Candidate Profile: Raghib Allie-Brennan, 2nd State House District

BETHEL, CT — The 2022 election is heating up in Connecticut and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats, plus one U.S. Senate seat, are up for grabs as well.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate. Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Bethel resident, is running for re-election in the 2nd State House District.

Campaign website

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: Marymount Manhattan College (BA) 2013; Bethel High School 2009

Occupation: Relationship Manager

Family: My dad is a CT small business owner and my mom works at Oxford Public Schools. I have two sisters.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

State Representative 2nd House District (2019-Current); Board Member Bethel Inland Wetlands (2013)

Age: 31

Why are you seeking this office?

I have forged strong relationships with Connecticut’s legislative leadership and government officials on both sides of the aisle in Hartford, and I’m proud of my independent approach that always places my district first, not my party. The people of Bethel and Danbury need to keep a seat at the table and a voice in the room where the decisions are made. I’ve earned my seat and voice. It is my intent to continue to use them both to fight for the best interests of our towns as we chart our future course.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The economy. When I was elected in 2018, it was clear Connecticut had work to do to get its fiscal house in order. Throughout my four years in office, I have worked on and supported tough legislation that has significantly improved our prospects, including passing two biennial budgets — both balanced and on time — and growing our Rainy-Day Fund to its legal limits of just over $3 billion, allowing us to make significant payments toward our pension obligations, saving future generations from this expense. Connecticut is over-reliant on property taxes, so a top priority for me is protecting state funding for Bethel and Danbury, decreasing our reliance on local property taxes.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have maintained an unwavering commitment to the needs of our region through a style of leadership that acknowledges the value of building alliances, rather than exploiting divisions. And, perhaps most importantly, I have rejected efforts to make our towns and our Legislature another battlefield in the hyper partisanship that plagues our national political discourse. Nothing is gained by waging ideological warfare at the expense of the people. The families of Connecticut simply want a better life for themselves and their children. They want to make sure their kids can get a quality education, their neighborhoods and communities are safe, and they can provide for their families. This job isn’t erecting lawn signs and occasionally showing up for a vote, it requires commitment and full-time dedication. My door is always open. I am proud to serve and hope to continue to represent the people of the 2nd District.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Zoning decisions should be local decisions, and that’s why I have put forward legislation to reform affordable housing statutes (8-30g) so that towns are protected and rewarded for increasing affordable housing opportunities, not bullied by deep-pocketed developers. Progress I’ve made includes pushing my party’s leadership to hold a public hearing on the issue last session, having Bethel’s town planner appointed to the State Task Force on affordable housing, and building a bipartisan coalition to work on this issue outside of the usual legislative process. I will continue to be a champion for the vital reform needed.

I will continue my efforts to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic, so we can make our communities safer and help people suffering from addiction. Comprehensive drug education in schools, sterile needle exchanges, and increasing access to life-saving medications like Naloxone, better known as Narcan, will help prevent overdoses from turning into fatalities. During my previous term, I held numerous community roundtables on this issue and worked to foster communication between law enforcement, community leaders, and community organizations. In addition to these actions, we need to prioritize diversion programs, rehabilitation, and education to break the deadly cycle of drug misuse and relapse.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During the pandemic I worked hard to help connect residents and local businesses to vital economic and public health resources. During the past four years, I have crafted, negotiated, and advanced a broad array of legislation that protects Danbury and Bethel’s children, environment, small businesses, employees, our vulnerable communities, and our state economy.

During the most recent legislative sessions, I advocated for more resources to address the crisis of mental health and addiction; protected and expanded reproductive healthcare; moved the dial on conversations around local zoning; broadened recycling options; and negotiated a bipartisan bill to address the recent uptick in motor vehicle thefts. Additionally, I’m encouraging my colleagues to develop a student-centered funding model for education that addresses the rising costs our towns are incurring for vital special education and ESL services.

I have pushed for additional support for our seniors, schools, and small businesses, working with my colleagues to pass a budget that will strengthen our economy and invest in our infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and education. I fought to ensure our area will see an increase in funding in both Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. I am confident that these state investments, which include more money for our community nonprofits, will help our communities recover and thrive post pandemic.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Vote your district, vote your conscience.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My constituents know my commitment to this district and my laser like focus on their priorities: stimulating economic opportunity, supporting high-quality education, affordable housing regulatory reform, and protecting reproductive health care freedom. While representing their interests in Hartford, I am also continuously providing one-on-one constituent service, helping solve problems for those facing all sorts of issues, from the merely frustrating to the most dire.