State, City & Town Employees Endorse Keith

In case you haven't noticed, the momentum in the 143rd district (Norwalk, Wilton, and Westport) has shifted firmly in Keith's direction!

Today, we announced that Keith, Democratic challenger for State Representative has been endorsed by Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME).

In endorsing Rodgerson, Sal Luciano, Executive Director of Council 4 said, “(Our) endorsement decisions are largely determined by the candidate’s experience and commitment to fighting for good jobs, a quality health care system, a secure retirement and protecting our constitutional rights.” He continued, “We will do everything we can to help elect candidates like you who are committed to fight for working families.”

Mr. Rodgerson is a Wilton Economic Development Commissioner and has worked on key economic development projects through federal and state regulators, public/private partnerships, developers and with local officials. “I am honored that our public servants have entrusted me with protecting stability in government during these tumultuous times. They are often the targets of ideological extremism. Those who have done real work over the long term here in Fairfield County in the community know that some of the hardest working Connecticut-boosters out there are those that work for our cities and towns.”   

Matthew Brokman, Legislative and Political Representative for Council 4, added, “Keith Rodgerson has served as a trusted advocate for our health and would be a welcome addition to the General Assembly.”

“Rep. Gail Lavielle’s legislative record has placed her completely out-of touch with the needs of her residents and the Connecticut economy. A former spokesperson for Walmart, Gail has put the demands of powerful special interest groups like NFIB over the interests of consumers and small businesses. She voted along party lines against the creation of the Connecticut Retirement Security Board. Keith has deep roots in Connecticut and will be a trusted advocate for working people in his district and throughout Connecticut. We are proud to support someone who clearly supports working families, not a right-wing corporate agenda.”

This endorsement adds to an already diverse amount of support for Rodgerson’s candidacy, from various constituencies including teachers, social workers, health care workers, public employees, and property services employees.

Keith Releases His Economic Development Platform

Wilton Economic Development Commissioner and State Representative candidate Keith Rodgerson released his long-awaited Economic Development Campaign Platform today. Rodgerson, who is running in the 143rd district (Wilton, Westport, and Norwalk), is the proprietor of a consultancy that provides technical and planning assistance to small business clusters and manufacturers. He is a former board member of the Community Capital Fund and has been active in many local, state and national organizations, including Congress for the New Urbanism, Coastal Fairfield County Consortium, and various environmental and land use planning consortiums. Rodgerson is also a certified Economic Development Finance Professional.    

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The 143rd district is in rapid transition. Development outcomes in the next two years will define our property tax rates, the level of public and private investment, our historic and physical character, and our quality of life for a generation. Westport is growing rapidly and struggling to keep its historic assets and neighborhood businesses like Sally’s Place and Max’s Art Supply solvent. Norwalk is seeing substantial private investment amidst a divided public, continued big box interest, and a strong need for historical preservation. Wilton is crumbling at its gateways, has substantial redevelopment and historic preservation needs, and faces an uncertain future for its car-dependent office parks sprawled outward from Danbury branch line terminals across an increasingly obsolescent Route 7. Wilton Center’s vacancy rate is particularly high and impacting both property tax rates and new investment. Route 7 and the Danbury line itself face an uncertain future. This uncertainty is anathema to investment.       

Our towns and cities are struggling with antiquated zoning codes manipulated by developers. We require plans of conservation and development but do not provide the resources to towns and cities alike to codify community desires in the law and take advantage of advances in zoning theory such as form-based codes. We need to make a down payment on our future in CT by funding zoning codes that embrace Transit Oriented Development (TOD) overlays around transit hubs to help towns and cities provide a maximally productive and risk-averse regulatory structure for private investment. State investment in train stations needs to be correlated with a community’s commitment to maximize overall economic production. We also need to expand new rail service into Georgetown and Wall Street, Norwalk.  

