Candidate Profile: Joe Kelly 150th District

GREENWICH, CT — The 2020 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 presidential election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut’s congressional seats 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 with a 91 to 60 lead over Republicans in the House and a 22 to 14 lead in the Senate.

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

Joe Kelly, a Greenwich resident, is running for state representative for the 150th district.

Age: 57

Party affiliation: Republican Party

Family: Married to his wife, Jill, for over 30 years and has four children, Kristi (29), Brittani (27), Joe Jr. (25) and Kaitlin (15).

Occupation: Financial broker, 34 years of experience

Previous elected experience: Greenwich Public Schools Board of Education

Family members in government: My wife, Jill, serves on the RTM from District 2

Campaign website: joekellyct.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

High income taxes; I intend to lower them.

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

I would have voted against the police accountability bill that effectively removed qualified immunity, whereas my opponent voted for the bill.

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

I've served as a senior managing director for a large brokerage firm, I've served as the CEO for my own commodities brokerage firm, I've served as president of a real estate development company, I've volunteered on sports boards in town, I've worked with young people in our community as a coach and mentor, I serve on the Board of Education, and I've raised a family here in my district. All of these experiences have contributed to my ability to work with people well, to listen to as many perspectives as possible, and to do what needs to be done.

Do you believe Connecticut needs reform when it comes to electric utility oversight? What steps, if any should be taken?

Connecticut certainly needs to electric utility reform. The electric utility industry in CT is fairly monopolistic, and I believe their management should not be compensated at such high levels considering their market dominance.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

Allowing businesses to open more rapidly would be the first step. Deregulation and streamlining business processes would be another step; we need our businesses up and running!

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Our platform follows the four E's: pro-economy, pro-environment, pro-education and pro-equality.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Economy: As a small business owner who has created many jobs in CT, I know that for our state to
be successful we must control and reduce state expenditures, limit the size of government, and end the vicious cycle of increased taxation by the majority party. This will attract businesses and create jobs!

Environment: More emphasis must be made on environmentally conscious policy when building the Connecticut and Greenwich of tomorrow. My vision includes educating our students on environmental issues and developing creative and innovative solutions that promote our state's ecological conscientiousness.

Education: As a member of the Board of Education, I have worked tirelessly in a fiscally responsible manner to preserve the quality of education in our town for every student and teacher during these difficult times. Recognizing the severity of the coronavirus and its effects, I led the way to craft a detailed plan that creates the safest school environment for our children, teachers, and staff members.

Equality: I am a strong supporter of our first responders, including the men and women of the GPD. As a passionate father, coach, and as your next State Representative I will continue to lead the way advocating for the needs of ALL members of the community, irrespective of socioeconomic status, race, sex, disability, age and religion. My platform of anti-racism and anti-discrimination will be essential when tackling the issues of social justice.