the Representative Town Meeting, in voting that will conclude Nov. 5.
Parrella, 63, who has a master’s degree in education from Post University, works as an executive host at the Mohegan Sun and lives in Groton. Somers, 58, also a Groton resident, is seeking her fifth term in the state Senate after serving on the Groton Town Council, and as town mayor, while also once running for lieutenant governor in 2014 with Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut.
Somers said she was first inspired to run for office because she saw “the punitive nature of property taxes” when a friend’s parents were forced out of their home because of the costly levies.
“I grew up in a home where public service is honored,” Somers said.
Parrella said he has been involved in local government for more than 30 years, having started his public service on the RTM as a Republican. He changed parties, he said, when “I didn't like what was happening nationally with student loan cuts and the environmental issues.”
If elected, Parrella said, he would focus on several key issues: affordable housing, the environment, education, health care and labor issues, “making sure that people can have good jobs that pay and keeping benefits.” As for his thoughts on green energy, Parrella called it a “Band-Aid ... to go back to the fossil fuels. ... I think we have to go more for tax incentives for the solar, the hybrid cars.”
“The No. 1 thing is I've always tried to be a steward of protecting the environment,” he said. “If you don't have that, you're not going to have a good place to live.”
Somers said she is a big proponent of nuclear energy. She said she believes nuclear should be included in the state’s renewables portfolio as a zero-carbon source of power along with solar and wind.
Somers said she is concerned about the environment and doesn’t doubt the effects of climate change. But she questions whether some of the Democratic priorities to push electric vehicles, despite good intentions, are affordable and workable. She said a “full life cycle analysis” of new technologies should be conducted by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to determine whether they truly are advancing the agenda of reducing pollutants and combating climate change.
Parrella said his first step as a legislator would be to meet with Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont and other top officials to see “how can we meet with these towns to make sure their funding is going to be able to be maintained and sustained so ... property taxes don't go up.”
Somers said taxes are important, and she made a difference by helping pass a lower levy on boat sales that has more than paid for itself by boosting business locally, but one of the biggest issues she sees while knocking on doors in the 18th District is the cost of electricity. She, along with other Republicans in the state, has been pushing Democrats to help lower the cost of electricity by absorbing in the state budget some of the mandated charges that have recently sent bills skyrocketing.
“It’s affecting everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background,” she said in a phone interview.
Somers, who heads the legislature’s bipartisan Arts, Culture and Tourism Caucus, is also a proponent for spending more on tourism promotion. And she said she’s proud of work she has done in the past to expose serious mismanagement at Whiting Forensic Institute and in the state’s parole system, as well as her efforts to reduce the stigma of mental health. Somers, bucking trends among Republicans nationally, is a strong advocate for women’s reproductive rights as well.
Parrella, interviewed at Washington Street Coffee House in New London, said he has always been able to work across the aisle with Republicans to get things done.
“I've always tried to keep the taxes low but within reason,” he said. “We cannot cut vital programs. If we do that, we're going to go backwards.”
Somers said she sees her role in the minority party as someone who can balance what has been largely one-party rule in Hartford for many years while finding middle ground with Democrats, which she said happens about 95% of the time.
“The partisanship that you see in Washington does not necessarily trickle down in the State of Connecticut,” Somers said.
Parrella said he may have to consider his work options should he be elected, as he believes being in the legislature is a full-time job. He said he will look to do something on the side, though, with hopes of returning to the casino in some capacity.
“When I get elected, I would have to decide whether I would stay there or if it’s too much,” Parrella said.
Now retired from a career in business, Somers is a former vice president of Hollister Inc., specializing in sales and marketing. Somers is well known in her sprawling district, which encompasses Griswold, Groton, Sterling, Voluntown, Stonington, North Stonington, Plainfield and Preston.
“I try to make myself available 24/7,” Somers said. “And I challenge the status quo. ... I do believe experience matters.”
l.howard@theday.com
QUESTION 1: Connecticut has $37 billion in unfunded pension obligations and a history of mismanaging its pension program. How should the state pay down this pension debt? What changes would you propose, if any, to existing pension programs for state and municipal employees? Be specific.
Andrew Parrella: The State should implement the Solutions were proposed such as: the five reform recommendations in an editorial this month: careful and accountable asset manager selection, revising the asset mix, considering a shift to more low-cost index funds, increasing performance transparency, and enhancing talent recruitment for the treasurer’s team. Treasurer Erick Russell and the Connecticut Investment Advisory Committee, for beginning to implement some of these changes are keys to success to address this. In addition, By continuing this process, the investments team can sustain long-term success. As well, Connecticut must make sure any additional surplus funds are deposited into the pension fund.
The state must be united to fund the pension system and continue to address liabilities so that the investment returns are strong. This trend to ensure a return of funds like the 11.5% in Fiscal 2024 should continue to be the focus. This can reduce State contributions and help retired teachers and state workers now and in the future.
Other reforms from the Treasurer and the IAC to index fund in low-key, passive arrangements and scale up investments in other areas with high-performing external managers will help greatly. Investing in talent with the agency of and 5-year implementation plan will also assist that was adopted in 2022.
Heather Somers: When we last had some balance in Hartford, Republicans negotiated reforms that established fiscal controls and allowed the state to make significant progress paying down pension debt. The staggering liabilities had not been addressed across 40 years of one-party Democratic control in the General Assembly. Thanks to those reforms, Connecticut has paid more than $7.7 billion into the state employee and teachers retirement systems since 2020, with another $940 million expected to be paid in in coming months.
