Rebekah Harriman-Stites To Run For Newtown State Rep

From Rebekah Harriman-Stites:

February 26 2020

Newtown, CT : Newtown resident Rebekah Harriman-Stites announces her candidacy for Connecticut’s 106th State Legislative District representing Newtown, Connecticut.Rebekah will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the November 3, 2020 election.

Rebekah is a successful business owner, fundraising professional, non-profit advocate,community organizer, Newtown Board of Education member, and wrestling mom. She has the hands-on experience to influence bipartisan colleagues in Hartford with strategic, fiscally responsible, innovative representation to move Newtown forward for all residents.

Experience building bridges to economic and educational success

Rebekah has held many leadership roles on the Newtown Board of Education since having been elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 by an overwhelming majority. She served as Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of the Policy Committee, and as a member of the District Safety and Security Committee. She redesigned how Newtown approaches and funds special education to help all students succeed, support families and educators in reaching these goals, all while reducing the burden on Newtown taxpayers with innovative funding.

Volunteering diligently in Newtown, coupled with years on the Newtown Board of Education,Rebekah recognizes several concerns brought up again and again by colleagues, friends, and neighbors, and is setting her sights on Hartford to help create viable solutions such as:

• Appropriate economic development to ease tax burden on residents

• Recruit business opportunities to fill empty commercial real estate

• Preserve Newtown’s quality of life and rural environment

• Introduce effective tax cuts and incentives for seniors

• Create state-wide small business support and initiatives

• Introduce acceptable, affordable housing for seniors and first-time homeowners

• Revamp and overhaul property tax reform

• Advocate for strong schools and academic opportunities for all students

• Support and secure CT's smart, strong gun violence prevention legislation

Capable and qualified leadership working for all of Newtown

“Connecticut is not the mistake Hartford, and many elected leaders, makes us out to be,” said Rebekah. “With effective leadership and creative solutions, the future can indeed be bright. Together, let’s move forward, and work together with concrete, strategic action. First and foremost: economic development and incentives that ease the tax burden of Newtown residents, while taking full responsibility of what we owe both our seniors and children. We can do this while preserving the character of the town we all love. It’s not an either-or situation, despite what rhetoric we hear. We can do both.”

Better together.
Smart, effective leadership for a strong, vibrant Newtown community for all

Due to the groundswell of heartfelt encouragement and support from Newtown that brought her so close to winning in 2018, Rebekah is excited and encouraged to again offer voters a smart, effective voice for the 106th State Legislative District in Newtown.

Rebekah is proud mom to 14-year-old son, Fisher, and daughter of Lucy Harriman, both of whom encouraged her to enter the race because, “This is who you are. It’s what you do. Newtown needs you.” Rebekah has called Newtown home for nearly 20 years yet recognizes she’s still a newcomer to many neighbors. But she’s not going anywhere, and will continue to advocate for Newtown locally, and with support, in Hartford after election day November 2, 2020.

Rebekah for Newtown: Smart, successful business, education & leadership experience
In 2019, Rebekah sold her business HK Consulting Group, a boutique fund development firm, which raised critical financial support for major non-profit organizations and municipalities throughout CT, NY, RI and MA, securing over $35 million in funding for clients. She now uses her collaborative approach to networking, fundraising, and leadership as Director of Development for Ann’s Place Danbury, a Connecticut treasure which offers free cancer support services to both Connecticut and nearby New York residents.

Rebekah Harriman-Stites has a degree in Social Work from Central Connecticut State University and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Bridgeport, for which she served as Chair of the Board of Directors. She’s been recognized locally, state-wide, and nationally as a successful community leader and entrepreneur. She was a founding member of My Sandy Hook Family Fund, successfully raising and distributing $1.5 million directly to the Sandy Hook School families affected. She previously served as President of the Middle Gate School PTA and on the Board of Directors of Everwonder Children’s Museum.

Rebekah for Newtown: The smart choice for Connecticut’s 106th State Legislative District

“It’s time to put Hartford to work for Newtown, and to bring concrete ideas and strategic plans to build budgets that support our town, while not sacrificing our vulnerable friends and neighbors. It’s not either/or – it’s both,” she said. “With an open mind, and the brains and elbow grease to get the job done, I’m ready to get to work. I turn ideas into action, and action into results. It’s what I do every day at Ann’s Place, in the community, and with enough votes, for all of Newtown in Hartford."

This press release was produced by the Rebekah Harriman-Stites. The views expressed here are the author’s own.