Candidate Profile: Ryan Fazio For 36th State Senate Seat

GREENWICH, CT — The special election for the 36th State Senate seat will be held on Aug. 17. The district represents all of Greenwich and a portion of Stamford and New Canaan. Three candidates — all Greenwich residents — are running in the race: John Blankley (unaffiliated), Ryan Fazio (Republican), and Alexis Gevanter (Democrat).

The special election was called by Gov. Ned Lamont following the sudden resignation of Democrat Alex Kasser in June.

Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to Election Day.

Ryan Fazio

Age as of Election Day: 31
Party affiliation: Republican Party
Occupation: Growth Equity Professional, two years; Renewable Energy Professional, five years; Shipping Professional, two years
Previous elected experience: Greenwich RTM, District 12; Greenwich Energy Efficiency Committee
Family members in government: No
Campaign website: www.ryanfazio.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is: Connecticut's economic stagnation, sky-high taxes, debt, and cost of living.

Connecticut's economy has the resources and people to succeed, but state policy has made Connecticut an economic basket case. CT now has the highest unemployment in the nation. New leaders must reform state government, cut taxes on the middle class, reduce cost of living, and create opportunity for all.

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

I grew up in the district, attended the public schools, worked in Stamford most of my career, served in Greenwich town government, and volunteered locally for seven years. I am confident I have the roots in and knowledge of the community to effectively serve it. One of my two Democratic opponents has only lived in the state for three years and never served in local government, which will make it difficult on her to serve our district effectively.

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

Successfully rehabilitated, launched, and managed commercial operations for a large renewable energy production facility. My experience in the business sector should prove useful to helping create pro-growth and pro-environment public policy.

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

• Adopt an all-of-the-above clean energy strategy to bring more affordable forms of clean energy into the grid
• Make sure all power supply contracts are negotiated in the open and bid competitively
• Limit Eversource's monopoly power and prohibit vertical integration into power generation
• Staff and re-assert PURA's consumer protection group and make it the primary focus of the bureaucracy to protect consumers

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

• Suspend excessive unemployment bonuses like many other states so that small businesses can hire workers and workers aren't put in a terrible situation that makes them avoid the workforce
• Simplify and reduce taxes to create economic growth, financed by simplifying the tax code and reducing wasteful spending
• Improving regulations to reduce the cost of doing business, especially health care and utilities

List other issues that define your campaign platform

• Public safety and support for local police - I was proud to be endorsed by the Greenwich and Stamford police unions because I support proactive policing policies that will keep communities safe. Car thefts across CT increased over 40 percent and murders over 30 percent last year. We need to change policy to keep everyone safe.
• Local control of schools and zoning - Stop and reverse efforts by Senate Democrats to take away local rights to govern public schools and make their own zoning policies.

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

I want to bring people together in our state and more bipartisanship to our state government which is overwhelmingly controlled by one party. I believe in listening to everyone and working with anyone in order to create positive change for our community.