Patch Candidate Profile: Aimee Berger-Girvalo, 111th House District

RIDGEFIELD, 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.

Aimee Berger-Girvalo, a Ridgefield resident, is running for re-election to State Representative, 111th District.

Campaign Website

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: B.A. Developmental Disability Advocacy

Occupation: Behavioral Therapist

Family: Yes! I have two children--Gracie who is a senior at the University of Delaware and Austie who is a junior at RHS. We also have two dogs, Potter and Jarvis.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Yes, I've had the privilege of representing Ridgefield in the State House since 2020.

Age: 49

Why are you seeking this office?

Serving in the State Legislature has provided an opportunity to make positive impacts, large and small, for the people of CT. As we have seen more and more responsibility being turned from the Federal government back to the States, the role and importance of the State Legislatures is even greater today than two years ago.

I am committed to providing innovative solutions to the real problems we are facing. I’ve seen firsthand that state government can serve as the model for the rest of the country, just as Connecticut has recently done. We are leaders in gun violence prevention, reproductive freedom, climate change. We turned around our state’s financial debt, paid down pensions and dramatically cut taxes, increased benefits for seniors and families, and attracted new jobs. If re-elected I will continue to advocate for policies that make CT more affordable for small business, families, young people and seniors.

I believe in making people’s lives better. Through service, listening, being proactive, and tackling big issues, all while assisting with constituent specific needs, I have delivered for our community in a way that helps every resident – and I look forward to sustaining this work. I spent years as an advocate for children, women, and addressing gun violence prevention, before my election in 2020. In 2009, I restarted the Holland Soccer League for kids who needed unique opportunities due to their learning and physical differences, and continue to develop and run this program today. As an early supporter of Moms Demand Action after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, and as the co-founder of the Women’s March in Ridgefield in 2018, I have spent the majority of my years in Ridgefield as an advocate for change and safety.

I used to think state government existed as a backup for the federal government. But in fact, we have shown that a State Legislature can be a model for the rest of the country. It is a privilege to serve ALL of Ridgefield, not just those who agree with me, and to work toward goals that move CT forward. And we certainly cannot afford to go backward.

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

Top issues are interconnected and related. I will address the short term and long-term issues facing Ridgefield with real action, and by prioritizing both affordability and human rights. Ultimately, I believe voters want to elect candidates who recognize that we can and should address both.

Democrats in CT have shown through meaningful tax cuts ($650MM plus property tax credits, pension benefit exemptions, support for small businesses and improved housing and retirement benefits for veterans) and a budget that supports families, seniors, businesses of all sizes, that we are fiscally-responsible, good stewards. My colleagues and I are making long-term investments and working towards solving the problems coming at us full speed. But we have also strengthened reproductive rights, are addressing climate change and voting access as well as mental health services. These human rights issues are as important as affordability, and neither can be ignored.

I will work with Representatives of both parties to address affordability and will strengthen our rights in the next session. This should never be an either/or.

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

I am candid and honest about the struggles faced by voters, homeowners, seniors, teachers, and community organizations, and have never used fear or misleading statements to garner the support of voters. I understand the difference between the roles of Ridgefield’s Board of Education, P&Z, and Board of Selectman (and their scopes) and that of a State Representative. I have not run a negative campaign or misrepresented the facts, and I come to every meeting and conversation having done my homework, fully prepared to discuss the issues at hand – none of which, unfortunately, can be said of my opponent. Voters only know what he is against, his plans are unclear, and he never discloses if he will continue to uphold the rights we currently have in CT.
I have a track record of success for our town including securing: $2 MM for the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, an unprecedented $487K for the Ridgefield Schools, grants to schools to hire mental health professionals and upgraded school HVAC systems as well as $350k for the arts. I am willing to listen to any constituent who reaches out. By working directly with Ridgefield residents, I was able to deliver a tax credit for families that experience stillbirths, a bill that requires defibrillators in gyms, as well as funding for ADA compliant elementary school playgrounds. I am up to speed on the State and the Town – there is no learning curve for Ridgefield to suffer.

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

Though I am the incumbent for this office, it should be known that my opponent is also an elected official and in one clear way that he has failed our community is his attendance record. In the last two years, I have attended every voting session at the State Capitol. In the same two year time span my opponent has missed 3 Board of Selectmen meetings and arrived late to a fourth. I always show up for my constituents to do the job they elected me to do--the same cannot be said for my opponent.

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

As a member of the Reproductive Rights Caucus, I will defend access to abortion and other reproductive health care.

I will continue to focus on strengthening laws that address domestic abuse and sexual violence. Veterans and seniors will remain on my list of priorities (my Mom is a Veteran.) And I will keep a focus on the mental health of our children and their teachers.

I believe the future of our State rests in the intersection of business and environmentalism. We can attract business and jobs and continue to make CT desirable for graduates by becoming a destination for green businesses, while making the process of reducing the carbon footprint for small and new businesses affordable and beneficial.

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

In two years as your State Representative I have delivered: $2.5m to aid the Ridgefield Boys and Girls club construct a new teen center, $250k in funding for the Ridgefield Theater Barn, a $2500 tax credit for parents of stillborn children which is the largest of its kind in the country, protections for women's healthcare services and reproductive rights, $100k for the Ridgefield Playhouse, $400k for ADA compliant playgrounds at Ridgefield Public Schools, increased Veteran access to in-state education benefits, and two constituent-driven bills to address local concerns.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Recently I read a letter written by my daughter endorsing my candidacy for reelection. In it she said I raised them (my two children) to “Be brave and compassionate… and lead with love." I don’t remember where I first heard it, but this is the philosophy and approach to living that shapes how my family lives. I love that my kids now deliver this advice back to me.

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

I am ready to speak to anyone at any time about my positions on the issues we face as a district and a state – hear them from me directly. I am open and willing to engage with you.