CT Patch Candidate Profile: David Michel For 146th House District

STAMFORD, 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.

David Michel, a Stamford resident, is running for State Representative for the 146th House District.

Campaign website

https://www.davidmichel2022.com/in-the-news

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Bachelor of arts level (after French high school, studied abroad and started working early)

Occupation

Wholesale consultant (in the fashion world of designer eyewear - distributing agent)

Family

My lovely wife Jenny, and our rescue cats Lola and Petite Lune

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My mother is an elected "social worker" for the French abroad and used to speak at the French General Assembly on a monthly basis to fight for French abroad retirees access to their dues and many more social justice issues

Age

48

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Yes, proudly, for the last two terms as State Representative of the 146th

Why are you seeking this office?

Long before being elected i was very active for social justice and helping the most vulnerable. I then became an advocate locally for workers, the homeless, the environment, neighbors and community leaders, and against injustice.

In my last two terms i have been and will continue to be extremely responsive to my constituents, and help or get them the best help possible, and intend to continue fighting and leading at the state level on environmental justice, healthcare reform, housing reform, climate issues, cancer insurance coverage for our professional firefighters, protect biodiversity that protects us, temperature and mold standards for our schools and more.

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

I have been active with and for many communities for a much longer time than being elected, practically my entire adult life. Professionally I have dealt with customers across the entire US and Canada, and always work to give the fairest and best service to all no matter the asks. I have it in my nature to be responsive and to fight for others. I volunteered for many organisations and even as a firefighter.

I am happy to continue devoting my time and spending a lot of time in Hartford to fight for the 146th and our state. I am an avid multi tasker and am known for how serious I am about being responsive and engaging with the community.

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

The most pressing demands I get from my constituents are in regards to air quality which affects the entire district s quality of life. We cannot continue to allow industry or polluters to set up shop in or adjacent to residential areas, in particular when already impacted by air pollution and where it is known COPD and Asthma are pots more present. We also cannot continue to let land use bureaux make residential, zones that are already impacted unless itnis fully mitigated.

After requesting a study from Tufts that is soon going to be released publicly, I will have the tools to help change the direction offshore wind development is taking. The developers will create very few jobs and will create great damage to the marine environment unless we (states) as customers establish proper standards of careers creation and environmental protection.

Both of those criterias are filled with a low carbon concrete gravity base. We can do it in CT first, build much safer megastructures at home, bringing manufacturing home with thousands of careers. This is one outstanding way to protect our local economy through the training of the workforce and creation of jobs with our local vulnerable communities, bringing a true sense of equity in our state.

We need to ensure cities have flood plans as well as evacuation plans and protocols in place where flooding is most likely to occur. NOAA offers several mapping links to help with what to expect.

We need to pass housing reform so that we can increase access to actual affordable housing , as well as establishing some fair rent caps.

We need our firefighters to be insured against cancer. It is not feasible that our life savers who might have been affected by firefighting foam or by smoke are not covered in case of cancer.

We need to have school standards for temperature and humidity. Mold has been rampant in our schools for lack of proper management, and failed band aids or even choice of location. This raises the need for standards for all schools so the children, and teachers and staff of our schools do not develop respiratory disease.

I will also work on addressing climate remediation, mitigation and retrofitting. From green roofs to less polluting materials in construction, from lower impermeable surfaces to planting more trees, we need to ensure the state and municipalities are doing what we can.

I am planning to work also on getting a state single payer study, we are one of the very few places on the planet that does not have such system, it is worth it for less then $20k to see if our CT residents and State could save hundreds of millions of dollars.

Pushing for the expansion of husky to all those that are eligible regardless of immigration status. We should pride ourselves as a state for how we treat our residents. We also should look at the overall cost on tax payers of people that have no insurance needed medical treatment of any sort.

And more...

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

I have lead the fight on bills but also supported and worked hard for other bills, here are some examples of bills I have strongly participated in the making, drafting or even getting called on the floor..

Minimum wage follwing the index
Family and Medical Leave
Mental Health support bills
Our latest Climate Bills
Many conservation bills
Housing reform (RTC)
Expansion of Husky
..and frankly many more..

I have also worked hard at helping the state aquire PPEs during the pandemic organizing donations for essential workers. Pressed for the importance of getting appropriate PPEs in nursing homes and was part of the caravan of legislators visiting the nursing homes while patients were passing.

Some of our own local nursing homes were not treating employees right and I was there in support of the workers, every time, as well as for our Stamford hotel workers being laid off by corporations that had received tax payer money not to let go of their employees.

I also participate in the homeless count each year and try my best to advocate for more support for their rehabilitation.

I still listen in to most municipal BOR and some zoning board meetings to make sure I am well aware of the current issues in the city to see how I can help at the state level.

I consider it part of my civic duty to stay informed, participate, and continuing to be an advocate.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father gave me the best advice to make sure I listen before I engage, and also never to judge as we are most often not in their shoes.

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

Do not hesitate to contact me