LETTER: Mary Glassman, Experience For the 5th District

Mary Glassman is a fighter for progressive policies and has experience in bringing change for everyday Americans. She fought to improve healthcare to support mental health and addiction coverage as the First Selectwoman of Simsbury at a time when it wasn't something many openly talked about. Mary fought for immigrants and Dreamers as a policy and legal advisor at the state legislature at a time when standing up for immigrants required greater courage. And Mary decided to run for her first elected office in a heavily Republican town (Simsbury) while pregnant, becoming the first Democrat to win in nearly 40 years and delivering much-needed change. In other words, Mary seeks out challenges in her community and sees them through for the people she serves.

In Congress, Mary will fight for change on improving healthcare, passing Connecticut's gun laws at the federal level, and creating not just jobs but good-paying jobs. I'm more confident in her ability to do so because she's fought for and achieved change before. And she has the unique ability to work with the opposing side when they hold power and can still bring about progress, which not every Democrat can do.

Being a fighter for change is what Mary has been about her entire life. She grew up in New Britain and was raised by her mom after her dad passed away when she was four. She went on to be an activist and advocate for children, women, workers, and communities of color to provide them the opportunities that she didn't have growing up. She knows the struggles of middle-class and working-poor families because she's lived it, and that's why she passionately fights to bring change.

At a time when our democracy has been badly tested, now is not the time to double down on inexperience. We need not a feel-good approach but a do-good approach. On Tuesday, August 14, I hope you'll vote for a fighter with experience in delivering the change that we need: Mary Glassman - endorsed Democrat for Congress in Connecticut's 5th District.

Elizabeth S. Giannaros
Farmington

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