CT Patch Candidate Profile: Alexis Harrison For State Rep

FAIRFIELD, CT — Election Day is fast-approaching on Nov. 5, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Fairfield.

To help educate readers about the state's election, Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns, and about the issues that are facing the town and state.

Candidate’s Name: Alexis Harrison

What office are you seeking? State Representative

District: 132nd House District

Campaign website

What city or town do you live in? Fairfield, CT

Party affiliation: Republican/Independent

Education: Bachelor of Science, Political Science

Occupation: Corporate Communications Leader

Family: Three generations of my family are currently living in Fairfield - from senior citizens to working professionals, and school-aged children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Town Plan & Zoning Commission (current member); Board of Assessment Appeals, Fairfield RTM & FairTV Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for state representative because I believe in the power and positive impact of public service to help others and to improve the lives of our residents. I’ve held office as a citizen volunteer for several years – first running for the Fairfield RTM when I was 26 years-old because I wanted to ensure that young residents had a voice in our community. I’ve also been an advocate for our environment and local land-use policy as a member of Fairfielders Protecting Land and Neighborhoods. In 2020, I co-founded a statewide advocacy group called CT169Strong, which is focused on retaining local zoning control and finding policies to mitigate our affordability crisis. For four years, we have helped defeat harmful bills that have been backed by powerful developer special interest groups who have millions of dollars at their disposal and the ear of the majority party. During my work with CT169Strong, I learned that our legislators don’t always advocate for our towns and will vote for top-down housing policies that will end public hearings and call for more dense development despite infrastructure and environmental constraints. I believe more nuanced and hyperlocal approaches are needed to help create a variety of housing, affordability in Connecticut and to ensure our residents can stay in our State.

As a candidate who is endorsed by the Independent Party of Connecticut, I take the commitment of independence seriously and will bring that with me to Hartford if I am elected. I believe in the power of collaboration, listening and learning from others and finding common-sense and workable solutions. I am not a party pleaser. I will always support better public participation in all phases of the legislative process as well as ‘legislative due diligence’ to understand real world impacts before voting on new bills. The legislative process is too often concluded without enough consideration of the downside - the unanticipated negative impacts and I believe in a “do no harm” approach.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

Connecticut is more expensive than ever – from having the third highest electric rates in the U.S., second highest local property taxes, to stagnant wages and higher costs for goods - businesses, families and senior citizens are being priced out of our State. Our local businesses are the drivers of our economy yet our government is not letting them thrive. Between 2016 and 2021, the state legislature enacted 28 new workplace mandates on even the smallest of businesses and employers. We have to stop the vicious cycle of taxing and putting junk fees on the backs of consumers and be good stewards of our money.

Gov. Lamont has remarked that Connecticut’s high energy costs prevent other corporations from relocating their businesses and investing in our State (Hartford Courant, Sept. 23). We have seen pass throughs costs on energy initiatives like installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (that should have been funded by revenues from those using the installed EV Charging stations), and a four-year moratorium extension on energy bill shut-offs (that should have been reimbursed from federal COVID funding to Connecticut) instead of passed through directly onto residents' electric bills.

We are seeing energy policy initiatives passed by our lawmakers without understanding of the economic impacts on affordability in the State, and rather than balancing the State budget for such initiatives, and residents are forced to pay for these policies. There is a lack of collaborative strategic planning and adequate infrastructure investment to expand our clean energy capacity needs in a sustainable and more importantly, in an affordable way. Our electric bills are a symptom of a far greater problem in Connecticut: checks and balances are solely needed to address all that is negatively impacting our economy and affordability for our residents and businesses. It doesn't have to be this way.

The 132nd district needs a representative who is willing to work to eliminate hidden taxes, bring down the high cost of living, and conducting business in Connecticut.

There have been an alarming number of deaths on Connecticut's roadways. Is there anything from a legislative standpoint that can be done to address that?

From street takeovers to wrong-way driving accidents, and more, we need to focus on making our roads safer, more efficient, equitable and less congested. I-95 is still the most congested highway in America, and Metro-North’s service is frustrating, unreliable and slow. I am committed to making our roads safer for workers, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. While combating driving drunk is still a major issue, we also need to be addressing the impacts of driving while under the influence of drugs and driving while distracted.

I’m committed to making our roads safer by investing in infrastructure upgrades, such as redesigning dangerous intersections and looking at ways we can implement smart traffic-calming measures. We also need to ensure that state grants are used to fix these critical issues in Fairfield and Southport.

As a State Representative, I will also work to implement recommendations and policies from Vision Zero Council, an interagency work group tasked with developing statewide policy to eliminate transportation-related fatalities. I also pledge to have on-going local discussions with police and fire personnel, zoning officials, the Board of Selectmen, the Fairfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee, residents and other key stakeholders to listen and learn how we can improve our local roadways and streets for all.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My north star is seeking collaboration with others to make sound decisions to improve our community, and listening and learning from experts, residents and even people you may disagree you – because they may offer a new idea or approach – and may help shape policy in a better way. I also do not believe in taking credit for work as I know creating change and policy is a team sport

My work through CT169Strong distinguishes me as a true advocate for local control of our zoning and solutions to make Connecticut more affordable, and to make workable reforms to existing laws so they work for everyone. I have established relationships with members of the legislature and residents throughout our community.

Additionally, I have been testifying in Hartford for years on a range of important issues including extreme new zoning bills, 8-30g reform and maintaining historic districts and design. My commitment to Fairfield has been very strong – during COVID-19, myself and two other residents started weekly food drives to help our needy residents and I continue to support and work with agencies like Operation Hope to help lift others up.

I will always support better public participation in all phases of the legislative process as well as ‘legislative due diligence’ to understand real world impacts before voting on new bills. The legislative process is too often concluded without enough consideration of the downside - the unanticipated negative impacts and I believe in a “do no harm” approach.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For over 20 years, I have worked as an advocate for our community, and I've always been unafraid to challenge decisions that could be harmful to our town.

As a younger member of the RTM, back in 2008, I joined a group of "Concerned Citizens" composed of Fairfield residents of all ages and political backgrounds to challenge a decision to remove the Conservation Director from all environmental oversight on the Fairfield Metro Center project which abutted Ash Creek. At the time, our stance was unpopular as the Town was eager to build the train station, but we persisted in doing what was right to protect the environment. After further probing, it was discovered the project also had cost overruns and other issues.

I also believe that public officials best do their jobs when there is an engaged public and they are aware of how they can get involved and have a voice. In 2022, I started a bi-monthly newsletter on zoning and land-use to educate the public on these important issues and I believe this has made the public better informed and better participants in the democratic process.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a dedicated worker with a proven record of bi-partisan collaboration to achieve positive results for our community. I have been cross-endorsed by the Republican and Independent parties, and believe in the power of ideas and progress, not politics or taking credit.