Candidate Profile: Tony Hwang For Senate District 28

CONNECTICUT — The 2020 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 presidential election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats 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 with a 91 to 60 lead over Republicans in the House and a 22 to 14 lead in the Senate.

Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Tony Hwang, a Fairfield resident, is running for Senate District 28.

Age: 56

Party affiliation: Republican Party, Independent

Family: Grace, wife (married 33 years); daughter, Christina (26 years old); son, Peter (21 years old)

Occupation: State senator (2015-present), real estate sales (2000-present)

Previous elected experience: Fairfield Representative Town Meeting, 2005-08 (Education & Public Safety Committees)

CT General Assembly House of Representatives, 2009-2014 (ranking leader in Government Administration & Elections)

CT General Assembly Senate, 2015-present (ranking leader in Public Safety, Higher Education and Housing Committees)

Family members in government: No, but they are active in community volunteerism.

Campaign website: www.TonyHwang.org

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our state was one of the first to be hit hard by the COVID-19 health crisis. Our state government was caught flat-footed due to sweeping infections and our capacity to effectively control its transmission and care for those sick from the illness, especially in Southwestern Connecticut. We were able to flatten the curve earlier than most, by taking the health dangers very seriously, by imposing drastic restrictions on social contact, indoor gatherings, and strict adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The measures to control COVID-19 health safety have been devastating to the economic viability and sustainability of our households, residents, small businesses, and towns. We now need to strive for a new balance.

We have now begun to operate our state with Phase 3 reopening, the reopening of our public schools, businesses and easing social interaction protocols has been promising. But infections are starting to climb again and we must be vigilant against a second wave of COVID-19 illnesses. Unlike politicians in Washington, we need to make policy decisions on medical data and facts and listen to health experts. Ultimately, we need to work together to solve current and looming problems. My three policy suggestions are:

To create a sustainable economic recovery, we need to base our public policy decisions on medical facts and data. We need all branches of our government, executive, legislative and judicial, to work together and establish clear protocols and guidelines for reopening CT. Our towns, small businesses, workers, and households need our government to transparently make decisions and develop a sustainable process to reopening while maintaining defense and protection against COVID-19. It is critical for “government” to listen and work with impacted shareholders and maintain the delicate balance between reopening for business while maintaining health practices to prevent COVID-19 infections.

We need to quickly adapt the use of technology to deliver critical and essential governmental services. Large and small businesses have adapted to using technology to maintain critical business operations, we need to do the same in government. Whether renewing a driver’s license, enrolling in programs, or starting a business, CT residents can interact with the state in many ways. Modernizing digital services will mean simple web-based interactions online will begin to replace redundant requests and standing in line. We need to quickly move all aspects of governmental services to an online transactional portal. We can and need to make that necessary change, but we will need to alter labor force staffing agreements and possibly re-train or adapt state employee job duties and position descriptions.

COVID-19, beyond its dangerous health risks, will significantly impact our economics as well. Connecticut's state budget for fiscal year 2020-21 is an estimated $3 billion in deficit out of a nearly $20 billion budget. Our current economic challenges may be the “tip of the iceberg” where our revenue shortfalls will decimate essential governmental services at a time when they are most needed. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis will require collaborative and bipartisan leadership backed by proven experience to overcome this unprecedented challenge. In my 15 years of local and state service, I have documented experience and demonstrated the leadership qualities to make hard and thoughtful decisions needed to move our state forward. Those decisions need to be made by listening and adapting our policies based on all shareholders' input and suggestions. I also strongly believe that the state government needs to work and collaborate with local governance, where local control and input must always be preserved and protected.

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

Experienced leadership in public service that is always engaged and present sets me apart from other candidates. I have a proven record of bipartisan and collaborative legislative accomplishments. Examples include:

- Increased penalty for violent school threats (PA-16-67)

- Long Island Sound Blue Plan, a bipartisan environmental legislation with former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-12)

- Supported all levels of education by protecting and maintaining education funding from state budget deficits.

I have always demonstrated that people matter over partisan party politics.

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

In my 15 years of public service, I have always been engaged and present with the communities that I represent and serve. I have a proven track record of making difficult decisions on behalf of the people I represent. I have worked to maintain local control and input on housing, land use and zoning against the state-mandated 8-30g density housing law. A demonstrated record in rebuilding our economy and restoring jobs:

- Advanced manufacturing education (PA 11-1)

- Nurturing innovative technologies such as biosciences, genomic (co-chair of bipartisan bioscience caucus) and customized manufacturing and data warehousing.

- Ranking leader on Higher Education and Employment Committee focused on developing skilled workforce.

- Membership on the Governor’s Workforce Council focused on coordinating the state’s workforce training initiatives to meet the needs of 21st century jobs.

While I have demonstrated state leadership accomplishments, I am most proud of actively engaging in support of our community nonprofits and outreach organizations along with residents that I am honored to represent.

