Basic Information
Full Name: Ceci Maher
Office Sought: State Senate District 26
Contact Information (Email, Phone, Website):
cecimaher@gmail.com (or cecimaher2024@gmail.com)
203-858-6561
General Questions
Top Three Priorities if Elected
My top three priorities are: making Connecticut a more affordable place to live; protecting our reproductive rights; and preventing gun violence.
Our fight for affordability began with the historic $600 million in tax cuts for the middle class. It continued with the expansion of tax exemptions on pensions, because our seniors want to remain in the communities where they have grown their families and given of their time and talent . Building on these first two important steps, we need to continue to diversify our housing options, so that our kids can afford to return home and our seniors can downsize. By increasing housing stock we can also increase business and economic vitality for CT and bring down taxes for everyone.
Protecting reproductive rights means not just making sure abortion is legal, but fighting off any other barrier to abortion that opponents create. This means ensuring that providers are protected when they deliver the care their patients need. It also means ensuring that parents are able to start and grow their families through fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization.
I am proud to have just celebrated the one year anniversary of Connecticut prohibiting the open carry of firearms, banning the AR-15, restricting the bulk sale of guns and ensuring safe storage. These measures prevent guns from landing in the hands of someone who would do harm with them. I will continue to support any measure that addresses the trafficking of guns and that removes guns from situations where they could be too easily accessed.
Professional, Volunteer, or Public Service Experience
I spent my early career in retail, running a multimillion dollar department at Lord & Taylor. While I raised my three children, I volunteered in my community, including as president of the Junior League and other nonprofits, which led me to earn a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.
As a clinical social worker, I was trained to listen and help clients identify and overcome challenges. As a non-profit executive, I looked at challenges from a broader perspective and then harnessed resources and improved systems to address challenges faced by entire communities.
During my fourteen years at Person-to-Person, we grew from serving 15,000 people to 25,000 people per year– ultimately providing food for more than 1 million meals annually to people in need. I am proud to have led Sandy Hook Promise as interim executive director, supporting gun violence prevention programs.
This work led me to pursue elective office, and it drives the work I do every day for the people of the 26th District.
As a Senator, I have continued to address challenges, by protecting our seniors in elder care, supporting our schools and arts institutions and preserving our environment. I have attracted public funds to clean up and redevelop brown sites, promote sustainability and make vital improvements to our main streets. As Chair of the Senate Children’s Committee, I have delivered free breakfast to our students and expanded youth mental health services.
Policy Questions
Local Control: How do you propose to protect your district’s control over zoning decisions? What is your approach to balancing affordable housing needs with preserving the town’s character?
I believe in local control of planning and zoning. That being said, I think New Canaan and all towns in the 26th District will benefit from working in concert with Hartford. I believe in a carrot, not a stick, approach. The Governor has provided over $800 million in housing funds in the last year, because he recognizes that the lack of affordable housing is a significant impediment to our economic growth. Companies will not move or grow here if there is nowhere for their employees to live. In addition, our communities will stagnate if we do not create homes for seniors, so that young families can move here.
Utilities: What steps have you taken/will you take to address rising costs of electricity, natural gas, and water?
The increase in bills this summer was due to several factors, increases to the “public benefits” part of your bill, as well the impact of July 2024 as the hottest month recorded in state history, causing us to use more electricity than normal to stay cool. These factors created a perfect storm of spiking costs.
The “public benefits” part of our bill covers a number of different costs, about 77% of the cost increases are related to the state’s agreement to purchase nuclear power from the Millstone power plant in 2017, and 21% of the costs are related to the state’s utility shutoff moratorium during the pandemic. The shutoffs accrued debt from both commercial and residential clients of Eversource. Eversource is continuing to collect on these open debts from ratepayers and any monies received will factor into PURA’s decision about future rates.
It’s important to me that we find solutions to these issues.
To start, in August, leaders of the Senate wrote a letter to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) asking them to reopen the decision that raised costs, amortizing debt over 10 months, instead of the recommended 22 months that the Chairman of PURA asked for. I’m hopeful PURA will reconsider these decisions and take action in a way that provides relief to everyone. Governor Lamont has also asked the leaders of the Energy & Technology Committee to work with him to develop solutions that will reduce energy bills, both in the short and long-term.
Of course, it is vital that we continue to diversify our energy sources with solar, wind and nuclear, which will leave us less vulnerable to dramatic cost increases.
Please explain your stand on the current situation with Aquarion.
I supported the bill passed to pave the way for the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to consider purchasing Aquarion. I want to ensure that our water supply stays under local control within the state. The RWA can make sure that pricing and usage policies are a benefit and not a burden to our residents.
Economy: How will you address the economic challenges posed by inflation? What legislative measures will you support to ease the financial burden on households and businesses in your district?
I am always working to address the economic challenges of our families. Currently, 40% of families in Connecticut are living below the level of income necessary to meet their basic needs. I know what that means from my years providing meals to thousands of families at Person to Person. Addressing this need begins with our historic tax cut, but we must go further by supporting the development of affordable housing and further attracting new business into the state and developing our economy.
Economic growth is the key to keeping all of our taxes low, to that end I have delivered grants that support our local economy. I am especially proud of the funds we have secured to redevelop the Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill in Redding, where remediating the site and boosting the local business district will be a win for the environment and the economy.
We can also make things easier on our business. We have eliminated the business entity tax to ease the burden, and I speak regularly with our Secretary of the State about how we can further streamline filings and regulations. Additionally, I would like to work with the insurance commission to see how we can reduce insurance rates for business.
Supermajority: What does having a supermajority in the Connecticut legislature mean to you and to your district?
Our supermajority and our Governor together have delivered some significant results for our constituents, including the $600 million tax cut, a AA+ bond rating, gun safety measures, an over $300 million increase in education funding, protections for seniors in elder care, as well as tax exemptions for pensions and retirement accounts. Having a supermajority means that my voice is heard when I want to bring funding back to the district, as we did this past winter with the New Canaan Playhouse.
Bipartisanship: How would you describe the current political environment in Connecticut? If elected, how will you contribute to improving the tone of political discourse and foster cooperation among different political viewpoints?
I find everyone in Hartford works together, including across the aisle. Republican colleagues have an opportunity in committee, and in session to contribute. I work directly with my Republican colleagues. Hartford is not Washington, DC. I do my best to listen and be respectful of different points of view. It is important to me that all of our towns have a voice in Hartford, and I take the responsibility of being that voice very seriously.
Your View: What should we have asked that we did not?
As a long time resident, since early childhood, in Fairfield County, and as someone who has volunteered and worked with thousands of people in my adult life, I have built significant networks that I use to grow knowledge and build consensus. Throughout my life and career I have served others through my work, I am thrilled to continue those efforts through my work in the CT General Assembly and in the Senate.
