Conley, Deane-Shinbrot running for 40th House District

State Rep. Christine Conley, D-Groton, who is seeking her fifth term representing the 40th House District, is being challenged by Groton Representative Town Meeting member Susan Deane-Shinbrot, a Republican.The 40th House District covers parts of Groton and New London.Conley, 42, an attorney and Groton resident who is married, said she's seeking re-election to continue to help Groton and New London with funding issues and assist residents in getting help from the state. Conley, a Democrat who is cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party and Independent Party of Connecticut, said the area has a great team of representatives."I'm running because I still think we have some work to be done," Conley said.Deane-Shinbrot, 67, who is married with two adult sons and previously volunteered with PTOs and for a graduation party at her children's schools, said she is running because she is retired, can devote all her time to the role and always wanted to make a difference. "I see a lot in the state that I'm not thrilled with, and I'd like to make a difference at that level," she said.Conley, said she ran for state office to get more money for Groton and help re-educate the legislature about Groton, which has a Navy base, as well as people living below the poverty line.In her time in office, Conley, chair of screening for the House majority leader and a member of the Judiciary, Planning and Development, and Transportation Committees, said she is most proud of the 2019 passage of a bill she wrote that codified that insurers in Connecticut have to cover pre-existing health conditions.Deane-Shinbrot, who is the Republican floor leader of the RTM and chairs the RTM's Public Works Committee and is secretary of the Groton Republican Town Committee, said she is retired after working for 35 years as a paraprofessional. She organized 200 paraprofessionals into a union and was co-president for 8 years. Deane-Shinbrot said she learned from her father, John Deane, who was involved in local politics, that she can make changes. She said she would bring fresh eyes and life experience to the legislature, and her experience forming the union gave her the opportunity to think outside of the box in different ways.Top issues Conley said her top issue is to continue to assist the majority leader on housing priorities, with the state's 'fair share' study expected in December. With high rents in Groton and New London, she said they are working to build workforce housing that people, including teachers, nurses and municipal workers, can afford. She supports incentives to encourage developers to set aside a percentage of units for people with intellectual disabilities or cap by income a percentage of units. Conley said she's working with representatives, senators and the comptroller to help small business with health insurance costs. One idea is to offer tax credits to small businesses that are providing a full array of health coverage to make those plans more affordable.Another priority is to ensure Groton and New London get the funding they need for schools and municipal projects, she said.She said she will continue to work with the state Department of Transportation to ensure funding for the Gold Star Bridge renovations continues, and, when lane changes begin, hear from residents about how to make the transitions safer.Deane-Shinbrot said her top priority is lowering the tax rate, especially to keep young people and seniors in the state. She said seniors are leaving in droves, and she has many friends who have left for Florida.Another priority is to get more mental health services for younger people in the state, she said."I'd like to see more counseling within the schools, and I'd also like to see more put into the preschool, elementary school age kids," Deane-Shinbrot said. "I think we forget that it's a very delicate time in their life, and I think we can capture a lot of things and keep them from going awry when they're younger."Deane-Shinbrot said she also wants to ensure the state keeps up with the maintenance of roads and bridges."Every time I drive over a bridge, I always think of Mianus River Bridge, and I never want that to happen again," she said about the deadly collapse in Greenwich in 1983.She said bridges found to be deficient need to be prioritized and immediately funded. She said the less infrastructure is maintained, the more expensive it becomes in the long run.Electric Boat expansion, helping youthsWhen asked about housing needs with the expansion of Electric Boat, Conley said both New London and Groton need more middle-income, workforce housing. She said state grants can help developers, who face obstacles such as asbestos or lead at properties, build such housing.Deane-Shinbrot supported more 55+ housing, which seniors are looking to move to ― thereby freeing up "starter homes" for younger people. She also would like to see housing with a percentage set aside as affordable.As far as solutions to help youths facing academic challenges and mental health struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic, Deane-Shinbrot said it's important to have more interventions at younger ages and to provide resources and networking opportunities for parents through community centers.Conley said she wants to continue and expand school-based health centers, which are beneficial to students and relieve the funding burden from municipalities.k.drelich@theday.com