Over 80 people attended a public forum featuring Michelle Embree Ku and Brandon Moore, who are running for Democratic nomination for State House 106th District, on Monday, April 20.

The public forum was held at Newtown Community Center and co-hosted by Newtown Democratic Committee and the League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County (LWVNFC).

The two Democratic candidates had a chance to introduce themselves to Newtown residents and answer questions moderated by LWVNFC President Kristen Schretzenmayer.

Embree Ku and Moore are running against incumbent Republican Mitch Bolinsky, who has served seven terms in the 106th District Legislature seat.

Afterwards, members of the audience could ask Embree Ku and Moore about various topics. Embree Ku and Moore concluded by thanking the audience for attending and delivering their closing statements.

People quickly filled the meeting room on Monday evening, with almost every seat taken by the time the event started. Attendees could also pick up several items at the front of the room, including handouts on each of the Democratic candidates and an informational sheet explaining voting options and party information.

Opening Statements

Moore said he looked forward to having a thoughtful conversation alongside Embree Ku. He thanked everyone for coming out, stating, "You're here because you want to become a more informed voter."

"And frankly folks, that's step number one into building a stronger community and a stronger Newtown," he added.

Moore continued by saying he does not believe he is entitled to anything in this race, and will work hard to everyone's trust.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Moore said he is proud to call Newtown home with his husband. He graduated from United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, and served for eight years on active duty as an army attack helicopter pilot.

Moore said he earned a Bronze Star Medal serving in Afghanistan, and was entrusted with the lives of over 70 American soldiers.

"This responsibility defines how I lead: by building trust," Moore said.

After the military, Moore said he continued that service by working with Governor Ned Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz on economic policy for Connecticut families.

Moore said he is running to "do the work and fight like heck on behalf of Newtown." However, he wanted everyone understand what's at stake, noting that the Democrats have been unable to take the 106th District Legislature seat for the past seven elections.

Referring to Bolinsky, Moore said they have a state representative who voted to prosecute women coming to Connecticut seeking reproductive care. He said Bolinsky votes against gun violence prevention, fights against investing in clean energy and addressing climate change, and invites United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Connecticut.

Moore said he promises everyone to hold Bolinsky accountable because Newtowners "deserve to know what's at stake."

"[Bolinsky] won this seat seven times. We need to do something different. And folks, I'm a gay attack helicopter pilot. I'm what different looks like," Moore said. "I made a promise this campaign that I would talk to anyone about anything, and I meant it. I hope to earn your trust, and that starts tonight with all of you."

Embree Ku said many in the audience know her as a scientist by day and an elected official by night, but added that she is many other things: a wife, a daughter, a hockey mom, a horsewoman, and a hoopster.

She called herself a lifelong student, and said that, despite having a PhD in Biology from Brown University, she is continually learning every single day.

Embree Ku said she had no political experience when she and her family moved to Newtown 16 years ago. However, she quickly got involved in the Charter Revision Commission. Shortly thereafter, the Sandy Hook tragedy happened, and Embree Ku said she stepped up to help the community.

She got involved in gun violence prevention, organizing to make sure they got hundreds of people to Hartford throughout the spring of 2013 and make sure they had some of the strongest gun violence prevention laws in the country.

"I ran for the Board of Education (BOE) that year and I found my passion in serving Newtown in that elected capacity, and I've done that since that time," Embree Ku said.

Embree Ku continued by saying she served on the State's Task Force for legislature pertaining to life threatening food allergies in schools. She has over a decade serving on elected boards and appointed commissions in Newtown, with two years on the Board of Selectmen, two years on the Legislative Council (LC), and eight years on the BOE — four of which she served as its chair.

She said there are many other initiatives she has been involved in, but that people will not hear about it because she tends "not to toot [her] own horn very much]."

"I do these things because I love doing them, not for the accolades, but because it's part of who I am," Embree Ku said.

Moderated Questions

Schretzenmayer stated that, in order to run, each candidate needs experience in the many aspects of being a Newtown resident, ranging from education to health and safety. She asked the candidates how they have each contributed to Newtown and what makes them qualified to speak on behalf of Newtown residents.

Moore noted that he led Democrat Bruce Walczak's campaign for first selectman last year, adding there is no better way to get to know Newtowners than by knocking on their door and attending community events such as the Labor Day Parade and the Turkey Trot.

However, he said people are not always showing up to Town meetings because they have a lot going on in their lives. To that end, Moore has tried to get to know people where they are. This extends beyond Newtown, Moore said, as he feels it is important to build relationships with people across the state who can be partners as he hopes to deliver for Newtown.

"And that's something that I've done while serving in State government as well, because Connecticut's problems are Newtown's problems, and Newtown needs someone that's willing to stand up for their interests and deliver for them," Moore said.

Embree Ku said any question related to education is near and dear to her heart due to her tenure on the BOE. She noted the State task force she was on and that a Good Samaritan law was passed as a result of that task force.

In Newtown, Embree Ku said they were able to change the start time for middle school and high school students to make sure they were getting healthy sleep teenagers need, adding it served as a model for other districts in the state.

She also said they made sure local students were safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now on the LC, Embree Ku said she is working to deal with the traffic in town.

"That's the thing I hear about more than anything else from people when I go door knocking, and I really want to do something worthwhile to address that," Embree Ku said.

Schretzenmayer asked what they would do differently than Bolinsky on housing costs, property taxes, and energy bills, along with what they can do as a freshman Democrat that, after 14 years, Bolinsky cannot.

