Republicans Endorse Ledyard Town Councilor To Represent 42nd District

Gales Ferry resident Mike France announced that he has received the Republican endorsement for State Representative in the 42nd District Tuesday and his primary focus will be getting the state's fiscal house back in order.

"The biggest thing that we need that will help all three towns is to get the state's financial house back in order," he said of the 42nd District which includes Montville and Preston and most of Ledayrd.

in November and serves as the chair of the Finance Committee, which managed to that recommended a .28 increase in the tax rate down to a .

"You're seeing parents watch their children grow up and go to school and not be able to move back here," he said. "We have to change that trend. The state can't afford that; the residents in this town can't afford to do that."

France has joined Republicans across the state who are committed to a common sense approach to state spending.

France said, "be fiscally responsible and don't spend more than you earn and don't borrow more than you can afford to pay," for example. He said the state is borrowing money to cover current expenses but the state should change direction and only take out loans to pay for big projects like infrastructure, for example, which are investments that can be paid for over time.

"We need to change the direction and that's my goal going up to Hartford," he said. "Don't spend more than you have and don't borrow more than you can afford to pay."

France has joined the Republican-based group named Common Sense Commitment to Connecticut which is guided by five principals:

• Spend no more than you have,
• Borrow no more than you can afford to pay back,
• If it's not broken, don't fix it; but if it's not working, get rid of it,
• The more government tries to do, the less it does well, and
• We should have all the government we need, but only the government we need.

"It's not easy," he said of balancing the state's budget. "But it can be done when you come into a discussion with a principled position to live within your means."

France is taking the place of Republican-nominee Fran Lowell, a Gales Ferry resident, who withdrew from the race, and will be running against . Both candidates hope to fill in November.

9 upon the retirement of Edith Prague, D-Columbia in November. Cathy Osten, the First Selectman for Sprague, is also running for the senate seat.

France's first fundraiser will be held Monday in from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.