Candidate Profile: Frank Smith, 118th District

MILFORD, 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.

Frank Smith, a Milford resident is running for House of Representatives District 118.

Party affiliation: Democratic Party

Family:Diane (wife) 3 adult children, 2 adult stepchildren, 5 grandchildren

Occupation: Sales Engineer

Previous elected experience:Board of Alderman, Inland Wetland Agency, Council on Aging, Public Works Committee, Aldermanic Liaison to the Milford Public Library

Family members in government: Yes

Campaign website: www.FrankForMilford.com

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

COVID-19. CT has been a national leader in our COVID-19 response, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t improve upon it and learn lessons from early missteps we made, and mistakes that other states have made. I support a thorough review of nursing home response to the pandemic, ensuring access to PPE for all frontline workers at no cost to the workers, ensuring adequate paid sick leave, protection for whistleblowers, and holding nursing home management responsible in instances that warrant it. We must adhere to evidence based interventions rooted in sound science and current best practices to ensure that we as a state and a country can safely get everyone back to work, our children can go to school, and our seniors can sleep easier at night knowing that we are serious about protecting them.

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

Proven leadership and delivering results for this community, year in and year out is what makes me the most qualified for this position. I am proud to have delivered 5 consecutive tax decreases in Milford over the last 5 years, without curtailing essential services to those in the community who rely on them. Our community needs a representative who is ready on Day 1. We need someone like myself who has the proven leadership, the ability to work effectively across party lines, and a dedication to this community that I’ve called home since I was 5 years old. I am not a candidate motivated by political aspiration, but rather one who is driven by his love of this community with a passion for, and a proven track record of public service.

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

I am a Democrat, but in my elected and appointed service to the town, I am proud to say that party-politics has never been a factor in my decision-making; best serving my constituents has always been the sole factor. I reach across the political aisle to get things done. Good ideas don’t have a party affiliation. I have successfully delivered 5 consecutive tax decreases without curtailing essential services, I have successfully opposed harmful proposed developments that were ill-advised, and led in adopting "Smart Development" land use and have been a leader in environmental, open space and historic conservation in Milford.

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

Yes. Our utilities are a regulated monopoly that have not been working well for the people of Connecticut. We have the highest electric rates in the continental United States and that needs to be addressed immediately. We need to transition our utilities out of a guaranteed rate of return model to a performance based regulatory structure that includes 1) penalties for undue delays in power restoration 2) penalties for poor preparation for storms, 3) reimbursement to ratepayers who are left without power for extended periods of time as a result of mismanagement. While I am pleased that the utility serving Milford performed better than Eversource after the recent storms, there is a definite need for not only improvement and modernization of our utility regulation, but also providing consumer choice and incentives for our middle class to avail themselves of clean, renewable energy options like solar power.

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

Economic recovery is the goal, but safely containing the virus is the means. We cannot fully recover if we are unwilling to do what is necessary to ensure that our citizens are safe, particularly our seniors and those with underlying conditions. Businesses that I hear from need a modernized transportation system, access to a qualified workforce, and sound fiscal management. We need to ensure that our state adequately addresses our aging infrastructure and our transportation system that is in dire disrepair. That is the lifeblood of a thriving economy. Connecticut needs to better align our K-12 and higher education curriculum to better suit the needs of our Connecticut businesses. The skyrocketing cost of college will quickly become an impediment to a competitive workforce that our local businesses desperately need. The state needs to act now to ensure that higher education does not continue on its path of becoming even more financially out of reach for our residents. I support forgivable loans to bona fide locally owned small businesses who create and sustain jobs in the long term, as long as there are metrics to ensure that such investments are financially sound for the taxpayers.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Environment/Climate Change: As a shoreline community, we experience the devastating impacts of climate change more frequently and more fiercely. We need to act to mitigate both the short term effects and the long term crisis if we want to remain safe and competitive.
Public education: We need to maximize federal and state resources to ensure that every student has access to devices and internet connectivity in the unfortunate event that more distance-learning is required as a result of COVID. As a state representative, I will work to ensure that Milford’s share of education cost sharing is not just protected, but maximized. I oppose our taxpayer dollars being diverted to private schools or private school operations that are not accountable to the taxpayers.

Smart Growth: It is imperative that we ensure that smart growth principles are utilized to balance smart transit-oriented development while balancing the critical need to protect open space and environmental conservation.

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

As Chairman of the Ordinance Committee, I have led on issues like tax cuts, animal anti-cruelty laws, and stronger blight ordinances. I have also served on the Inland Wetlands Agency, the Council on Aging, the Public Works Committee and is an aldermanic liaison and active supporter to the Milford Public Library. In 2019, I received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Milford Preservation Trust for my work in helping preserve Milford’s long and rich history.
I act in local theatre groups and have regularly appeared in productions with Milford’s Eastbound Theatre and Square One Theatre in Stratford. I play music with the Milford Folk Music Society and love spending time with my new grandson, Franklin.