CT Patch Candidate Profile: Mandy Kilmartin For State Representative

SHELTON, CT — Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026, is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Connecticut.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.

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Candidate's Name:

Mandy Kilmartin

What office are you seeking?

State Representative

Age:

51

District:

122

Party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

https://www.mandykilmartin.com

Occupation:

Healthcare Executive

Family:

My husband Doug and I have 2 children, Jack (21) and Finn (17), and lovable dog named Cooper.

Does anyone in your family work in government?

No.

Previous public office:

Shelton Board of Education (5 years).

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running to make life more affordable for families, lower utility costs, and ensure our community gets its fair share of state resources. Those goals require more than good intentions. They require leadership that can identify challenges, build practical solutions, and deliver results, which is exactly what I've done throughout my career.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

Inflation and the cost of living have gone up across the country, and Connecticut families—including mine—are feeling the squeeze. Across the district, I hear the same concerns: taxes and utility costs are too high. We need a fighter in Hartford who will bring our tax dollars back to our communities.

I'll fight for three things: a property tax cap for seniors so they can stay in their homes on a fixed income; a fair education funding formula so rising costs don't fall on local taxpayers; and strong standards for data centers, including self-generated electricity and returning excess power to the public grid to help lower electric costs.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?

Connecticut families shouldn't have to choose between keeping the lights on and paying for other essentials. In addition to the data center regulations I mentioned earlier, I'll protect and support the elimination of tax breaks for data centers, fight to make affordability a central standard for utility regulation, and expand renewable energy sources that increase our regional power supply and help bring down electricity costs.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?

To make Connecticut more affordable, I'll focus on the costs families feel most directly. I'll propose a property tax cap for seniors so they can stay in their homes on a fixed income; an education funding formula that helps municipalities keep up with rising costs without passing them on to local taxpayers; and standards for proposed data centers requiring them to generate their own electricity and return excess power to the public grid—helping bring down electric costs for Connecticut families.

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

For more than 20 years, I've built my career around developing trusted partnerships, solving complex problems, and turning strategic priorities into measurable results. As Director of Global Partnerships at Planetree International, I served as the executive relationship lead for major healthcare organizations, working directly with C-suite leaders to understand organizational challenges, design evidence-based solutions, and lead cross-functional teams through implementation.

My experience on the Board of Education has given me a different but equally important perspective on leadership. During COVID, I helped lead Shelton High School through graduation at a time when there was no playbook. I brought students, parents, teachers, and administrators together to co-design a graduation that was safe, meaningful, and worthy of our seniors.

Those experiences taught me how to listen, build consensus, navigate competing priorities, and move from ideas to action—skills I believe are essential to serving effectively as a state representative.

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

I grew up as the daughter of a Navy captain, moving often—five states and eight schools before I even started high school. Being the new kid taught me how to listen, navigate differences, find common ground, and speak up when something wasn't right.

That instinct to stand up for others has stayed with me throughout my life—from my early years, to my service on the Board of Education, to more than 20 years of building partnerships and solving complex problems in healthcare.

As a mom, I think constantly about the future we're creating for our families: whether people can afford to stay here, whether our schools and communities are strong, and whether government is actually working for them.

That's why I'm running. I'm tired of political theater and division, and I believe we can do better. I'm running to listen, bring people together, and do the hard work of solving real problems—with compassion, common sense, and integrity.