CT Patch Candidate Profile: Olga D. Anastos For 148th House District

STAMFORD, CT — A special election has been called for Feb. 28 in Stamford to fill a vacancy in the 148th House District, which was left by Dan Fox, a Democrat, who resigned last month before the legislative session began.

The 148th House District covers the area from Glenbrook down to the Cove.

Democrat Anabel Figueroa was endorsed by the Stamford Democratic City Committee in late January. Olga Anastos was endorsed by the Stamford Republican Town Committee.

More information on polling locations and hours can be found here.

Stamford Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and what they stand for.

Olga D. Anastos is running for State Representative 148 House District.

Campaign website

https://olga4stamford.com

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

I attended high school in Greece, and completed multiple associate degrees at Norwalk Community College including Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in the Spanish language and General Studies.

Occupation

I have worked in my family business, Curley's Diner in downtown Stamford, for more than 20 years. I have done every job imaginable there and have been the general manager for approximately 10 years. As general manager, I run all business, billing, inventory, and tax aspects of the business, but I still frequently take orders and take out the trash!

Family

Yes - my extended family is large and boisterous and most live here in Stamford. We hail from Venezuela, Syria, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and of course, Greece.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No one works in politics (yet!), but several work for the city of Stamford in various unelected roles.

Age

43

Previous public office, appointive or elective

I served on the Student Advisory Committee Board of Regents as a non-traditional student.

Why are you seeking this office?

When I returned to my hometown of Stamford as a teenager, I fell in love with Stamford and specifically the Cove community.

Through the years I have witnessed friends, neighbors, and patrons moving away because of the high cost of living, traffic, poor education choices, increased crime, and lower quality of life.

This is my home, and I am tired of sitting by and seeing my hometown go the direction we have been heading for too long. I want to go to Hartford to truly represent and fight for the people of my community.

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

The cost to live here for homeowners, renters, and business owners. I intend to fight over-development that benefits large corporations and ultimately leads to higher taxes and lower quality of life for our community.

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

I am not a politician; I run my family's small business, I am a property manager, and I have a proven track record of fighting big government. We took our case against the city of Stamford all the way to the Connecticut Supreme Court to fight for our property rights. I have survived the abuse of power by our politicians, and I will fight against this same abuse for my constituents. I come from a multi-cultural family that broadly represents this district, and I daily have the opportunity to hear the cares and concerns of these people from all walks of life.

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

I am not challenging an incumbent to this office. I also have no conflicts of interest in this race or other positions.

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

I am addressing the restoration of parents to have final authority over decisions affecting their children's health and education, the quality of education in our public schools and the double funding that currently exists in the system, and keeping the control of zoning local because the people living there know their communities best.

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

Because of my battle against eminent domain, I am very familiar with the court system, zoning laws, and having to fight for my freedom. As a property manager of low-income housing, I understand the complexities from both an owner's and tenant's perspective, and as non-traditional college student, I was heavily involved in many aspects of student government, and multi-cultural community service. My current involvement in my family business has taught me how to balance a budget - a skill much needed in our government.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To run for this office so I can fight for the community I love.

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

My family means everything to me. I have tutored my nieces, nephews, and friends that have become family through the years, and it has been my great privilege to see the fruit in their lives. Now that they are grown, I want to invest in Stamford and make our community a place where neighbors know each other and feel safe again. I hope my campaign will motivate others to stand up and fight for our family values, quality of life, and individual rights.