CT Patch Candidate Profile: Jeff Litke For 70th House District

NAUGATUCK, CT — The 2022 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 gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats, plus one U.S. Senate seat, 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

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

Jeff Litke, a Naugatuck resident, is running for State Representative 70th House District

Campaign website

www.JeffLitke.com

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

HS Diploma, Naugatuck High School, BA in Political Science, University of Connecticut, Masters of Public Administration, University of New Haven

Occupation

Sr. Human Resources Generalist, Town of Stratford. 5+ years.

Family

Husband, Andrew Cosenza, 51

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

41

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Naugatuck Board of Education (Nov. 2017 - Present) (Chair, Nov. 2019 - Present). Naugatuck Zoning Commission (Mar. 2007 - Sept. 2009). Naugatuck Inland Wetlands Commission (Oct. 2016 - Nov. 2017).

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running because I love Naugatuck and Connecticut. I believe that Naugatuck is the best town in our state and we have the potential to be even better. We all have concerns about taxes, roads, education, and rising costs, among other things and I want to be part of the conversation to address those issues. Working together across party lines, we can work to bring businesses to Naugatuck, address crime and address affordability. I want to show our future generations that we can all work together.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

From what I hear out there when knocking on doors is that the single most pressing issue facing my constituents is inflation and affordability. Again, we all need to work together to make our state and town more affordable. That means we need to look at our tax structure and see what can be reduced and/or eliminated. We need to see where our money is spent and what is or is not necessary.

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

The major difference is that I am the only candidate with experience. I have spent my life working in public service and believe public service is incredibly rewarding. I believe that I have a good grasp of the issues faced in our community and will use that to advocate in Hartford for Naugatuck.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

We need to focus on economic development. Downtown Naugatuck is in a great position to become a destination for people to come to for dinner, coffee, or to shop. The train station will soon move and bring a new platform and expanded train service that will allow people to access our downtown. We also need to focus on healthcare and education. Healthcare costs have been rising and we need to address that.

Education is also a top priority of mine. We have great public schools in Naugatuck and we need to work to provide our students with opportunities to succeed. We also need to talk about keeping our town and state safe. I have been endorsed by the Police Officers Association of Connecticut and the Connecticut State Police Union, because I am committed to providing our law enforcement personnel the support and resources they need to combat crime and keep us safe.

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

I currently serve as chair of the Naugatuck Board of Education where I have worked across party lines for the betterment of our schools and students. I have been able to pass bipartisan budgets that focus on the needs of our students and will use that same approach in Hartford.

I worked for 6 1/2 years in the office of Governor M. Jodi Rell where I observed, learned about and participated in the legislative process. I was also able to form connections and bonds with a wide range of individuals. This experience would allow me to step into this role and be ready on day one to fight for Naugatuck.

I have served on both the Naugatuck Inland Wetlands Commission and the Naugatuck Zoning Commission. I understand our land use processes and know how they impact economic development.

I will use my experience to work across party lines and advocate for our town.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be kind.

We never know what someone is going through or why they feel or act a certain way, so always be kind.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love our town and am committed to Naugatuck. I believe in being open to opinions and ideas. I know that I am not always right and we need to listen to one another.

Naugatuck is our home, it is a community that is special to so many people and we need to work to keep it that way and improve upon it.

I believe in being available and accessible to constituents. I am in this to work for the residents and be their voice.