My record of accomplishments has received endorsements from:

- National Federation of Independent Businesses (representing small business owners)

- CT Realtors (representing 17,000 CT realtors)

- CT League of Conversation Voters (Environment)

- Association of Retired Teachers of CT (Education)

- CT State Fraternal Order of Police (Public Safety)

- And A Grade Rating from CT Against Gun Violence

Do you believe Connecticut needs reform when it comes to electric utility oversight? What steps, if any should be taken?

My experience and demand for reform of electric utilities goes back to Super Storm Sandy and frustrating interaction on behalf of local neighborhoods with indifferent and sometimes arrogant utility executives.

Storm Isaias and the delayed power restoration and poor customer service responses revealed that much remains to be done. We just recently passed in special session HB7006, known as the Take Back Our Grid Act. This bill would require regulators to create a performance-based system tied to penalties and rate increases to hold Connecticut's utility companies accountable to legislators and consumers and requires electric companies to compensate customers if power remains out after a certain amount of time. It would also require the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to measure a utility company's performance in several aspects including safety, reliability, emergency response and affordability. Those measures were not considered previously. PURA would now need to take that evaluation to consider things like rate increases and increased vigilance in regulatory reform.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

We have now begun to operate our state with Phase 3 reopening, the reopening of our public schools, businesses and easing social interaction protocols has been promising. But infections are starting to climb again and we must be vigilant against a second wave of COVID-19 illnesses. Unlike politicians in Washington, we need to make policy decisions on medical data and facts and listen to health experts. Ultimately, we need to work together to solve current and looming problems. My three policy suggestions are:

To create a sustainable economic recovery, we need to base our public policy decisions on medical facts and data. We need all branches of our government, executive, legislative and judicial, to work together and establish clear protocols and guidelines for reopening CT. Our towns, small businesses, workers and households need our government to transparently make decisions and develop a sustainable process to reopening while maintaining defense and protection against COVID-19. It is critical for “government” to listen and work with impacted shareholders and maintain the delicate balance between reopening for business while maintaining health practices to prevent COVID-19 infections.

We need to quickly adapt the use of technology to deliver critical and essential governmental services. Large and small businesses have adapted to using technology to maintain critical business operations, we need to do the same in government. Whether renewing a driver’s license, enrolling in programs, or starting a business, CT residents can interact with the state in many ways. Modernizing digital services will mean simple web-based interactions online will begin to replace redundant requests and standing in line. We need to quickly move all aspects of governmental services to an online transactional portal. We can and need to make that necessary change, but we will need to alter labor force staffing agreements and possibly re-train or adapt state employee job duties and position descriptions.

COVID-19, beyond its dangerous health risks, will significantly impact our economics as well. Connecticut's state budget for fiscal year 2020-21 is an estimated $3 billion in deficit out of a nearly $20 billion budget. Our current economic challenges may be the “tip of the iceberg” where our revenue shortfalls will decimate essential governmental services at a time when they are most needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis will require collaborative and bipartisan leadership backed by proven experience to overcome this unprecedented challenge. In my 15 years of local and state service, I have documented experience and demonstrated the leadership qualities to make hard and thoughtful decisions needed to move our state forward. Those decisions need to be made by listening and adapting our policies based on all shareholders' input and suggestions. I also strongly believe that the state government needs to work and collaborate with local governance, where local control and input must always be preserved and protected.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Social responsibility has always been a foundation of my public service career. As an immigrant and racial minority, I am keenly aware and sensitive to social justice reform. I have fought for equality and accountability by strengthening hate crime penalties and passed curriculum for Holocaust and genocide studies for awareness and prevention of hate, bias, and prejudice. I am finding solutions as member of statewide 2-Gen Advisory Council to develop solutions to sustainably break intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Supporting all levels of education:

- Actively engaged to protect the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff in reopening of K-12 public schools during COVID-19 pandemic.

- Consistently protected education funding from state budget cuts.

- Initiated and championed vocational and apprenticeship training for alternative career success.

Advocate for prevention of domestic violence:

- Recognized by Bridgeport’s Center for Family Justice and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a state leader in domestic violence awareness and prevention.

- Advocated for higher education reforms to fight against sexual assault on college campuses.

Advocate for gender equality:

- Insurance coverage for breast cancer mammography testing and screening and longtime champion of Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center and its Pink Pledge Campaigns.

- Advanced gender pay equity legislation to eliminate the pay gap between men and women doing the same job.

Healthcare support in opioid addiction and mental health treatment:

- Implemented scope of duty definition that allows all first responders with proper training to carry NARCAN to save lives and prevent opioid overdose deaths.

- Worked in bipartisan collaboration with former Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. (D-12) toward passage on insurance parity coverage for mental health supportive services.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on CT state budget:

With our economy and budget driven into a deep deficit crisis by the Covid-19 pandemic, we will need collaborative, experienced and trusted leaders who through their proven ability and past accomplishments continue to lead during these difficult times. I have and will always advocate for policies that are transparent, sustainable and in the best interest of all residents.

The best way to move our state forward is by working together to find common ground and pass sensible and sustainable public policies. I have always demonstrated my independence and have done my best to represent the interests of our communities.