Senator Lesser Endorsed Unanimously for Second Term

From the archives

Submitted by Matt Lesser.
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Senator Matt Lesser was unanimously endorsed in a convention Tuesday evening to run for a second term in the State Senate.

57 Democratic delegates, representing all five towns of the 9th Senate District, met virtually to endorse a candidate.

The nomination motion was made by Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim. Other delegates included retiring Wethersfield State Rep. Russ Morin and former Newington State Rep. Sandy Nafis.

“The elephant in the room is the COVID-19 pandemic. The past two months have been the most difficult we have ever experienced. It’s a public health crisis - and an economic disaster. My first, second and third goal is doing everything we can to support families and essential workers, hospitals and small businesses weather this storm.”

In accepting the nomination, Lesser cited his record and pledged to keep putting the district first. “We’ve been able to increase funding each year for each town in the district - the first time that’s happened in a long time. That means more funding for schools and services and it means reducing our reliance on property taxes. We were able to completely eliminate taxes on Social Security for most recipients. We’ve saved open space on Cedar Mountain in Newington, rehabbed the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry and honored our veterans in Middletown.”

Lesser, who serves as Chair of the Insurance Committee, committed himself to continue to work on his top priority: health care reform. “As a cancer survivor, I know how important it is to make sure that prescription drug costs, high deductibles and high premiums don’t stop anybody from getting the health care they need. In the past year, Lesser has passed laws helping kids with allergies access epipens, passed mental health parity to give people with addictions and mental health needs the same health care as everyone else, and eliminated copays and deductibles for breast ultrasounds.

He is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 1, which will cap the cost of insulin at $50 and diabetic supplies at $100 - saving diabetics thousands of dollars. “In the richest state in the richest country on earth, nobody should die because they can’t afford insulin or other life savings prescriptions. Not now, not any more.”

The 9th Senate District includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Newington, part of Middletown and part of Wethersfield. Lesser lives in Middletown with his wife Sarah, an attorney. Prior to his service in the State Senate, Lesser served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.