Patch Candidate Profile: Alex Burns, 135th State House District

WESTON, 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.

Alex Burns, a Weston resident, is running for state representative in the 135th District. He is challenging two-term incumbent Democrat Anne Hughes.

Campaign website

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Quinnipiac University, B.A. degree in Political Science.

Occupation: Legal Assistant

Family: My mother Hedwig, my father David, and my younger brother Christopher.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Currently serving on Weston's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?

Because I think Connecticut needs to take a new direction. A large state debt, unreasonably high taxes, and people moving out of the state, should all be indicators that our state is in need of new leadership.

I think my pragmatic approach to government can help broker bipartisan agreements that move our state in the right direction.

We can cut down on the debt and lower taxes without sacrificing social programs that help people who are in tough financial positions. It won't be easy, but we can do it if we look past partisan blinders and find common ground where we can.

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

Cost of living expenses. With how high taxes already are and with energy and gas bills creeping up, something needs to be done.

On one end, it starts with cutting taxes and as such reexamining how we spend tax payer money as a state. Lower taxes puts money back in the pockets of people. Particularly the gas tax.

And to address energy costs on the other end, the state will have to really play hard ball with Eversource and if they don't respond to this, maybe we should start talking about having energy in the state be provided as a public utility and making it more accountable to the voter.

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

I think chiefly the difference is in how we approach governing.

I'm a firm believer in building consensus, listening to Republicans as well as Democrats when making a decision, and putting the needs of our district above the interests of my party.

My opponent is very much a partisan who toes ideological lines to the detriment of our district.

I'd like to work on making Connecticut more business friendly. We're between Boston and New York and have some of the best educational facilities not jut in the country but in the world. We've got so much potential here, we just need to cut away the red tape and tap into it.

I also want to keep younger people in the state. As I said, we've got some amazing educational facilities here. Let's try to keep as many of those graduates here as possible.

Finally, I'd like to really be a champion for home rule, or local control. I think government is more responsive when it's closer to the people and it doesn't get much closer than local politics. I want to maintain the controls that many municipalities have on their administration, their zoning, and their education.

In what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I think she has put the interests of Hartford ahead of the residents of our towns.

Supporting the unpopular idea of mandating regionalization and changing zoning laws from Hartford chief among them.

If residents would like to follow these policies, it's their decision to do so and should not be done without their explicit consent in Hartford.

Not only do I currently serve on an elected board in my town. I've helped write Weston's new Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

That most of us just want the same thing. To be happy, to be healthy, and to be heard. We just have different ways to go about getting there.

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

I'm a proud moderate, Rockefeller, Republican and I won't be afraid to buck the party if I don't think it's in the interests of our district. And that I'm a pro-choice candidate who would legislate accordingly.