The future of Danbury line service needs to go beyond Norwalk-Danbury and suburban NYC commutation to servicing future intra-village transit between village buildouts stabilizing historic assets at Wilton Center, Cannondale, Branchville and a new proposed Georgetown Station at Gilbert-Bennett mill. We need to cultivate an environment that provides opportunity for the type of private investment that will create good jobs and make great places. We need to control development outcomes through regulatory measures and by training our elected and appointed representatives in modern land use planning and economic development finance. Our state needs to evolve forward into a tight pattern of vibrant villages, towns, neighborhood centers, and cities alongside robust rural agricultural production. We need walkable, beautiful places with mixed use retail and historic preservation. Electing an experienced representative that can build broad coalitions around the complexities of economic development policy will be critical in helping to secure a vibrant future for Wilton, Westport, and Norwalk.    

We need to think beyond transit. It is difficult to move goods, services and information in Connecticut. This creates a huge “tax” on our businesses. We need not just a safe, reliable and economical commuter rail system but also freight rail and a competitive data infrastructure.  I propose the following:  

-Create a statewide IT plan so that we can expand the financial sector and house large property-tax paying data centers.  

-Establish regionalized brownfield, housing and economic development revolving loan funds and economic development corporations and authorities through funding, regulatory incentives, capacity, and capital markets so that towns and small cities can assemble development sites, maximize private investment, attract and retain companies, and redevelop.      

-Allow small geographies to focus their tax revenue on market failure in order to create opportunities for private investment. We must simplify TIF and SSD regulations and provide programmatic economic analysis and community development assistance to potential SSDs and TIFs to help business communities make these decisions.    

-Modify 8-30g to treble credits within 1500 feet of transit and orient around TODs. Remove disincentives on tax-positive studio plus development and senior housing. Add incentives for artist housing. Allow towns to meet new 8-30g regulations by adopting new zoning codes that address housing concerns under modified guidelines with build-out analyses and set-asides.  

-Support continued investment in creative placemaking programs. Every dollar invested in culture and tourism generates 2-3 dollars in direct tax revenue.  

-Curb the influence of special interest groups catering to large, out-of-state corporations like ALEC and NFIB and support the agendas of credible small business and manufacturer organizations like the Connecticut Small Brands Council.   

-Cut regulations in targeted new economy manufacturing and high-tax yield developments. There is marked interest in Connecticut in the fields of data centers, whiskey and beer production, mid-scale artisanal manufacturing. Let’s get the state out of the way of key sector growth and competitiveness without harming consumer protections.           

Housing finance is critical to village-building, neighborhood stabilization and economic growth. 10% of Connecticut jobs are currently filled by New York residents, which costs the state over $870 million in lost revenue. We must place-make, village and hamlet-build, and provide lifecycle housing if we are to succeed in lowering property taxes, build opportunities for private investment, and function as a sustainable society.

The physical shape and character of our towns and city will undergo great change in the next two years. The ability of our residents to digest ever-increasing property taxes tied in to basic infrastructure improvements is in question. Wilton has dozens of acres of property in town whose futures are uncertain, especially around the Branchville, Wilton and Cannondale train stations. Many historic assets are at risk. The 44 Westport Road debacle is a key example of our legislators inability to influence 8-30g. We have to allow the market to meet our demand for historic preservation, tax positive growth, commercial tax base expansion and allow housing for our seniors, young professionals and artists that respects our rural character. We must do this through focused public investment, careful regulatory reform, respect for plans of conservation and development, and the reconfiguration of programs, resources and regulations so that capacity-short towns can help grow the economy with like tools as our largest cities.    

Example of traditional neighborhood 

development, Salzburg, Austria

Here's a photo of Salzburg, Austria, where their local government has taken steps to protect their heritage while welcoming economic growth around pedestrian orientation. By doing this, they have even softened the inevitable incursion by a well known fast food chain (can you see the “golden arches”?).

8-30g will take a broad coalition to modify and modernize. We must elect representatives capable of building coalitions around legislation and that have the experience necessary to secure a bright future for our history, economy, residents and businesses alike.   

     

Himes Endorses Rodgerson

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) today endorsed Keith Rodgerson for Connecticut’s 143rd state House district, which includes portions of Wilton, Norwalk and Westport.

"Keith Rodgerson has been an outstanding advocate for the issues that matter most to Fairfield County and I am proud to endorse him for State Representative,” Himes said. “Keith has a proven commitment to public service and a deep knowledge of the economic development and transportation issues that are critical to our region's prosperity. He has the experience, leadership and independent approach we need in Hartford.”

