Candidate Profile: Brian Merlen For 4th Congressional District

CONNECTICUT — The 2020 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 presidential election, but every U.S. House of Representatives seat is also up for election.

Brian Merlen, a Stamford resident is running for 4th Congressional District.

Age: 34
Party affiliation: Independent Party
Occupation:Video production 11 years
Previous elected experience:Not yet
Family members in government:No one does
Campaign website: votemerlen.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The drug crisis is the single largest threat facing America and through harm reduction, treatment, and overdose prevention sites we will stop the 200 daily American deaths from substance use disorder (SUD).

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am a true progressive who wouldn't vote with centrist millionaire policies as Himes does, or for the NSA wiretapping, and I believe our district wants someone with integrity and who focuses on all residents and not just the wealthy donors as Himes consistently demonstrates.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have worked on multiple municipal projects in terms of planning, garnering funding and support, implementation, and in the cases of existing projects took on roles involving funding and implementation of much needed repairs, or recycling of existing materials. I have advocated for multitudes of issues, but the one I am primarily known for involved getting every state to join in our civil litigation against Purdue Pharma. I am an aggressive fighter from beating cancer, to staging protests at police stations, to taking over a public park while advocating on mental health, I have been fortunate to fight besides some of the hardest activists in our state and others.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Institutional accountability, Medicare for all, substance use disorder advocacy.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe in acting with transparency and above board. We deserve someone representing the district who puts our residents first and doesn't use their lives as leverage to entice an opponent to drop out for life saving drugs. Even now if I could do this all over again, I would tell you all the truth all over again, no matter what happens as consequences and we deserve good government without corrupt backroom deals, we deserve unrigged Democratic delegates, and no matter the outcome of this election I will not stop fighting for integrity in our district.