In a press release issued Monday morning (March 25), Democrat and Wilton resident Savet Constantine announced she is running for the 42nd District State Representative seat to represent Wilton and parts of Ridgefield and New Canaan.
Constantine was described in the release as “a mother, wife, former marketing executive, and longtime volunteer with the Wilton PTAs, where she served multiple terms as president in addition to other leadership roles.” It was this work, according to the release that “solidified her interest in fiscal policy, education policy, and other issues facing our children and families today.”
She is running for a seat currently held by Wilton resident Keith Denning. Denning announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election.
“The future in Connecticut has never been brighter, but that doesn’t mean there’s not work to do,” Constantine said in the statement. “I’m running to make sure that important work gets done and supports the best interests of our towns. Our family just lost my father-in-law, and the time and resources we spent navigating the medical and long-term care systems were a reminder that Connecticut can do better when it comes to healthcare. My own father arrived in this country from Greece with $50 in his pocket and was able to build a life for our family. We need a return to the American Dream that he enjoyed. We must also keep up the defense of reproductive freedoms, continue cutting taxes, and fight against sweeping, unnecessary mandates from Hartford. Local decisions should always be made locally.”
Wilton Democratic Town Committee Chair Tom Dubin called Constantine “the perfect candidate” to represent the three towns in Hartford.
“As a longtime Wilton resident, parent and PTA member, she has the lived experience necessary to really deliver for voters, and she will always be there to listen to their concerns. She understands the obstacles our families and small businesses are facing, and she has what it takes to get them what they need. We’re very excited she’s decided to run.”
Constantine earned her B.A. from Carleton College and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. Born and raised in Minnesota, she moved to Wilton in 2004 where she lives with her husband, Craig Muraskin. Their two children are graduates of the Wilton Public Schools and are currently pursuing graduate and undergraduate degrees, respectively.
No Republican candidate has announced an intention to run for the 42nd District seat as of today. Republican Town Committee Chair Peter Wrampe declined to say whether there were any members of his party that were considering a bid, but that the RTC “will put forth a most qualified Republican candidate who we are sure will do the best for Wilton once elected.”
“We wish Savet the all the best of luck in the upcoming campaign,” Wrampe said, adding, “We are confident she will run a clean campaign.”
With the Democrats controlling the legislature in Hartford, we don’t need to add to a one sided system. You only have to look at what has been happening in the state to realize that it is heading down the same road as New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Mandated programs, teacher union control and a blind eye towards the needs of the average working person in the State.
Republicans don’t have the votes to do anything – Ms. Constantine would at least be in a position to ask her fellow Democrats for stuff that helps Wilton, and if she manages to stay in office long enough (which seems very likely since the town is still trending lightly bluewards) she might attain enough seniority to do considerably more. The most a Republican can accomplish in the CGA is to filibuster and take pointless ‘no’ votes.