Candidate Profile: Anastasia Yopp, 20th House District

WEST HARTFORD/NEWINGTON, CT — The 2022 election is heating up in Connecticut and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Eyes are primarily focused on the gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats are up for grabs as well.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate.
Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers over Republicans in the House, 97-54, and in the Senate, 24-12.

Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Republican Anastasia Yopp of Newington is running for a term in the House of Representatives, 20th House District. She is running to unseat state Rep. Kate Farrar, D-West Hartford.
The newly redistricted House seat now serves parts of West Hartford and Newington.

Age: 34

Party affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Mortgage loan officer

Education: Accounting degree

Previous elected/appointed experience: I am the current chairman of finance on the board of education in Newington.

Family: Son who is 5 years old and two German shepherd puppies

Campaign website: https://www.yoppforstaterep.co...

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

Why are you seeking this office?

I am fighting to make CT affordable and fight for our children's future.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Public Safety is a serious issue. Non-violent offenders should be kept out of jail whenever possible. But they should still pay for their crimes to deter others. I propose that a financial component is added to all sentences.
Violent crimes: 10 times to 20 times plus any health costs incurred by the victim and pay income loss due to being unable to function after attack.
Property and petty crimes: 3 times and 5 times any losses suffered including pay/income lost.
Fines would be considered criminal and not civil, so the victim still would have the opportunity to sue and received compensation.
Fines cannot be discharged through bankruptcy they remain in perpetuity until paid in full.

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

I’m a black Republican woman. I’m a single mother. I’m already an elected official in the town of Newington. I’m the chairman of financing and budgeting on the Newington Board of Education. I’m on the community police council. I’m a Rotarian. I’m the youth advocate councilor. I’m a fur mom to two dogs. I’m dedicated and will fight for the rights of the people in CT. I have attended all of my board of education meetings. I was a federal loan officer for the United States Small Business Administration in Washington, handling disaster recovery and government shutdown and a mortgage loan originator for over 14 years.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

She has not helped lower taxes in West Hartford. She has allowed grant money to go to waste that could have helped small business owners in Elmwood. She has not fought for lower taxes, small business owners to stay afloat and she voted to close small businesses, which ended peoples' only way to survive.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Making CT affordable.
Lowering taxes in West Hartford and Newington.
Holding criminals accountable.
Return to STEM-focused education.
Restore parental rights in education.
Demand audits of state spending.
Remove special interest stranglehold on budgeting to ease financial burdens for all CT families.
Fighting corruption and promoting accountability.
Ensure Social Security and Medicare continue to be available for seniors and the disabled.
Protect our veterans.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Federal loan officer for the SBA in Washington.
Mortgage loan originator for 14 years.
Chairman of finance and budgets on Newington Board of Education.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Do what is right, not what is easy

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

I’m determined and will fight to ensure the people on CT have a voice and know I am listening

From Oct. 19: 'Candidate Profile: Kate Farrar, 20th House District'