By Meredith Crawford, Courier Associate
Editor:
Republican Veronica
H. Kivela is challenging incumbent State Rep. Steve Fontana (D) for the 87th
District seat at the polls on Nov. 4. Kivela is an active member of the
Community Watchdog Project.
Self-described
community activist Veronica H. Kivela (R) is seeking election to the state
House of Representatives in the 87th District. Kivela hopes to unseat six-term
incumbent State Rep. Steve Fontana (D), whom she believes has poorly
represented his constituents’ concerns in Hartford.
Prior to retiring
six years ago, Kivela enjoyed a career working in various offices and
eventually became a small-business owner. She has never sought political
office, but she says that her dedication to public service runs deep.
“I’ve always been
interested in politics ever since I was a small child,” said Kivela, who,
according to her campaign website was active in the anti-busing movement in the
late ’60s.
Kivela’s political
engagement grew when she encountered the Community Watchdog Project, a
grassroots campaign dedicated to fighting and uncovering “the corruption
surrounding illegal immigration.”
The hallmarks of
Kivela’s campaign include pushing for less government intervention and reining
in state spending to drive down the deficit without increasing taxes. Kivela
said she’s also concerned by the lack of funds North Haven
receives from the state, particularly for education. She said Fontana has disappointed taxpayers on
virtually every issue.
“Representative
Fontana describes himself as a progressive; in my definition, I would say he’s
a socialist,” said Kivela. “He’s leading our town on a path toward complete
dependence on [centralized] government…Politicians like Mr. Fontana who
advocate expanding the role of government, what he’s really saying is we’re
going to spend more…This is not going to be acceptable to the North Haven
citizens this election…They are taxed and taxed and taxed and they are sick of
it…[Fontana’s] a tax-and-spend Democrat.
“That’s what
[constituents] are telling me…and Mr. Fontana is not listening to it. He
explains it away by saying he’s [brought in 81 percent more in state aid for
education], but 81 percent of almost nothing is almost nothing…The balance is
paid for by the property owners through their taxes,” continued Kivela.
“The bottom line is
we do not get very much money in return considering the amount of money we are
paying in taxes…The formula by which our [Education Cost Sharing grant]
allotment is determined is complicated and unfair…[Fontana’s] position is if
you get money for our town, you have to take it away from another…I’m concerned
with North Haven…The seniors are barely making” and neither are the couples or
single individuals, Kivela said.
Kivela’s plan to
retain young people and combat the notorious “brain drain” plaguing Connecticut also differs markedly from Fontana’s.
Kivela calls for
“Fewer government interventions in [young peoples’] lives so they can keep
their own money to spend as they wish. I propose getting the government out of
their business and leaving them alone. Stop with the social engineering
programs. Stop with the constant drumbeat of [government]
expansion…particularly with healthcare…[Fontana’s
plan for healthcare reform] is a very scary proposition…What he is proposing is
socialized medicine. It has never worked in any other country and it won’t work
here.”
Kivela maintains
that her life experience, in addition to her platform, better prepare her for
political office than her opponent.
“I absolutely do
have more experience…I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother…I am talking to
people very day…and I empathize with them. Mr. Fontana is at a point in his
life where he is single–no wife, no children–he cannot understand what
[families] are going through…He can pay lip service, but he has no idea how to
raise children and how to do it properly in this economy,” Kivela concluded.
For more information
on Veronica Kivela and upcoming campaign events, visit www.voteveronica.com.