Streicker says she battles 'extreme partisanship' in race against DeLauro

New Haven Register (CT)

Oct. 24--To Margaret Streicker, who has built a successful business developing and managing high-end real estate, Washington is blocking Connecticut's economic progress, and Rosa DeLauro is a large part of the problem.

In her first political campaign, Streicker, 45, of Milford, is taking on the long-term 3rd District congresswoman head-on.

"I think it's necessary to bring pragmatic, real-world solutions to work to solve the problems that we as a country are facing," she said.

Connecticut, in particular, is suffering from a loss of jobs and high taxes, she said. "Connecticut has been at the mercy of 30 years of failed policy and it has to stop," she said.

Streicker and DeLauro, the congressional 3rd District incumbent have released contentious ads against each other.

Streicker's companies specialize in acquiring landmark rental properties and converting them to luxury housing, which has at times included evicting longtime tenants. She attended Princeton University and earned degrees in architecture and real estate development at Columbia University, where she teaches entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor.

Streicker said she was motivated to run for office by the political division in the country, which she sees as hindering progress. As a businesswoman, she has brought different interests together for a common goal. "There is an extreme partisanship that is tearing the fabric of our country apart," she said. "This country is wonderful; it's fantastic."

However, the partisan atmosphere is "not good for the health and well-being of our nation," she said.

DeLauro is a prime offender, Streicker said. "She has not voted once out of step with Nancy Pelosi this past cycle. That says everything," she said.

On coronavirus, she said the partnership between the public and private sectors "has been able to ramp up the PPE and the ventilators in record time" and that the United States is now exporting both. She expects a vaccine in record time, as well.

"I think it's important that we reopen safely but swiftly," said Streicker, mother of four school-age children. "We need to get our kids back in school. We need to get our workplaces open, having the resources so people can safely and effectively work from home."

That requires beefed-up technological infrastructure. "We have failing cellphone service, internet service left and right," she said. "We have to have that investment in our infrastructure ... so as we are working to a full reopen we have the means to do what needs to be done in our daily lives."

Streicker said job losses and closings at Raytheon Technologies, Unilever, Subway and General Electric show that current policies aren't working. "Let's start with getting everyone back to work," she said. "We have to foster an environment that supports small and midsize businesses."

She said Connecticut has the second-highest effective tax rate in the country and the third-lowest home appreciation, along with the fifth-highest number of opioid deaths.

With Yale New Haven Hospital and the Yale School of Medicine in the 3rd District, "We're talking about bringing medical manufacturing back onshore. ... This district is prime to be doing that but we need leaders."

Streicker said she wouldn't be beholden to President Donald Trump, if he were to be reelected. "I'm an independent-minded person. I always have been. ... I've always been people over party, which is why I'm proud to be endorsed by the Independent Party," she said.

She also has been endorsed by the Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police and the Italian American Heritage Group of Greater New Haven, which sued the city to try to prevent the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square. DeLauro and Paglino both supported the move, as did some Italian Americans and groups in Wooster Square.

She said she does support Trump in several areas. "I think his initiatives to bring our troops home has been very important and his fight to help stimulate the American economy and production ... has been very important. I think stylistically we're rather different. ... I am a consensus builder."

She said she disagrees with Trump and the Republican Party over abortion rights and "would prefer to see Roe v. Wade stand." But she supports Judge Amy Coney Barrett as a Supreme Court justice. "She is clearly expert in her field," Streicker said. "I don't believe in politicizing the Supreme Court."

She has presented herself as someone who believes in "the principle of rule of law."

"I certainly think that safety and security is of paramount importance to everyone," she said. "I think defunding the police is going to cut into their training."

Streicker criticized the rioting that followed the death of George Floyd while being restrained by a Minneapolis police officer. "I support the First Amendment and the First Amendment does cover a lot of ground. It covers the right to protest. It cover the right to worship. At the same time, all of this is in the context of peace."

Streicker's financial disclosure forms estimate her net worth as more than $154 million, which would make her one of the top 10 wealthiest members of Congress if she were elected. The estimate is the midpoint in a range listed on her form. As of Oct. 14, her campaign had raised $1.39 million and spent $1.25 million.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382

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