Heather Somers Unanimously Nominated for Reelection

GROTON — State Senator Heather Somers issued the following statement after being unanimously nominated for a fifth term serving the people of eastern Connecticut by delegates to the GOP convention for the 18th District last week and surpassing the fundraising threshold to participate in the Citizens Election Program (CEP) for the 2024 election.

“I am immensely grateful for the outpouring of support I’ve received from around the 18th district and filled with determination to build on what we’ve been able to accomplish together in recent years by securing results to strengthen our eastern Connecticut communities and challenging the status quo in Hartford to expose corruption, mismanagement and broken priorities to make our state government be accountable to taxpayers,” Somers said. “I am so thankful to everyone who has supported my campaign to once again earn the trust of voters to serve as an effective and independent voice for the 18th district and humbled to have qualified for the Citizens Election Program so quickly with the support of more than 420 individual contributors.”

Somers’s campaign for reelection has raised more than $21,000 in qualifying contributions for the CEP program from more than 420 contributors.

Somers will seek to build on a demonstrated track record of delivering results and fighting for lower taxes, safe communities, a strong education system that prepares students for the 21st century economy, quality, affordable health care, and opportunity and prosperity for Connecticut small businesses and families.

In the recently concluded 2024 legislative session, Somers successfully passed legislation to honor and support law enforcement, promote patient access to health care, protect Connecticut’s agricultural communities, support Connecticut’s commercial fishing industry and more.  Among the bill’s successfully championed by Somers this session, was “Broko’s Law” which will help honor K9 police officers and support local law enforcement by ensuring restitution for law enforcement K9s killed in action goes to the agency they served. Somers also successfully helped pass legislation (SB1) to increase access to screening that can help detect a patient’s risk for heart attack or heart disease, protect against discrimination in long term care facilities based on psychiatric history and establish working groups to address specific areas for improvement in the health care system, including pediatric hospice. Somers also helped pass legislation to tackle key priorities for 18th district communities, including addressing the challenge of roaming livestock in eastern Connecticut, securing purchase power agreements for Plainfield renewable energy and supporting southeastern Connecticut’s commercial fisherman by prioritizing their access to additional revenue from safety and scout work for offshore wind projects, which is well-suited to their maritime expertise and depth of knowledge about the local marine topography.

The 18th district includes Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington, and Voluntown.

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Heather Somers Receives Endorsement of Police Officers Association of Connecticut

GROTON — State Senator Heather Somers of Groton received the endorsement Friday of the Police Officers Association of Connecticut (POACT), which represents “municipal police unions across the state of Connecticut” including more than 3,000 sworn police officers.

“In these challenging times we need leaders who support common sense reforms that strengthen, rather than vilify, our police,” Somers said. “As an independent leader committed to keeping our communities safe, I’m proud to stand with local law enforcement to tackle challenges we face and ensure justice for all.”

“That’s why I led the charge to successfully help first responders with PTSD get access to the care and treatment they deserve,” Somers continued. “It’s why I ensured local police were included in the state’s opioid addiction task force and worked with local hospitals to provide life-saving overdose reversal medication to police departments at no cost.”

“Unlike my opponent, I oppose dangerous legislation, forced through by insiders in Hartford without input from the public, that would dramatically increase legal costs for towns and cities, leading to only two potential outcomes: budget cuts to law enforcement or higher property taxes,” Somers added. “If given the honor of continuing to serve the hardworking people of the 18th district, I will continue leading with an independent voice to bring people together, including our local law enforcement, to tackle the challenges we face.”

“I’m honored to have growing support from the men and women in blue who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Somers said. “They deserve our respect.”

In a letter informing Somers of the endorsement, John J. Healey, President of the Waterbury Police Union and Advisory Board Member for POACT, wrote “Our endorsement is based upon your support and advocacy on the public safety issues that affect the citizens of Connecticut, and on your commitment to the fair working conditions of the men and women in blue who put their lives on the line each day to protect and serve our communities.”

Somers has also been endorsed for reelection to the State Senate by the New London Police Union AFSCME Local 724.

“On behalf of the 68 men and women rank and file officers of the New London Police Union – AFSCME Local 724 we are pleased to formally announce our Executive Board has unanimously voted to endorse you for re-election to the State Senate citing your reliable and unwavering support for police officers both in your district and throughout the state,” union President Todd Lynch said in a letter. “In these troubling times for police throughout the country and especially here in Connecticut you have been a good friend on issues important to us and all public safety professionals. Many of our members reside in your district and are honored to stand with you endorsing you for another term as Senator for the 18th district.”

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Heather Somers Announces 2020 Re-Election Bid for State Senate

GROTON — State Sen. Heather Somers of Groton announced Monday she will seek re-election to the 18th district, looking to continue her record of leading with an independent voice to deliver results for eastern Connecticut, challenge the status quo in Hartford and fight for policies to improve the lives of hardworking Connecticut families.

