State Representative Gail Lavielle ~ Closing Statement – October 21, 2014
I represent a wonderful, unique district. Westport is a joy, Norwalk has become a second home, and Wilton is our home, with a special place in my heart.
It’s been my pleasure to serve you for several years. I know our district’s people and the legislative process, and I’ve built strong bipartisan relationships and received leadership roles in Hartford.
I am Ranking Member of both the Commerce Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and I serve on the Appropriations, Education, and Higher Education Committees.
I have served on several bipartisan commissions and task forces, including the Commission on Connecticut’s Future, the Education Mandate Relief Task Force, the Higher Education Consolidation Committee, and the GMO Labeling Task Force, and I am an active member of two bipartisan caucuses, the Long Island Sound Caucus and the Manufacturing Caucus.
I’ve never presumed to know better than you what you want – my job is to help you achieve it and to tell you the truth. My business background taught me client service, listening, firmness, and collaboration. My early finance training at Morgan Guaranty and my years abroad taught me deference and diplomacy. I know I am your representative, not your arbiter.
You’ve told me you need tax relief, affordable retirement, jobs, good transportation, quality education, reasonable higher ed tuition costs, and reliable social services, and I’m fighting for it all. But CT has spent, borrowed, and taxed too much, and for all the things we need, it’s urgent to get our state’s financial house in order. I fight hard for that too, and I’ll keep going.
I’ve introduced many pieces of legislation that have become law, on the transportation lockbox, school mandate relief, a statewide port authority, small business tax credits, and more, and I’ve brought tax dollars back to our towns and helped commuters.
I’m endorsed and recognized by business groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club, and professional groups like doctors, realtors, retired teachers, and commuters.
But the only people who count are you. Everything I do as your representative starts with you. You shape my priorities and decisions. You set the guideposts for my work, because I do it all on your behalf.
I’ve sought you out, and I’ve met thousands of you. I keep you informed, and always ask for your feedback.
I want to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. You’ve invited me into your homes, spoken at public meetings, written to me, and testified at hearings. On difficult issues, you let me know where you stand.
It’s a privilege to serve people who are so articulate, forthcoming, and involved. Every one of you must be able to count on a future in Connecticut, and my goal is to make sure you can. I’d be honored to continue to serve you.