Rodgerson said, “I’m honored to receive Congressman Himes’ endorsement. I look forward continuing to work constructively in Fairfield County with Jim to help solve our transit woes, grow our economy, and keep in place common sense laws that protect our children.”

“I’m running because our elected officials need to put local interests first, and as a life-long resident of Southwestern Connecticut, I will do just that.”

Rodgerson is a Wilton Economic Development Commissioner and certified economic development finance professional. He is the director of the Neighborhood District Economic Development Corporation, a technical assistance and planning consultancy to small business clusters and manufacturers.      

Rodgerson has been active in many local, state and national organizations, including the National Development Council, the Community Capital Fund, and the Coastal Fairfield County Consortium. He resides with his wife and son in the Georgetown section of Wilton.

Himes’ endorsement of Commissioner Rodgerson’s comes on the heels of recent endorsements by Fairfield County’s teachers, mental health professionals, and first responders. 

Keith Endorsed By SEIU

Support just keeps on coming in for Keith's run for the State House in the 143rd district. His latest endorsement comes from one of the state’s largest labor unions with 65,000 members, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 

 Paul Filson, SEIU Director stated, “Rep. Gail Lavielle’s activism on behalf of WalMart as their former spokesperson was noted nationally for its aggressive tone towards small businesses. Her legislative enthusiasm for model legislation from ALEC, NFIB and other Koch-affiliated organizations has placed her completely out-of touch with the needs of her residents and the Connecticut economy. Rodgerson has deep roots in Connecticut and will be a trusted advocate for its residents and businesses.”   

In accepting the SEIU’s endorsement, Rodgerson, a Wilton Economic Development Commissioner and Economic Development Finance Professional, said, “I am humbled by this endorsement and do not take lightly the importance of our service and healthcare workers. They are on the front lines against the spread of ebola, school safety, and play a critical role in the care of our seniors,”

Filson also added, “Rodgerson knows firsthand how to create good jobs here in Connecticut so that workers can support their families, young people can get a good start in life, and everyone can have a shot at the American dream. Keith is a fourth generation Connecticut resident who knows that health care, elder care and other vital services in this state must be available for all our families.”

This endorsement adds to an already diverse amount of support for Rodgerson’s candidacy, from various constituencies including teachers, social workers, health care workers, public employees, and property services employees. Rodgerson addressed this, saying, “It is very gratifying to get support from so many different areas of our economy. This illustrates why I’m running for office in the first place: in her four years in Hartford, our current representative hasn’t been as successful as she says she’s been. When you introduce over 100 bills to the General Assembly and have none pass in four years, that results in a liability for our district. As somebody who would come to Hartford with a fresh perspective, I can be a better advocate for Norwalk, Westport, and Wilton.”

First Responders Endorse Keith

The Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) have endorsed Democratic candidate Keith Rodgerson in his run for State Representative in the 143rd District, which encompasses Norwalk, Westport, and Wilton.

“This action is taken after careful consideration of your support for professional firefighters of the State of Connecticut and your commitment to helping to insure the health and safety of our brothers and sisters throughout the state,” stated Peter S. Cardozza, Jr., President of UPFFA, in a press release. “We are proud of our association with you and look forward to our continuing partnership.”

Rodgerson thanked the UPFFA for their support in this upcoming election. “Public safety is of great importance to me. I am thankful for this validation from all our first responders. I come from a family of Connecticut policemen and firemen. We must always ensure that those who protect us in our greatest time of need are given the support they need. They put their safety on the line for us every day, so we must always look out for them in these uncertain and challenging times.”

The UPFFA represents 60 affiliated local unions in Connecticut, comprising about 4,200 members, including Norwalk Local 830, Westport Local 1081, and Wilton Local 2233.

This endorsement follows on the heels of numerous other endorsements from a varied amount of supporters, including teachers, social workers, health care workers, public employees, and property services employees.

Keith Gains Key Mental Health Endorsement

Keith garnered yet another key endorsement recently, this time from the National Association of Social Workers Connecticut Chapter (NASW-CT).

