Harding says he can capture the millennial vote

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD – Stephen Harding says the members of his generation – the millennials – are registering as unaffiliated voters in greater numbers than their parents, are “very pragmatic” and “want solutions.”

Harding of Brookfield, the four-term Republican state representative from the 107th District, is running for the seat in the sprawling 30th state Senate District in the November 8 election against Democrat Eva Bermudez Zimmerman of New Milford, who also is 35 years old.

The last three senators from the district – Craig Miner of Litchfield, who is stepping down after three terms, Clark Chapin of New Milford and Andrew Roraback of Goshen, all Republicans, are baby boomers.

The last four Connecticut governors – John Rowland, M. Jodi Rell, Dannel Malloy and Ned Lamont – also are baby boomers. But it appears that in the near future the Nutmeg State will put the first millennial into the coveted second-floor office at the State Capitol. After all, members of that generation– Republican Erin Stewart in New Britain and Democrat Caroline Simmons in Stamford – already hold the prestigious title of mayor in, respectively, the eighth and the second largest cities in Connecticut.

Can Harding capture the millennial vote?

“I think I’m speaking to the things that they’re concerned about,” he said the other afternoon as he canvassed Oak Crest Drive in Brookfield.

“They’re raising families, like myself,” remarked Harding, who along with his wife, Kelly, a school teacher, have a pre-school son and a daughter.

“The last thing they need is further tax increases,” he commented.

The Wall Street Journal reported October 16 that 63 percent of the economists surveyed expect a recession in the next 12 months as inflation is currently running at 8.2 percent and the Federal Reserve Board is aggressively increasing interest rates.

Is Connecticut well prepared?

“In some respects we are, because we put in a volatility cap,” said Harding, making reference to the 2017 bipartisan budget agreement, which, among other things, directs capital gains revenue into the rainy day fund.

Harding, wearing a Brookfield baseball cap, said there is currently $4 billion in the state rainy-day fund.

“So in that sense, we are well-prepared,” he commented.

“However, there is $2 billion in extra spending [from the recent contract agreements with the state employee collective bargaining units] over the next three years that individuals in this state are going to have to pay for,” Harding exclaimed.

“I would hope that the governor [Lamont, a Democrat] and the collective bargaining units will address that issue long-term,” Harding remarked.

However, during a Brookfield Chamber of Commerce debate on October 17, Zimmerman, who is a director with the Connecticut State Employee Association/Service Employees International Union, said those contracts will be in place at least until either one of them is serving a second term.

Zimmerman, who was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor four years ago, said Harding was using “wishful thinking” since the state government “can’t do a reopener without permission” from the collective bargaining units.

Patch.com has reported that a consultant to the state Office of Policy & Management, the governor’s budget arm, has stated that from the 2017 contract the state employees will make $24 billion in concessions by 2037.

Remarked Harding, “They’re pointing to concessions that they made, then they are certainly willing to work with us. I would hope that there is continued willingness.”

He said the revised $24.2 billion state budget that was approved this spring was balanced on “$2 billion in federal funds” following the pandemic, and the fiscal year that starts next July will start with a $1.5 billion budget deficit.

“The state employee portion is a significant aspect of our budget,” Harding said. “Our pension debt is the second highest in the country, after Illinois.”

Harding canvasses with his father, Stephen Harding Sr. and two volunteers, one of whom, David Prebenna, has been walking streets with him since the 2015 special election campaign after longtime state Rep. David Scribner, a Republican from Brookfield, vacated the seat.

Harding is equipped with a stack of blue-colored campaign fliers.

“We hand out a lot of them, but we always have hundreds left over at the end of the campaign,” he said.

Brookfield resident Leslie Murphy tells Harding that the biggest issue is “Inflation and the price of gas.”

Brookfield resident Dan Malone asks, “The fellow with the beard retired?” in reference to Miner, who had canvassed before with Harding in town.

The Republicans have held the seat every election since 1980, but Miner of Litchfield prevailed with less than 54 percent of the ballots in 2018 and 2020. CT News Junkie columnist Susan Bigelow recently put the 30th District on her list of 11 state Senate campaigns where the seat could flip. The district stretches through 18 municipalities from Brookfield to Salisbury.

Resident Susan Crockett praised Harding and Brookfield Republican First Selectman Tara Carr for their constituent service, saying that both have been responsive when she has contacted them.

“Get rid of Ned Lamont,” she added regarding the upcoming state election. “We need more Republicans.”

Harding’s campaign signs decorate lawns throughout Brookfield’s 20 square miles, even though part of the town, near the Bethel border, is now in the 32nd state Senate District.

How important are lawn signs?

“I think in some respects they are important,” Harding said. “It is more recognition. People see the name on the ballot and people say, ‘I usually vote for him or her.’ They purposely look for your name when they get their ballot.”

“It shows strong support,” he added. “However, that doesn’t mean you are going to win the election if you have the most lawn signs.”

State Rep. Stephanie Thomas (D-143) of Norwalk, ), the Democratic candidate for Secretary of the State, started in a recent campaign e-mail; message that, “every candidate receives a LOT of feedback on how many signs they do or don't have vis-a-vis their opponent.”

How about digital advertising?

Harding said he had no digital advertising in 2015 in his first campaign. He had some in 2018 and more in 2020. This year he has a more extensive program in his first race for the state Senate.

“Digital ads have become a huge part of your platform in your campaign,” he explained. “People see them on their iPhones and lap top computers.”

How does the state Senate differ from the state House?

“The legislative process is different,” Harding said. “You see a little more bipartisanship in the Senate.”

“You get more of consensus with 36 instead of 151,” Harding commented.

He also said each senator usually serves as a chairman or a ranking member of at least one committee.

However, he said he regrets that after the House opened its activities at the State Capitol to the public this spring, following the pandemic, the Senate did not do the same.

“That’s wrong,” said Harding. “You should be able to address your elected officials in person.”

He said that he hopes the state Senate is fully operational when the new session starts in January.

Which political figure does Harding most admire?

“John McCain,” he said , referencing the former U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate from Arizona.

“He is a hero to this nation,” Harding exclaimed. “He devoted almost his whole adult life to public service. He was pragmatic and put his country first. I try to model myself after him, although I know I never will be as good as him or make the contributions that he made.”

Resources:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/e...

https://patch.com/connecticut/...

https://patch.com/connecticut/...

https://ctexaminer.com/2022/04...

https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2022/10/18/analysis-legislative-races-to-watch-state-senate/

Interview, Stephen Harding, Patch.com, October 22, 2022.