Why I'm Running: Bringing Affordability and Local Control Back to Connecticut

Every person who runs for office – from Governor down to Constable – should be able to answer the question why he or she is running for office. For me that answer is simple - Connecticut’s government has become unbalanced, our state is increasingly unaffordable for working families, businesses, and seniors, and local towns are losing their rightful say over zoning and schools. That is why I am running for State Senate for the 14th District.

I have spent my entire career representing municipalities and volunteering for local organizations in my communities. As a municipal attorney, including as the Town Attorney for Orange, and as a volunteer on municipal boards, I have seen firsthand government at its best and, unfortunately, government that has failed to meet the needs of its constituents. Talking with families, friends, neighbors, and business owners across the 14th District, the message is consistent and urgent: our state government is failing to address the issues that matter most to them - cost of living that keeps rising, higher property taxes and energy bills, and the steady loss of local control over zoning and schools.

The high cost of living and loss of local control did not happen overnight, but is the result of years of one-party dominance in Hartford that has produced a government that is increasingly out of touch with the everyday realities facing our communities. Working families, like mine, are struggling to keep up with the rising housing and childcare costs. Businesses face more and more regulatory burdens that make it harder to grow and create jobs here. Seniors on fixed incomes worry about making ends meet as everyday expenses climb. At the same time, state mandates and overreach have chipped away at the ability of towns like Milford, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge to make decisions that best serve their own residents. No wonder people and businesses are fleeing Connecticut in droves.

I believe we can do better. As your State Senator, I will bring practical, balanced leadership that puts Connecticut families first. That means fighting for policies that actually lower the cost of living — from property tax relief and energy cost reforms to smarter approaches to housing that respect local input rather than override it. It means restoring real local control so our towns can make decisions on zoning and schools without unnecessary interference from Hartford. And it means working across the aisle to deliver common-sense solutions instead of more of the same unbalanced governance.

Connecticut is a state with tremendous potential — strong communities, great school systems, hardworking people, and a location that should attract businesses and families. That is why my wife and I decided to move back to Orange to raise our sons in the town that I grew up in. But that great potential is slipping away and we cannot unlock that potential and prosper as a community if the state government continues to tip the scales against the very people it is supposed to serve.

The choice in this election is clear: more of the same, or a fresh approach rooted in experience, balance, and respect for local voices. I am running to provide that fresh approach for the 14th District, and I hope over the coming months I can earn your support.

Owen Weaver

Republican Candidate for 14^th State Senate District

OWforSenate.com

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