Rodgerson thanked NASW-CT for their endorsement, saying "I am honored to be recognized by the NASW-CT. Social workers are on the front lines of so many of mental health issues that, as the tragedy in Sandy Hook showed us, have been ignored for way too long. Once I get to Hartford, I will work incredibly hard in making sure that we stop sweeping these issues under the carpet and actually do something to address them." 

NASW-CT represents more than 3000 members statewide and "...are committed to social policies that enhance quality of life of the residents of Connecticut.  The NASW-CT is actively involved in workforce development issues, which we will be placing a focus on in the upcoming legislative session."

Rodgerson said that many of these priorities are very much in alignment with what he is already running behind, such as supporting the minimum wage increase, advocating for retirement security for our seniors, as well as the expansion of school based health centers and mental health care. Rogerson's opponent, Rep. Gail Lavielle voted against increases to the minimum wage, and also voted against the creation of the CT Retirement Security Board. Stephen Karp, Executive Director of NASW-CT said "Keith Rodgerson is a trusted voice for social justice in Connecticut. Sending him to Hartford will ensure that outstanding mental health issues will finally be addressed in a bi-partisan manner once and for all."

Dems Criticize Key Koch Endorsement for Rep. Lavielle

The Democratic Town Committee of Wilton has criticized the endorsement of Rep. Gail Lavielle by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).

NFIB is a member of ALEC, a controversial right-wing lobbying organization, and states a purpose of "small business advocacy" and "non-partisanship." Supporters of NFIB include Koch Bros PAC Freedom Partners ($1.5MIL donation) and Karl Rove's PAC Crossroads GPS ($5.1MIL donation).  In the 2012 election cycle, it gave $670,543 to Republican candidates and $11,000 to Democratic candidates, a 98 percent to 2 percent split. Its 25 members in Congress, all Republican, include many tea party-affiliates such controversial figures as Rand Paul, Jeff Duncan, Paul Gosar and Kristi Noem.

Tom Dec, Chairman of the Wilton Democrats, criticized Lavielle's support of NFIB-penned legislation, citing NFIB and Lavielle’s lobbying efforts against the minimum wage increase, environmental regulations, and paid sick leave. NFIB is also a strong supporter of right-to-work legislation and the restriction of collective bargaining rights. Rep. Lavielle introduced HB5789 in 2011 and HB5093 in 2013, both attempts to curtail collective bargaining. Dec also noted that Rep. Lavielle voted for HB5431 which would have eliminated certain pollution fines for businesses.

Dec cited national surveys of small business owners showing that most of them support key provisions of healthcare reform, ending special tax breaks for the wealthy, protecting clean air, and believe in promoting workplace safety. “All of these issues are squarely opposite of what NFIB has been fighting for in the CT General Assembly with Rep. Lavielle's help.”

“As an alternative to out of state groups attempting to influence our local affairs, Keith Rodgerson will be an independent voice for Connecticut, putting everyday people in front of partisan politics.” Said Dec, "Keith knows that our economy is built from the bottom up and understands the critical importance of supporting business growth here in Connecticut. He will be a trusted advocate for our local economies in the State Assembly."

Keith's Views on Seniors Rights

Rodgerson Announces Seniors Rights Platform

Wilton, CT -- Keith Rodgerson, Democratic candidate for the General Assembly (CT-143rd) has been scouring the district, discussing issues that are of importance to seniors.

“I’ve watched two generations of my Connecticut grandparents struggle with their small businesses, housing, healthcare, and retirement challenges. There are pervasive forces at work in the Connecticut legislature that seek to degrade our quality of life and that threaten senior access to housing, medication, retirement and health care,” Rodgerson stated. “We need a representative who can provide real relief for our seniors in Hartford.”  

Rodgerson also cited the negative impact of special interest groups and regressive social agendas on the livelihoods of our senior population. “Senator Boucher and State Rep Lavielle have intervened on behalf of special interests in-between medical decisions of doctors and senior patients. Our legislators must allow doctors and seniors to chart the best course for access to medication for glaucoma, arthritis and cancer treatment. We cannot allow our legislators to upend the needs of seniors due to the needs of pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists. Our greatest generation deserves better than that.”    

