There is a new candidate in the state senate seat now occupied by four-term Democrat Gary Winfield of New Haven. Jason Bartlett, a Democrat, has formed an exploratory candidate committee for the seat and has been actively campaigning for the office online. The Tenth Senatorial District includes parts of New Haven and West Haven.
During the Covid 19 quarantine it has been difficult to reach voters and campaign in the traditional door to door practice. Instead, Barlett has released three videos and is actively promoting issues using Facebook and Instagram.
Barlett’s credentials are extensive. He is a former state legislator and former youth director and Mayor Harp’s Liaison to the New Haven Board of Education for the City of New Haven. His campaign information says he will target education and youth issues with the goal of helping them stay on track and be successful; Jobs and the current unemployment crisis due to Covid 19, fighting for West Haven taxpayers when it comes to the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) and pursuing enabling legislation to assist West Haven in imagining a development for the grounds at the Haven.
Bartlett’s campaign credits him with “expanding youth employment opportunities throughout New Haven, creating safe spaces for homeless youth in the city, creating several new citywide youth programs such as the area’s Hoop It UP 3×3 basketball tournament, implementing technical programs for youth at the high schools for trades such as plumbing and manufacturing, creating Youth Stat to give holistic supports to young people and end youth violence.”
He is calling on the General Assembly to get back to work after closing their doors last week and ending the session
“Everyone is hurting due to Covid-19, but the legislature has not had one virtual meeting, not one public hearing, not one vote,” he said. “If the surrounding municipalities can conduct business through Zoom meetings and our teachers can report to work and teach distance learning then surely our state legislators can get to work for the 402,000 unemployed people who have filed in the last two months.
He said the legislature has to be homed into the needs of the voters despite the pandemic.
“This is just one example of where they need to be focused. Being engaged virtually and having accountability at all levels is the least we can expect from them while they continue to be paid their full salaries,” he said.
You can find Bartlett’s promotional material at 2020 Bartlett on Facebook or call (475) 319-3561.
It’s a disgrace; that. legislators are drawing full salaries, while failing to hold Zoom meetings, to facilitate unemployment benefits., for their constituents. We need to elect a candidate; that will hold ” blow the whistle”, and hold legislators to a high standard of conduct.
We need to elect Mr. Bartlett.