2024 Patch Candidate Profiles: Jeff Gordon, State Senate

NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT — Jeff Gordon is running for the 35th Senate District seat in 2024.

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Candidate’s Name: Jeff Gordon

What office are you seeking? Re-election as the State Senator for the 35th District

District: 35th State Senate District

Campaign website

What city or town do you live in? Woodstock

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Medical Degree Brandeis University, Bachelor of Arts

Occupation: Physician

Family: Wife and Son.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Yes. I served 16 years on the Woodstock Planning & Zoning Commission (15 of those years I was the Chairman)

Age: 57

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election to continue the strong work I have been doing in a bipartisan way to serve the people of all 13 towns of the 35th State Senate District. I am proud to have championed and passed historic income tax cuts, increase of the earned income tax credit, and expansion of tax exemptions for seniors’ retirement accounts; worked to keep needed services at our local hospitals (including womens’ health and labor & delivery); fought and won to limit what insurance companies can do to deny or delay needed medical treatments and medications; defended all of our individual rights, parental rights, and medical freedoms; supported law enforcement to do what they are trained to do to keep us safe, fought to promote victims’ rights, and hold criminals accountable for their actions; worked to improve housing affordability in Connecticut while at the same time protect local decision-making in each town by the people who live in their towns and know best their towns; fought to keep Connecticut on an even keel to pay down debt and pension liability while not having the crazy ups and downs of budget cycles of prior years that led to big tax increases in the past. There is a lot I have been doing and more I look forward to doing working with people and working for them always using common sense.

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

The #1 issue I hear from people all of the time is the high cost of living in Connecticut, made worse by the high electricity bills they have to pay. These are issues I have been working on and will continue to work on. I have helped pass income tax cuts. I have serious proposals to deal in the short-term and long-term regarding electricity rates and the state's energy policies. I am recognized in Connecticut as a legislative leader on these issues.

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?

Yes. I have been actively involved on this issue as a member of the Public Safety & Security Committee. First and foremost, we need more law enforcement, especially more CT State Troopers. I have continued to advocate for such. law enforcement also needs more resources, which I have been advocating for as a member of the Appropriations Committee. Enforcement is key because despite education efforts and public service announcements, speeding and reckless driving behaviors continue to be a plague. I have spent a lot of time working with law enforcement and I will continue to do so. At the same time, the legislature can do more to strengthen existing laws to hold people accountable for dangerous things they do on the roadways.

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

The key and stark difference between me and my opponent is that I have been doing the strong work each day as State Senator on the issues important to people whereas my opponent has been absent and has done nothing on these issues, including not having any real proposals as to how to address important issues. I have a record of working in a bipartisan way to get good things done, including with the leadership of the Senate and the House, and with the governor, whereas my opponent only wants to spread negative campaign ads that are untruthful and my opponent signed onto the Working Families Party that has stated publicly not wanting to work with people who are moderate. I am always out and about listening to people and working with them, whereas my opponent has not been doing that and thus unlike me does not understand the details of the issues affecting people and their concerns. it is all about what one does and how one does it, which I have been known to have a strong record doing.

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

My record as State Senator in what I have been doing and how I have been doing it, including listening to people, meeting with people, working in a commonsense way with people, and doing things in a bipartisan way, is a trademark of what I have done when I was Chairman of Woodstock's Planning & Zoning Commision and now as State Senator. The many accomplishments I have achieved as State Senator on important issues are clear and I am proud of them. I do not tear people down, unlike others. I work with people to get things done. People want that and I do that as their State Senator.

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

I have been a doctor for more than 35 years. I take care of people who have cancer or a blood disorder. Furthermore, I am known to be someone who seeks bipartisan collaboration to get things done in commonsense ways, takes the time to be informed about issues, and proposes serious ways to get things done. I believe strongly that government is our government, so I take a lot of time connecting with people to let them know what is going on and to have their voices heard, which is why I am known to be often out and about all 13 towns of the 35th State Senate District.