One topic that has come up over and over was the importance of retirement security. “The Connecticut GOP has near-universally panned the Public Retirement Plan as currently being designed by the Connecticut Retirement Security Board. Our legislators must support this program which provides for a guaranteed rate of return, low administrative fees, be universally available, and cannot cause a liability on either the state or employers.”  Rodgerson is committed to supporting the legislative stabilization of retirement in Connecticut in 2015.  “We also cannot have legislators who are against the transit-oriented housing densities our seniors need.”       

Another issue that resonates in the district is estate tax reform.  Said Rodgerson, “We need to build a coalition around this issue. It has been unreasonable for Rep. Lavielle to call for its failed repeal four years in a row. We need to find common ground so that families can transfer wealth to successive generations of Connecticut residents for college education, charitable contributions, job creation and the sustainability of our robust Connecticut economy.”

Dave Ryan, Communications Director for the Rodgerson campaign added, “Our representatives should not serve special interest groups like the Koch-funded National Federation of Independent Businesses. They must focus on real results instead of extremist ideological pandering.  Proposing a complete repeal of the estate tax exacerbates the already deep tensons between both parties.  We need bipartisan cooperation and bridge-building for a functional senior agenda in 2015.”

Rodgerson is looking forward to the next debate against Rep. Lavielle, which will be Wednesday night (Oct 8), 7PM at Westport Town Hall. More information about this can be found on www.Keith2014.org.

Connecticut Educators Endorse Rodgerson for State Representative

Following the release of Keith's education platform, this week has brought more exciting news, as the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut (AFT) have given their endorsement to Keith for the November 4th General Assembly election.

Melodie Peters, CT President of the AFT, said that Rodgerson received AFT's endorsement due to "(his) commitment to working families." Continuing, she added that "this election is very important to the people of Connecticut. We need strong leadership that will help turn this State around and your election is a critical part of this."

Rodgerson thanked the AFT for their endorsement, saying "I am humbled by their trust in me. These are challenging times in education. Once I get to Hartford, I will work very hard in making sure that our educational priorities continue to move forward."

The AFT endorsement follows the release of Rodgerson's education platform last week. Highlights of the platform include supporting increases to public school Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funding, universal Pre-K, and the expansion of the UConn system, items that current Rep. Lavielle stood against in the 2014 General Assembly session. Other parts of the platform include strengthening STEM in the high schools, trade programs, private partnerships, and connections to institutions of higher learning.  

AFT Connecticut represents more than 29,000 workers in the public and private sectors. Their membership includes teachers, school related personnel including paraprofessionals, state employees, healthcare workers, and higher education faculty and staff.

Lavielle Denied Gun Safety Endorsement

In case you missed it, here's another reason we should elect Keith Rodgerson to the General Assembly in November.

CT Voters for Gun Safety, a statewide independent organization that supports strong Connecticut gun laws, has decided not to endorse State Representative Gail Lavielle for the November 4th General Assembly election.

“The gun safety coalition made a deliberate decision not to endorse Ms. Lavielle - and for good reason. You cannot spend years supporting gun interests and expect it to go unnoticed. Ms. Lavielle’s advocacy on behalf of the nation’s largest assault weapons seller and engagement with the Stand your Ground lobby and Koch-funded entities like ALEC has clearly had an impact on their decision, not to mention her pro-gun rating by the NRA two years ago. It’s time for a change,” said Wilton Democratic Town Chair Thomas Dec.

Ms. Lavielle’s defends the right to own high capacity magazines and called the landmark Sandy Hook guns laws “not a solution,”  She had earlier criticized the 2011 community push against high capacity magazines which earned her a “pro gun” rating by the NRA in 2012.          

Her opponent, neighborhood developer Keith Rodgerson of Wilton, applauded the decision to withhold an endorsement.  “As a lifelong Connecticut resident, father of a young child, and professional who has worked in neighborhoods marked by gun violence, I worry everyday about the impact that assault weapons continue to have on our society.  I will be a champion in the state legislature for responsible gun control.”

