Former Westport Board Of Ed Chair Announces State Senate Campaign

WESTPORT, CT — Westport businessman and former Board of Education Chair Michael Gordon announced this week his bid for the state 26th Senate District seat set to be vacated by Sen. Will Haskell this year.

Haskell, a Democrat who was elected to a second term serving the district in 2020, recently announced he will not seek re-election in November. Haskell instead plans to attend law school, which he said will require his full-time attention.

The senator, who represents parts of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton, said he will continue to work for his constituents through the end of his term.

In a news release announcing his candidacy, Gordon described himself as "a longtime, active Democrat" and an optimist. (Gordon's statement is included in full at the bottom of this post.)

"Despite the cloud of COVID, and the division in our discourse, I believe that we take more steps toward progress than regress," Gordon said in a news release. "I believe that in our corner of the world, in our slice of Connecticut, we can set a standard that shines bright. With hope, heart and faith in the future, I am excited to begin my campaign for the state senate seat being vacated by my friend Will Haskell."

Gordon noted the past two years have taken an enormous toll on everyone in Connecticut, including children, seniors, small business owners and working parents.

"I am running to make a positive difference for all of them, and for all of us," Gordon said, "to help lead Connecticut into its next chapter."

After speaking with Democratic party leaders throughout the district, Gordon identified four issues impacting citizens in Connecticut:

• Children and Education
• Gender Equality
• Seniors
• Endemic Connecticut

"There is an urgency to our work together," Gordon said. "Our children only have one chance at a world-class education. Our seniors only have one chance at a peaceful golden age, and we are running out of chances to bring more compassion to our discourse."

Gordon also noted he planned to discuss more issues and ideas in the coming weeks and encouraged anyone interested to reach out to him through his website, MichaelGordon.org, to let him know what's on their minds.

"We are just beginning our journey," Gordon said, "but I am, as always, an optimist. Let's do this."

A number of community leaders expressed support for Gordon's campaign, including former Westport Democratic Town Committee Chair Keith Stein, who referred to Gordon as "the Energizer Bunny of campaigning."

"[Gordon] was elected to the Board of Education in a big Republican year in Westport," Stein said in a news release, "providing a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing year. In what many expect to be another big year for Republicans, Michael will be an effective and determined candidate to keep this senate seat bright blue for the Democrats."

In addition to being elected to the Westport Board of Education, Gordon was elected chair of the board four times, each time with a bipartisan vote, according to his campaign.

He also has served on the boards of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition, ADL Connecticut and the local Jewish Federation. Both Gordon and his wife, Linda, were honored with ADL's Distinguished Community Leadership Award.

Gordon began his career as an attorney at Skadden and left that job to work in former President Bill Clinton's administration. His first role was with the Secretary of Education on policy issues including college affordability before moving to the Justice Department to become a spokesperson for Attorney General Janet Reno.

A few years later, he started Group Gordon, a corporate communications firm in New York. According to his campaign, half of Gordon's practice is in the public interest for nonprofits.

A father of three, Gordon has also coached or managed over 40 little league baseball and Westport soccer teams.

Ken Bernhard, a former third selectman and town attorney for the town of Westport, also announced his candidacy for the state's 26th Senate District in January.

See also: Former Westport Selectman Running For 26th Senate District

Bernhard said he considered it a privilege to represent his community in Hartford once again, "this time as a Democratic state senator." According to Good Morning Wilton, Bernhard is a former Republican who changed his affiliation and will be running as a Democrat.

Below is Gordon's statement in full:

I am an optimist. I always have been.

Despite the cloud of COVID, and the division in our discourse, I believe that we take more steps toward progress than regress. I believe that in our corner of the world, in our slice of Connecticut, we can set a standard that shines bright. With hope, heart and faith in the future, I am excited to begin my campaign for the State Senate seat being vacated by my friend Will Haskell.

The past two years have taken an enormous toll on our children, our seniors, small business owners, working parents – all of us. I am running to make a positive difference for all of them - and for all of us - to help lead Connecticut into its next chapter. I’ve spoken to Democratic party leaders throughout the district, and there are four issue areas that impact the citizens of our towns.

First, children and education: The past two years have been a mental health catastrophe for our children. We don’t yet know the consequences, and CT needs to inspire many more mental health providers to work in the state. We also need to protect working parents and support their childcare by expanding initiatives like care4kids. In addition, the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket and has generally outpaced inflation for the past 40 years. And we are letting down the next generation - my children’s generation - on the issues of climate, gun safety and our democracy.

Second, gender equality: We need to turbocharge more coding at earlier ages, especially among girls and young women. As a small business owner who has created jobs, I want to stimulate more small business development centers for minority/women-owned business enterprises. We also should employ strategic micro loans to these businesses early in their development.

Third, our seniors: I want to be the go-to State Senator for our seniors. My late mother talked frequently about how difficult getting old is. We can provide more relief for seniors on their pensions and annuities. We have to offer more homebound services and support for seniors so they can age happily in place.

Fourth, endemic Connecticut: CT has fared better than other places economically, but a pandemic is not a strategy. I will be a hammer on the transportation issues that dog our communities. Among other things, we need to repair the bridges that slow down Metro North and move to more and faster trains. We also need to continue to attract people by expanding our arts and outdoor activities.

There is an urgency to our work together. Our children only have one chance at a world-class education. Our seniors only have one chance at a peaceful golden age. And we are running out of chances to bring more compassion to our discourse.

In the coming weeks and months, I will be discussing more issues and more ideas, and I’d love to hear what’s on your mind. Please check out my website MichaelGordon.org (not .com!) and contact me at michael@michaelgordon.org.

We are just beginning our journey, but I am, as always, an optimist. Let’s do this.