State Senate candidate Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox who supports tuition-free college education as “the best scenario” has won endorsements from teacher unions that represent Connecticut educators at the K-12 and college levels.
Gadkar-Wilcox, a law professor at Quinnipiac, is in a four-way August 13 Democratic primary with former Mayor Bill Finch, city Councilman Scott Burns and ex councilman Tyler Mack.
Connecticut’s 22 Senate District covers one third of Bridgeport, all of Trumbull and southern Monroe. The four-way race is a result of Marilyn Moore announcing her retirement from the upper chamber in May.
Wilcox called tuition–free college education “the best scenario.”
From Ally Sexton, AFTCT LPAC Chair:
I am pleased to inform you that AFT Connecticut has endorsed your candidacy for the upcoming 2024 elections. AFT Connecticut represents over 30,000 workers in the public and private sectors. Our membership includes teachers, school related personnel including paraprofessionals, state employees, healthcare workers, and higher education faculty and staff.
The decision to endorse your candidacy was made because of your commitment to working families and advocating for issues that are important to AFT Connecticut’s members. Clearly, this election is very important to the people of Connecticut. We need strong leadership that will help turn this State around and your election is a critical part of this. Good luck in your campaign. We look forward to working with you!
The AAUP Political Committee met and has voted to endorse you in advance of the Democratic primary.
The following statement announcing our endorsement was sent to our membership today:
For the 22nd Senate district in Trumbull and Bridgeport, CSU-AAUP endorses Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox. Dr. Gadkar-Wilcox is Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Justice and Law at Quinnipiac University and a proud AAUP member. She worked with CSU-AAUP, lobbying at the state legislature in 2023 and 2024 as we advocated for increased funding for higher education. In our questionnaire she said “Ultimately, if we want education at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities to be an affordable public good, then we must invest in them. In real terms, and as a percentage of the state budget, support for public colleges has been decreasing for half a century. We need to adjust the fiscal guardrails and spend the money needed to offer students a quality education at a more reasonable price–with a tuition-free option being the best scenario.”
Definicja Sujata!
I met with Sujata recently and learned that she also supports “civic engagement” an informal or semi-formal way in which citizens learn what is going on in their community and how process works. “Civic engagement” has also been raised as a possible ‘Commission opportunity’ within Bridgeport. I support that pursuit as I spoke to the CC last evening.
City Council Comments – August 5, 2024 (John Marshall Lee)
Fellow neighbors, as you represent your ten City Districts in an Election Year, do you reflect upon the diversity within our City? Not only do we have the largest urban population in the State, but we show variances in culture, language, attitude, and values relative to other cities. Perhaps this is best witnessed by the variety of food establishments available to us.
On a national scene there appears to be an attack on “diversity,” especially when connected with words like “inclusion and equity.” Do you support such attacks from ‘radical right’ conservatives? Or do you understand that we have a responsibility to all our neighbors to provide a kind ear as well as a time and place to listen for their inclusion with a seat at a community table, on a regular basis, within each District? And good responses?
As I circulate in Bridgeport, I have met many folks without influence who support good governance. They pay taxes. And complain about potholes and missed refuse pickups. But they have not learned with your assistance to become more contributing and sustaining citizens. Perhaps, this is why someone has suggested a “civic engagement” commission to the Ordinance Committee? Unfortunately, there is insufficient commentary in the Ordinance minutes to learn more, and the subject continues as a tabled matter. That means it is not being discussed by you with others.
How many of you have heard me suggest that you set meetings within your District with a time and place, communicated well in advance to religious locations, schools, and commercial establishments as well as on social media. Build a list of attendees. Meet them and listen to them. They know the issues causing concern. They also know the City Departments that are serving them well.
Circulate your schedule. Honor it with your attendance and attention. Find out the deeper reasons that eligible and registered folks fail to vote. Discover constituents who are interested by the thought of active public service to a Board or Commission for instance. They are out there.
Turn diversity in your neighborhood into another opportunity for all people to learn, grow, and live community. Time will tell.
Why stop with Tuition-free colleges?
let’s bump up guaranteed basic income, free daycare, free eldercare, free healthcare., baby bonds etc.
In the same vein, Trump just mentioned no social secutriy income taxes for seniors.
Where does the pandering stop, who pays the bills?