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STAMFORD, Conn. — The Stamford Daily Voice met with State Rep. Michael Molgano, R-144 Stamford, to learn more about who he is and why he is running for re-election against Democrat Michael Pollard.
The 53-year-old, lifelong Stamford resident, works as an IT professional and served on Stamford’s Board of Representatives from 2002 through 2010 in the 15th district and 16th district. He is currently active on the Brian Bill Memorial Fund and at St. Bridget’s Roman Catholic Church. He considers himself a “news-freak,” who loves fine dining, movies and books.
1) What are the biggest issues facing your district?
Molgano said his district is most concerned with jobs and the number of regulations the state government is imposing. He feels the government has to decrease the regulations to allow small businesses in the state to succeed and educe the unemployment rate, which is around 9 percent.
He said he has met a couple of small business owners in Stamford that have had to reduce staff and other aspects of their business to cope with the amount of regulations.
“Everyone one had the same simple statement, ‘just stay out of our way, you’re just causing too much of a hassle for us to continue to run our businesses,'” Molgano said.
He is also concerned about the large tax increase Malloy implemented in his first budget — and with the amount of spending Connecticut has done, he said, he would not be surprised if taxes were increased again. Molgano said he expects Republicans will probably come up with another zero-tax-increase budget or something similar, which they did previously.
2) What were your biggest achievements in office?
Sponsor of Education Reform Bill, SB 458, which he described as a good start in eliminating achievement gap, supports teachers, and aid towns in "alliance districts," such as Stamford.
Sponsor of Sewage Spill Bill, SB 88, which makes the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have to notify areas where spills have occurred or if they anticipate a spill to occur.
Co-Sponsor of the Smoke Detector Bill, HB5394: which was inspired by the Christmas Day Fire in Shippan, and makes residents have to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside their homes.
Co-Sponosr of a Hospice Bill, HB 5499, which regulates hospice care in the state and should offer more comfort to patients in hospice facilities.
Co-Sponsor of the Caylee’s Law Bill, HB 5512, which forces parents and guardians to report any child under 12 missing within 24 hours.
He voted in favor of Cap on the Gas Tax Bill, SB 457, which caps the gross earning tax on petroleum products, and should prevent abnormal pricing.
He is also a member of the Governor’s Education Cost Sharing Task Force. “I have more, I just can’t recall them, but that gives you a flavor for some of the things I have done,” Molgano said.
3) Is Connecticut going in the right or wrong direction? It depends on the issue, Molgano said.
The current path the state is on with regulation and tax increases is the wrong direction, he said.
When it comes to education, the government is heading in the right direction, Molgano said. Connecticut’s government would also be on the right path if it is doing all it can to promote job growth and aid small businesses, he said.
To help keep Connecticut going in the right direction, he believes that Democrats and Republicans need to work together in the State Assembly. Molgano said that during his first term Democrats wouldn’t show Republicans bills until just before the vote.
4) What would you do to involve your constituents in your decision-making process?
During his first term as a state representative and while he was a city representative, Molgano said, he reached out to his constituents through mailers and his website to keep them informed with what the State Assembly was doing. He added that people have also reached out to him, and that his door is always open.
“I am here for the people,” Molgano said, adding that he is planning to continue those practices if re-elected.
5) Why should people vote for you?
“Because Michael Molgano cares,” the he said, describing himself as a “common sense guy” and that he wants to bring that common sense to Hartford.
He also does not consider himself a politician, but a person who wants to give back to others to help them succeed and get help if they need it. “We’re not here to make it alone, we all depend on each other,” Molgano said, adding that government is not supposed to put road blocks up in front of people.
Molgano says the greatest award for him his being able to help people no matter how big or small their needs. He specifically mentioned getting the state’s Department of Transportation to put signs up along Washington Boulevard as one thing he has done to help a resident.
“It’s not big things, but to them it is, because it’s their life,” Molgano said.
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