STEVE WEIR
CT State Senate 19th District
Let’s work together to help CT reach its potential.
Steve's Vision
CT STATE SENATE 19TH DISTRICT
NORWICH
MARLBOROUGH
HEBRON
COLUMBIA
LEBANON
FRANKLIN
SPRAGUE
LEDYARD
LISBON
MONTVILLE
People above Politics
For years, politicians in Hartford have not listened to the citizens of Connecticut. Steve will listen and respond to the needs of the 19th district, always putting people above politics. Connecticut has been on a path of irresponsible taxation and spending for decades. Compared with other flourishing parts of the country, Connecticut’s cost of living is high and income and property taxes continue to rise, while working wages have not kept up and property values in Eastern Connecticut have declined. All of these factors have left Connecticut lagging far behind the rest of the country in many important economic categories, hurting our families, business and communities. Steve is a self-made businessman who has created jobs for hundreds of Connecticut families. Through his passion, integrity and hard work, he continues to expand and grow. As State Senator, Steve will focus on legislation that reduces regulation, lowers taxes and creates opportunities for job growth.
The Issues
Budget/Spending
Year after year, the hardworking people of Connecticut have been shortchanged by the bad budgets coming out of Hartford. With state spending increasingly left unchecked, the residents of the 19th District continue to be crippled by rising taxes with meager returns to justify them. This irresponsible budgeting has damaged Connecticut’s economy immensely. It is enabled by the unresponsive politicians who surreptitiously pass them without considering the impact on their constituents, causing declining trust in leadership.
A State Senator’s job is to exercise the will of the people they represent, and Steve will do this by restoring integrity and honesty to the office. As a fiscal conservative, Steve will reject budgetary measures that hamper economic growth and unfairly burden the people he’s representing. Moreover, as a fresh voice, Steve fully understands the frustration felt by private citizens who feel like they’re not being listened to, and Steve is committed to making himself accessible and his decisions transparent when in office.
Steve will support the municipalities and their local rule. As State Senator, Steve will provide clear and open communication during the municipal budget season, so that the towns can adequately prepare for state municipal funding. Steve will fight against the forced regionalization of schools and/or town services. The towns/cities have and will continue to pursue regional cost savings measures on their own accord. In addition, Steve will fight against the proposal to divert the teachers pension payments down to the municipalities.
Education
Steve believes every child deserves equal opportunity to receive an excellent education. As the son of a school teacher, Steve believes teachers deserve support in delivering this education. Our school systems in the 19th district vary in scope, size and structure, Steve will advocate for policies that enable these schools and towns to deliver the services required, at a cost taxpayers can afford. This will require more adaptive cooperation between the local and state government.
Virtual and online teaching/learning was thrust upon families, school districts, students and teachers to address the COVID 19 pandemic. However, Steve believes that this is an opportunity to examine lessons learned and best practices. Even through the darkest times, we can improve, adapt and gain insight on the future of learning. Steve will promote discussion of:
- Expanding curriculum at all levels of education to broaden students accessibility in language, art, science and technology classes.
- Exploring opportunities to learn/teach on snow days, eliminating “make-up” days.
- Decreasing the cost of higher education using on-line learning as a component of the students’ curriculum.
Steve strongly supports technical education that will train the students for the jobs that are emerging in our manufacturing and engineering sectors – being a strong advocate for education towards 21st century careers.
Safety
Steve believes our society should be a place of law and order. We should be able to expect to be safe and secure in our homes, our places of work, and anywhere else we travel. As a former police officer, Steve believes that Connecticut citizens should be free to exercise their 2nd amendment rights, under protection of the Constitution. Steve is in support of legal and responsible gun ownership, and opposes any legislation that further infringes upon those rights.
Get Connecticut Back to Work
Following a long period of declining job opportunities, the COVID-19 health crisis has caused a rapid spike in unemployment that will devastate Connecticut’s economy if left unchecked. The politicians in Hartford will be faced with the difficult task of getting Connecticut back on its feet, however, the legislators in power should not be the same ones who have already failed us. As a small business owner, Steve can personally relate to the struggles confronting employers and employees alike. His professional experiences endow him with the understanding to make fiscally responsible policy decisions to get Connecticut back to work, and even better than before.
The 19th District has unlimited potential in need of unleashing. Steve is committed to doing this by:
- Working with the administration to ensure small business’ needs are met in current and future stimulus packages.
- Making Eastern Connecticut a more attractive place to do business by working to create more job opportunities in-district.
- Protecting the district’s agricultural industry, by making sure our farms and farmers have all the tools they need to succeed, grow, and thrive.
- Strengthening the pipeline of education to jobs, through coordination between the district’s community/technical schools and the manufacturing sector.
- Working with our state’s two casinos, both located in the 19th State Senate district, to ensure they continue to employ thousands of residents and strengthen our local economy.
About Steve
Steve has chosen to live, work and raise his family in Connecticut. He believes in Connecticut’s opportunity and promise. He is grounded by family, has hard working values and will protect and defend the rights of your families as well.
Steve was born and raised in Connecticut, and currently resides in Hebron with his wife, Allegra and their three daughters. As an Eagle Scout – he lives by Scout motto: “Be prepared”.
Steve’s deep ties to the community include:
- CEO and Founder of American Restoration Integrity
- Former police officer
- Hebron Zoning Board of Appeals, Elected member
- CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chair-Elect
- CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Business Person of the Year (2011)
- Connecticut Apartment Association, Board Member
- The UCONN Club, Board Member
- Gilead Congregational Church, Former Chair- Board of Trustees, Guest Preacher
- Volunteer and activist for local charities including recent mission to Virginia with the Appalachian Service Project
About The Connecticut Republican Party
