Candidate Profile: Craig Fishbein, 90th House District

WALLINGFORD, 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.

Craig Fishbein, 57, of Wallingford, is running for re-election to the House of Representatives in the 90th District, representing parts of Wallingford and all of Middlefield.

Campaign website

https://www.fishbein4ct.com/

Party affiliation

Republican (also endorsed by the Independent Party)

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Studies (with Concentration in Marketing), Quinnipiac University; Juris Doctor, Quinnipiac University School of Law

Occupation

Trial Attorney concentrating in the areas of Civil Litigation, Family Law, Domestic Violence, Civil/Constitutional Rights

Family

Married to Rhonda B. Fishbein for thirty years

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Other than myself, no.

Previous public office, appointive or elective

I was originally elected to the Wallingford Town Council in 2009, and have been re-elected to that position every two years thereafter. In 2012, I was appointed by Governor Malloy to serve on the Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, and I continued to serve in that capacity until elected as State Representative in 2016 and have been re-elected as State Representative every two years thereafter.

Why are you seeking this office?

To continue to fight for smaller government, lower taxes, and less interference in the day-to-day affairs of our law-abiding citizens.

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

The economy. One of the major causes of inflation is government spending, which leads to higher taxes, which leads to private businesses having to raise their prices just to keep up. Inflation limits and stagnates economies. So, lowering taxes and governmental fees are some of the areas that can directly reduce inflation, and thereby helping our economy to flourish.

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

I have an actual record of standing up for the fundamental principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and less interference in the day-to-day affairs of our law-abiding citizens. My opponent does not. I have an actual record of striving to see that every lawfully cast ballot is counted, my opponent does not. I have a record of expanding absentee ballot access to all persons as recognized by our Connecticut Constitution, my opponent does not.

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

Not applicable as the incumbent is doing a great job!

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

My many hours of service as an elected official on both a state and local basis. For example: my fight to protect Connecticut residents and businesses from oppressive abortion laws adopted by other states; my fight to provide for greater protections for children who want to buy ice cream from mobile vendors; my efforts and success in eliminating the requirement that race be a factor in government permitting a marriage; my fight to eliminate the fee to cremate a minor child (just to name a few).

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be." -Grandma Bitel "This above all, to thine own self be true." -Pat Juliano