Milford Alderwoman Announces Candidacy for State Representative

Editor's Note: This is a press release submitted by the Milford Democratic Town Committee

MILFORD, CT — Democrat Ellen Russell Beatty is proud to announce her candidacy for the 119th Assembly District seat. Currently serving her second term on the Milford Board of Alderman, Beatty brings unparalleled practical experience and a fresh perspective necessary to tackle the state’s financial deficit.

As the first woman to hold the position of Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Beatty has a proven track record in fiscal management, strategic planning and consensus building. These skills, honed by years of professional and financial experience, are critically needed in Hartford now. Beatty will also lend her considerable healthcare knowledge in addressing the issues that plague Connecticut.

Experience in Connecticut-critical areas like finance, budgeting and healthcare set Beatty apart from other candidates. In addition to her position as Associate Vice President, she has also served as interim Academic Vice president, Dean of Health & Human Services and Director of Faculty Development, all at SCSU. Beatty held the rank of tenured Professor of Nursing and is now Faculty Emerita of Public Health. She was a lecturer and Adjunct Clinical Faculty member at the graduate nursing program at Yale University. More recently, Beatty was the Director of Nursing Program and Professor at Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Professionally, Beatty’s career has been defined by her advocacy for students and women. While at SCSU, she was instrumental in the establishment of the University’s Women’s Center that provided educational outreach and referrals for health, counseling and financial assistance. At a time when childcare did not exist on campus, Beatty played a critical role in founding the University’s first day care program that supported students, faculty and staff. She also led the University’s Women’s Commission where she advocated directly to the University’s president on student issues.

Beatty also served as president of the Southern Connecticut State University’s chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Her involvement in the community beyond SCSU has been extensive and widely recognized. She’s been named one of twenty Noteworthy Women by the New Haven Business Times for her contributions to the community and is a past recipient of the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing from the Connecticut Nurses’ Association.

Beatty has a long history of civic and public service. In addition to her aldermanic duties where she sits on the Public Health and Ordinance Committees and serves a liaison to the Department of Health, Human Service and Council on Aging, Beatty is a proud member of the Bridges Healthcare Board of Directors. She was also the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut. She lobbied at both the state and federal levels for greater support of non-profit agencies that provide services to the elderly and other vulnerable groups with a special focus on home health care and the impact of cuts to Medicaid funding.

Born in New York, Beatty earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Education from Columbia University. She also holds a Master of Art degree from New York University. Thirty-five years ago, Beatty married Milford native Ed Beatty, a Milford Fire Battalion Chief, and they have happily raised their three sons there.