Patch Candidate Profiles 2022: Matt Despard, 59th House District

ENFIELD-EAST WINDSOR, 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.

Matt Despard, a Enfield resident, is running for election as State Representative in the 59th House District.

Campaign website: https://facebook.com/despardfo...

Party affiliation: Democratic Party Nominee, Independent Party Nominee, & Working Families Party Nominee

Education: Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology Occupation Mental Health Counselor (8 years)

Family: I am very lucky to be married to my wife, Danielle Patterson. We don?t have any children (yet).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Not that I am aware of

Age: 39

Previous public office, appointive or elective: I am currently serving on the Enfield Town Council as the elected representative for Enfield?s 3rd District

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running because I don?t believe our district is being represented as effectively as it could be. We need someone to stand up for women's reproductive freedom, medical privacy, and access to (sometimes life-saving) health care. Our current representative stands in direct contrast with me on that. We need energetic and enthusiastic lobbying for targeted tax relief for our seniors and our hardest working families. We need to make sure we are protecting our beautiful farmland and open spaces that characterize much of our community. We need to make sure the voice of the people is heard as loud as the voices of developers. As a mental health professional I?m running to ensure that folks suffering from mental illness get the help they deserve. I?m running because we need to secure more funding for our public schools. If elected, I will work to craft legislation to accomplish these goals while jockeying to secure more state dollars for Enfield and East Windsor.

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 - I intend to fight for targeted tax relief for our hardest working families and seniors. Furthermore, we need to end the gas tax once and for all!

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

I stand in stark contrast with my opponent on the issue of women?s reproductive rights. My opponent has introduced extreme, anti-choice legislation and has routinely voted against reproductive rights for the women and girls of the State of Connecticut. We are also at odds when it comes to standing up for our school administrators and teachers. Over the course of the last year, educators have been threatened and harassed due to baseless conspiracy theories drummed up by far right wing extremists. My opponent has stayed silent on the issue even as coordinators of this harmful messaging attempted to involve her. I also strongly support rewarding teachers for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic through the kind of premium pay that first responders received. My opponent and I different greatly when it comes to common-sense gun safety legislation. I support measures that balance the 2nd Amendment with keeping children, law enforcement, and the public at large safe. My opponent has consistently either not voted for reasonable gun control measures, such as banning bump stocks and allowing friends and family to seek protective orders for gun owners in mental health crises, or has simply not shown up to vote.

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

Please see prior answer + My opponent voted against the legislature's most recent budget that included historic tax relief to the tune of 600 million dollars as well as an extension of the gas tax.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I?ll stand up to the Hartford insiders and career politicians. I?ll fight for term limits and more choices for voters. I?ll put residents needs first, not corporate interests.

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

On the Enfield Town Council I have fought for and passed premium pay for essential workers, first responders, and teachers, Developed small business incentive program, balanced budget, critical infrastructure investment, improved town diversity and inclusion with historic committee, put town and residents needs ahead of corporate interests by standing up to irresponsible developer tax abatement.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

?Listen more than you speak? - this has served me very well in my personal, professional, and now political life.

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

I am a regular guy who believes strongly that now more than ever we need people in politics who will put people above politics. This is why I am so proud to have been crossed endorsed as the nominee for 3 different political parties (Independent, Democratic, and Working Families Party). These cross endorsements speak to my track record of caring far more about the needs of the people I represent than the needs of any one political party.