“I look forward to continue my record of leading with an independent voice to expand opportunity, support small businesses, honor our veterans, improve the quality and affordability of health care, protect our environment, strengthen our eastern Connecticut communities and hold Hartford accountable,” Somers said. “It is an incredible honor to represent hardworking eastern Connecticut families and I look forward to continuing to serve and deliver results to strengthen our communities.”

In Hartford, Somers has established a reputation as a uniquely effective and independent advocate for eastern Connecticut. Somers has successfully passed legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, protect women from sexual harassment, care for first responders with PTSD, repeal the boat tax, fund priorities for 18th district communities, protect eastern Connecticut from damaging education cuts and more. In the 2020 legislative session, Somers is championing plans to lower prescription drug costs, protect patients, safeguard the environment and increase economic opportunity.

“I am proud of my record of results and to be continuing to lead the fight on issues that matter to hardworking eastern Connecticut families, like reducing Connecticut’s punitive tax burden, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and expanding economic opportunity,” Somers continued. “I am proud to be an independent leader in Hartford, working across party lines to protect and strengthen the environmental health of our state, improve access to quality, affordable health care and increase economic opportunity for the hardworking families who suffered as misguided policies and tax hikes kept Connecticut lagging our neighbors in jobs and wages.”

Building on a reputation for holding Hartford accountable and tackling corruption in her first term, Somers helped lead the charge to expose mismanagement at the Connecticut Port Authority, hold the quasi-state agency accountable and put forward solutions to reinstall public confidence. Last month, Somers sent a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont calling for greater transparency and additional reforms at the Port Authority before the administration rubber stamped an agreement concerning the state pier in New London.

“I will continue to fight for hardworking Connecticut taxpayers by shining a light on mismanagement, corruption and abuse in state government and at quasi-public agencies and lead the fight for reform,” Somers said. “That is why I’ve repeatedly demanded greater transparency and lasting reforms to correct the mess created by political insiders at the Connecticut Port Authority.”

Somers has earned recognition from numerous organizations representing seniors, physicians and health care providers as a champion for improving the quality, affordability and availability of health care and to improve Connecticut’s treatment of mental health. Somers also has a 100 percent rating from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for her support of positions to protect and preserve the environment and a 100 percent rating from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) for championing policies to improve Connecticut’s economic competitiveness and business climate.

Somers was first elected to the State Senate representing the 18th district in November 2016 and was reelected in November 2018 with 55 percent of the vote.

Before serving in the State Senate, Somers served as a town councilor for eight years in Groton, including two years as the town mayor. Somers also has a successful record in business. She founded and helped grow a biotech manufacturing company that continues to expand and support more than 100 jobs in eastern Connecticut. Somers resides in Groton City with her husband Mark and daughter Grace. She has two adult children, Hayley and Ian.

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Senator Somers: Opponent Desperate for Debate About Process to Distract from Radical, Malloy-Inspired Agenda

GROTON — State Sen. Heather Somers of Groton slammed her Democratic opponent Thursday for trying to generate a debate about process in order to distract from the issues — and for avoiding opportunities to answer questions of critical importance for Connecticut voters.

“My opponent is clearly desperate to engage in a debate about process in order to distract from the issues that are critically important to the prosperity of our region and Connecticut families,” Somers said. “It is clear he is more interested in scoring cheap political points than attempting to defend his extreme, Malloy-inspired agenda and the impact it would have on eastern Connecticut’s economy.”

Somers noted that Bob Statchen skipped a recent candidate forum hosted by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut and the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors and has ducked committing to a scheduled debate on October 16 to be hosted by the HBRAC.

“It is the height of hypocrisy for a political candidate to claim an opponent is avoiding debates — while skipping candidate forums and ducking debates that are actually scheduled and on the books,” Somers said. “This is the kind of political nonsense my opponent has learned from the school of Dan Malloy that voters are so tired of hearing.”

Somers also pointed out that it was her campaign that suggested high school students be given an opportunity to participate in The New London Day debate to be held on October 17.

“My opponent claims he wants to give high schoolers a chance to participate in the process — yet he’s done nothing to help facilitate an actual opportunity for that to happen,” Somers said. “In contrast, my campaign has suggested to The Day that all high schoolers be given an opportunity to participate in their scheduled debate.”

“I spend every day fighting for results for eastern Connecticut, challenging the status quo in Hartford and working for stronger, more prosperous communities,” Somers continued. “I am thrilled to have so many opportunities to discuss all that we’ve been able to accomplish, and all that we can do together to improve our state, at forums, debates and with voters door-to-door.”

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