Boynton challenges Ferraro for right to represent 117th District

Nov. 03--In the 117th District, state Rep. Charles Ferraro, R-West Haven, faces a challenge in his bid for a third term from Milford Democrat Cindy Wolfe Boynton, a writer and adjunct journalism professor who was inspired to run by her own family's difficulties with health care.

The district includes sections of Milford, West Haven, Orange and Woodbridge.

This year's race has been a bit quieter than the 2016 race, when Ferraro, 65, was opposed by West Haven City Councilman Sean Ronan, D-9.

"I know very little about my opponent. I really haven't run into her on the campaign trail, "although "I saw her at a couple of functions," said Ferraro, who said he finished earlier this week walking the entire district -- and knocking on all 9,133 doors.

Maybe that's because Boynton, 51, a former New York Times reporter who is president of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization for Women, also has been out walking and knocking on doors -- more than 8,000 as of earlier this week.

Boynton said she's running because "too many of us are struggling. Connecticut needs new leaders, with new ideas, to lead us in a new direction." She also is running because "I had this perfect storm sort of thing happen in my life that inspired me to run," she said.

She spent three years -- "a second full-time job for me" -- trying to find her elderly parents assistance to pay for home health aides so they could remain in their home at a time when they were too inform to live independently but not yet ready for a nursing home.

Ferraro, who is on the General Assembly's Human Services Committee and Energy and Technology Committee and is ranking member on the Veterans Committee, said Connecticut "has a lot of problems," with the need for more and better jobs being a major one.

"Unfortunately, some folks would like to make the election about national issues, such as Donald Trump and immigrants, etc. And those things are important on a national level," he said. "But here in Connecticut, we're going to be facing a $5.4 billion deficit when we get back in session on Jan. 20.

"And the budgetary problems beyond this session ... unless we make serious structural changes to our budget ," will only get worse, he said.

Looming over the state are "about $100 million in unfunded pension liabilities for our teachers and our state worker pensions" that must be dealt with, Ferraro said.

"This is why I think this election is so important, because we really need to address longstanding problems to get out state back on track," he said.

Boynton said that during her travels around the district, she has found that health care and taxes are voters greatest concern.

"What I hear over and over and over again are about property taxes and health care -- and those are both really big concerns for me, as well.

"I am against any new taxes," she said. "We need to look at restructuring our tax system so it's not the middle class who are paying the largest share of taxes -- and I think we should look at those who can afford it the most."

Boynton also said that education is important, saying "there are manufacturing jobs going unfilled" because Connecticut schools are not getting people ready for them. Advanced manufacturing provides "good jobs" that "get people off state assistance" and "help them become role models," she said.

Ferraro, who has owned the West Haven Academy of Karate for 42 years, said that many of Connecticut's problems "are, of course, budget related.

"We need to bring more manufacturing back to Connecticut" and "we need to increase skilled labor" by using the community college system to do a better job of educating people to get them ready for manufacturing jobs, he said.

"When you talk to the people at the doors, their major concern is ... the cost of living in Connecticut with regards to property taxes, especially with older residents who are on a fixed income," he said.

He aims to make the business climate better, and said he supports measures aimed at bolstering small businesses, such as an effort to try to repeal the business entity tax,

Ferraro also said he is "fighting against issues that would negatively affect small businesses, such as mandatory family paid leave and the mandatory $15 minimum wage."

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com

A higher minimum wage "is a great idea, but if you're going to do it by balancing it on the backs of small businesses, then you're going to lose small businesses," Ferraro said. "I'd rather see people make $13.50 and have a job than see people lose their jobs" because their bosses "can't afford to pay $15 an hour."

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