Candidate Profile: Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox For Trumbull State Rep.

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 state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats 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 with a 91 to 60 lead over Republicans in the House and a 22 to 14 lead in the Senate.

Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, a Trumbull resident is running for state House of Representatives District 123.

Age: 41
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Married to Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox. Two daughters: Ishika (7) and Aksita (4)
Occupation:Associate Professor of Legal Studies, Quinnipiac University, 9 years. Prior to being a professor, I was the director of a non-profit legal education program teaching young people about their legal rights and responsibilities, and prior to that I had a career as a litigation associate at law firms in New Haven and New York.
Previous elected experience: None.
Family members in government: No.
Campaign website: sujataforct.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The single most pressing issue facing our state is for us to emerge successfully from the pandemic, with our communities healthy, or children educated, and our businesses thriving. I would accomplish that by fighting for more federal and state aid to continue opportunities for grants for small businesses, to improve ventilation through the retrofitting of public schools with HEPA-filter enabled HVAC systems, and the continuation of rational, cautious policies that balance the economic and psychological needs of our society with following the scientific consensus about what is best for public health.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
As an educator, I will prioritize support for public education and advocacy for additional resources for our schools. Moreover, my career and my work in the state and in the community have demonstrated that I am committed to a grassroots community politics, putting the public at the center of politics. I would be focused on increased public dialogue and communication with the community on all issues.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I am professor of constitutional and human rights law and I established a mock trial team at Quinnipiac to help students understand the importance of civic engagement. I have spent years connecting students with various community organizations in Connecticut to work on community action projects that improve the local area. I help students understand the most fundamental constitutional issues we face as a state and always encourage true dialogue, debate, and deliberation on those issues. During my career, I have worked to improve relations between the police and the community. I am a fifteen-year resident of Trumbull, and am involved in the local Rotary Club, PTA, and League of Women Voters Chapter and I most enjoy working with the Trumbull High School We the People program. I believe in community engagement and community-based politics.

Do you believe Connecticut needs reform when it comes to electric utility oversight? What steps, if any should be taken?
Where appropriate, municipalities should explore the cost effectiveness of running their own municipal electric utilities. Connecticut Law allows for this, and it is noticeable that the communities that take advantage of this option, such as Groton, Norwich, Wallingford, and Bozrah, experienced few outages in August and also enjoy relatively low electric rates. In addition, there should be more accountability and oversight of public-private partnerships when it comes to essential needs, such as utilities.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
We need to push to extend temporary state relief to businesses through the Department of Economic and Community Development through adding temporary additional funding to the small Business Express and the Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program, and consider expanding eligibility for these programs and expediting the relief that can be gained from these programs.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
My main focus is on making sure that Trumbull gets its fair share of state education funding, working to ensure relief for businesses and families impacted by COVID, and improving Connecticut’s economic competitiveness through incentivizing Connecticut’s students to stay in our state to work on critical industries.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I was born in New York City on the fourth of July to immigrant parents and worked hard to become a Fulbright Scholar and professor of constitutional and human rights law. As a teacher and a Trumbull mom, I will work hard to make sure Trumbull gets its fair share of education funding, and will advocate for programs that keep our businesses running and our graduates in the state. As an engaged member of non-profit organizations in the community, I know how to work with others, and will work hard to provide the focused, measured, thoughtful leadership that Trumbull needs. In these difficult, partisan times, we need a state representative who knows how to listen and consider all voices and all points of view. If you make me your representative in Hartford, I’ll make you proud.