 

CT Voters for Gun Safety was joined in making its endorsements by a coalition of state groups including the CT Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, The Enough Campaign, The Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence, March For Change, Newtown Action Alliance, The Northwest Corner Committee for Gun Violence Prevention, and Women on Watch.

Endorsement decisions included consideration of prior voting records; responses to a candidate questionnaire; statements made to the press; comments at public hearings; comments and responses to ideas presented at private meetings; and actions and comments in prior and current positions held.

Keith's Education Platform

Last week, Keith Rodgerson, candidate for State Representative in Wilton, Norwalk and Westport, released his education platform. Here's what he had to say in the press release:

“I am the product of the Redding educational system and I value the education I received. I returned with my family from New Haven to Fairfield County so that my 4-year-old child could have the same opportunity. Unfortunately, I share the worry of many other parents in this region that these opportunities are at risk.  I pledge to bring my energy and commitment to the community to leverage additional state funds for education and building maintenance/construction in Wilton, Norwalk and Westport.  As a parent I cannot allow my child’s education to become a political football in Hartford.”            

“I support the increases to public school Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funding, universal Pre-K, and the expansion of the UConn system that my opponent stood against in 2014,” stated Rodgerson. “Additionally, we need to strengthen STEM in the high schools, trade programs, private partnerships, and connections to institutions of higher learning.”    

Rodgerson noted that equal access to this education is key.  “Our legislators must support legislation that prohibits LGBT discrimination in public schools and school activities.  Rep. Gail Lavielle has voted against such measures.  Our legislators must never legitimize bigotry and bullying.  I will use this office to share my vision for acceptance and diversity in our society.” 

Rodgerson supports the elimination of all participation fees for students. “Extracurricular athletics and clubs are part of a well-rounded education and all children should be allowed the opportunity to participate no matter what their financial circumstances.” Rodgerson criticized his opponent’s unwillingness to give waivers to families regarding athletic fees as a Wilton Board of Finance member. “Residents need legislators who unequivocally support a child’s right to learn, grow, and be a part of the community regardless of their family’s financial or social status.”

Rodgerson highlighted the importance of transparency and the need to curtail lobbyist influence. “Some of our representatives in Connecticut have chosen to vote on education reform legislation behind closed doors on our behalf with industry groups like ALEC that funded Common Core. I support open government and a parent-teacher focused learning system.” Rodgerson noted the growing influence of industry and special interest lobbyists on New England education: “We need to continue to scale back the rollout of Common Core and let teachers teach and students learn. ‘Teaching to the test’ instead of teaching to the student is not an option. The path to addressing the nation’s widest education gap is not through mandating burdensome reporting and curricular changes. Teachers and parents need empowerment in structuring children’s education, not ALEC.”     

Rodgerson also cited activism by organizations such as the Family Institute of Connecticut in this election cycle. “It is critical to our children’s well-being that our legislators draw distance from socially regressive forces advocating for bigotry and intolerance.  They are supporting the GOP candidate for governor and seek to undermine time-tested and critical family-life programs.”  

Rodgerson also cited the need for anti-smoking education and prevention: “We cannot underestimate the lasting effect of smoking industry disinformation upon successive generations of Connecticuters. We must continue to be vigilant with our children in anti-smoking education and prevention.”  According to the CDC, 6.7% of middle schoolers currently use tobacco products, and if smoking persists at the current rate among youth in this country, 5.6 million of today’s Americans younger than 18 years of age are projected to die prematurely from a smoking-related illness.  

Rodgerson, a former employee in Easton public schools and noted economic development finance professional, also cited the need to modernize building regulations and to change funding ratios for school construction and rehabilitation. “Towns and cities have a need for greater flexibility regarding the compactness of sites and design. We need to mitigate the tax base impact of new school construction and expansion. Current ratios for school construction are leading to unsustainable local property tax increases. They create a preference for rehabilitation where new construction may be more economically and environmentally sustainable over the long term.”  Rodgerson voiced his full support for the Miller Driscoll Renovation project and hopes his opponent will do the same.  “All of Connecticut’s children deserve modern, functional, and safe educational facilities.”

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