Currently, Connecticut pays less than $200 million a year for normal retirement costs for current employees but more than $1.5 billion per year to address the decades of one-party-Democratic-controlled underfunding. Current retirement benefits are sustainable, as employees have been moved from pension-only to hybrid plans. What is needed now is more fiscal discipline across all levels of state government, and a commitment to paying down years of irresponsible can-kicking.
Holding Hartford accountable to fiscal discipline also plays directly into the pressing issue of affordability. By reducing the pension liability, lowering debt service costs, eliminating wasteful spending, and fostering the conditions for greater economic growth, we can create the conditions to relieve our state’s punitive tax burden on families, seniors, and small businesses.
Question 2: Rents are unaffordable for many working, disabled and retired people and youth are losing hope that they’ll ever be able to afford a home. Do you believe the state needs more affordable housing? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to increase affordable housing? If no, why is more affordable housing not needed?
Andrew Parrella: The state needs more affordable housing and more affordable housing opportunities. Some already in place include, the DOH Homeownership Developer Subsidy Initiative, the Homeownership Initiative Due at Project Completion, Homeownership Initiative Application Requirements for communities, Involvement of Agencies such as DEEP and impact statements to surrounding areas. Other opportunities such as the “Connecticut Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) or the Small Cities Program can “provide funding and technical support for projects that achieve local community and economic development objectives” can help in the development of funding and support for projects that can help a community meet economic objectives.
By competing for the application process, the CDBG can annually be applied to for economic development. In addition to this, some learning from our past generations who were looking for housing years ago in the World War II era could be emulated such as well-designed manufactured homes on empty lots and conversion and upgrades to viable older houses by offering low-interest loans working with local banking institutions for each community. The collective community participants can benefit from the regional approach to areas such as Groton’s major employer Electric Boat/General Dynamics upsizing and be an example host community to help underdeveloped towns design new models of planned communities including senior housing, single family unit housing and larger housing to meet the needs of an all-inclusive new village designed neighborhoods including retail outlets nearby and older building conversion concepts. I also think the tiny house idea is another option for larger parcels of land that communities could develop with a community shared gathering center with shared laundry and social event – like senior housing complexes. We must meet the diverse needs from the very young, young adults, middle age, and senior populations all at the same time.
Heather Somers: To encourage housing that is affordable for families and individuals in our region, without sacrificing local control, I believe in a balanced approach that empowers communities to make decisions that best address pressing needs.
We should consider expanding the Build For CT program, a collaborative housing initiative between the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). Leveraging $200 million in state bonding to address the housing needs of Connecticut's middle-income renters, this innovative public-private partnership aims to ensure that residents have access to quality housing while contributing to the state's economic vitality and future growth. This has been tremendously successful.
Encouraging cities and towns to adopt Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)in existing neighborhoods is also one of the quickest ways to increase housing that is more affordable — and we should consider incentives for those who are investing and developing housing that is affordable.
We can also strengthen workforce training and remove regulatory red tape to ensure a robust pipeline of skilled workers.
Ultimately, the decision to build affordable housing must be made with input from local residents to ensure any development or incentives reflect the needs and concerns of the community.
Question 3: Is climate change a problem for the state? If yes, what specific proposals would you recommend to address climate change. If no, why is it not a problem?
Andrew Parrella: Implement the National Climate Resilience Framework (September 2023).
This report includes a breakdown of a national climate resilience framework which is important to have a plan that outlines steps such as becoming a climate resilient nation, with the principles of planning and management with action opportunities and chronic stressors that we need to address. The actions and steps are to mobilize the capital, investment and to be innovative for the advancement of climate resilience. Communities need this national plan to then have the state’s plan for all these advancement to take place so that communities can start to make opportunities happen in their communities for a healthier future that is equitable, economically feasible, and these include starting with the Federal Government lifelines for chaotic disaster addressing, to reduction in disruption caused by climate changes. Starting with a “climate-ready” and “climate-educated workforce” will help the public as being ready for what we are facing in the next years, decade and century.
Additionally, all the data reviewed here is a solid plan from the top to bottom and bottom to top (Federal, State, Local and reverse) to act together to save our natural resources before it is too late. We all know the devastating effects that a warming environment can have. Every tree cut down, every piece of garbage or plastic thrown into our watercourses, every forest that is paved and gas emission that happens and fossil fuel we use to pesticides on our lawns and unnecessary lack of caring for our land, water, air and natural resources will have critical impacts down the road. We need to rebuild the pathway to a cleaner, safer and more resilient future for our families, friends and generations to come.
Heather Somers: We can take common sense steps to protect our environment, without negatively impacting other critical aspects of life on our coastlines.
I helped passed a plan to support eelgrass restoration to protect the environment and our marine echo systems earlier this year. Next year, I plan to introduce a solution to allow homeowners and towns to address rising sea levels — empowering taxpayers and local communities to make decisions, without Hartford mandates.
Strengthening our infrastructure, including flood-resistant roadways, bridges, and coastal defenses, is also crucial.
That’s why I worked across party lines to secure $2.7 million to repair a critical sea wall in Groton City. Updating building codes, expanding energy efficiency programs, supporting local farming, and improving public transportation can also all make a difference.
Supporting environmental sustainability must also mean protecting jobs and the character of our communities. That is why I worked to successfully pass solutions that will unlock new opportunities for our commercial fishermen, allowing them to access additional revenue by putting their unique knowledge and expertise to use for additional purposes.
By taking these steps, Connecticut can contribute meaningfully to addressing climate change while supporting local jobs, improving resilience, and enhancing quality of life.
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