Embree Ku said the reality in Hartford is that there is a Democratic majority and it is very hard as a Republican representative to get their voice heard. As someone who likes to work across the aisle, Embree Ku feels she would bring a larger voice for Newtown at the table.

As for taxes, Embree Ku said local property taxes are affected by health care costs, which are rising "astronomically." This affects Newtowners’ taxes, so Embree Ku said she is dedicated to addressing the state's health care issues and how they deal with the insurance industry. She said they need a larger supply of energy, as taxpayers are paying the energy costs of the municipality and the schools.

"So if we can get those costs down lower at the state level, it will affect our property taxes here in town," Embree Ku said.

Embree Ku noted that 80% of the Public Benefits Charge, which many people are angry is on their bill, happened because of the Power Purchase Agreement legislature voted on in 2017, which Bolinsky voted in favor of.

Moore said a key difference between him and Embree Ku is that he is not willing to give Bolinsky a pass because he is in the minority party, adding he will hold him accountable for his votes. As it stands, Moore said there are seniors in Newtown who cannot afford to stay once they're on a fixed income, that kids cannot afford to move back home once they go to college or travel for work.

He said this is a real problem, adding that there are a lot of things wrong with Connecticut General Statute 8-30g and Connecticut House Bill 8002.

"It doesn't set up Newtown for success by putting unattainable goals for affordable housing, but we must tackle the problem seriously," Moore said.

He continued by saying Bolinsky voted against subsidizing residential solar and opposed offshore wind. With the Revolution Wind program, Moore said they are generating clean energy in Newtown, a win since investing in clean energy lowers energy bills, helps fight climate change, and promotes good paying jobs in Connecticut.

8-30g, Other Issues

Schretzenmayer asked how the candidates suggest they balance the pressures to build 8-30g affordable housing in town with how to protect the environment, especially the aquifer.

Moore said housing is probably the number one most important issue among Newtown voters right now. He noted that there is no easy answer and he is not going to make false promises on how to fix their housing crisis.

What they need to do, he said, is to be very smart about how they provide more housing units. Moore believes they need to take an approach that sees this as a supply issue. However, he also understands that it is critically important they preserve the character of Newtown.

"I think it's absolutely critical that local control is what drives the day as it pertains to our housing decisions, because those who live here in Newtown ... know what's in the best interests here in Newtown," Moore said.

He continued by saying they need to take a look at the definition of affordable housing. Moore said they would be on much better track to achieving the goals required by 8002 if accessory dwelling units, attached homes, and mobile homes were characterized as affordable housing, "but it needs to be led by folks here in Newtown."

Embree Ku said they need a bigger voice for Newtown in the conversation about 8-30g. She believes 8-30g needs to be repealed or changed so that mobile home and accessory units are included. Newtown would need to add 700 affordable homes before developers could override local planning and zoning laws, according to Embree Ku.

Every time a developer adds affordable housing units, Embree Ku said, they also add more non-affordable housing — causing the ratio to not change.

"There's no way that Newtown is represented by 8-30g, at all," Embree Ku said. "We will never add 700 affordable housing units to the numerator while the denominator stays the same."

Embree Ku said insurance companies need to be accountable for claims that they are denying and that there needs to be more transparency with insurance, such as how certain procedures cost differently to someone else's procedure. She added that health care should be a right for everybody, and that they need to make sure it is affordable for everyone.

Moore said he believes Connecticut can improve the quality of health care for people, saying it is the government's role. He also mentioned two specific types of health care that he believes are critical and will prioritize in Hartford: reproductive health care, particularly for women, and mental health, especially for young people.

They were also asked about the biggest misconception voters may have about them, and how they would correct it in one sentence.

Embree Ku said she thinks people believe she does not have fire in her belly or that she is not about to fight for what she is passionate about. While Embree Ku said her energy may not be "through the roof," she noted that raising a family, serving in local elected government, and other aspects of her life required a lot of energy.

"I will get things done. I have demonstrated that over the 14 years of service to this community," Embree Ku said.

Moore said the biggest misconception he faces is that he is a carpetbagger, that he is swooping in to Newtown to run for office. He noted that, when he and his husband decided where to raise their family and grow old together, they chose Newtown because that is the town that resonated so deeply with them. Moore said there is a sense of community in Newtown and that he truly cannot emphasize how special it is.

"The experience that we've had already in Newtown has changed our lives. This is where we want to raise our family," Moore said. "It's different from where I grew up in Torrington ... but this is where we're going to be spending the rest of our lives."

Audience Questions

The floor was then opened to the audience members, who could ask questions to Embree Ku and Moore.

One audience member asked how they each plan to articulate a clear and compelling contrast with Bolinsky, one that will resonate with voters more effectively than past local Democratic campaigns.

Moore said they clearly have to do something different this time around and have to think about what works and what does not. He emphasized they cannot under any circumstance rely on a blue wave to carry the Democratic candidate to Hartford, adding they must fight for every single vote "because seven times is enough to prove that just hoping is not enough."

"I can make one promise and that’s that nobody will work harder than me to win this election. I will knock on every door. I will call voters. I will show up to every event. I will always be present because that's what voters in Newtown deserve," Moore said.

Embree Ku said there are two candidates here. One of them has been on a Newtown ballot, won five elections in Newtown, come within a statistical tie of the first selectman in the selectman's race, and 7,535 people vote for them, among other previous accomplishments.

"And that's me," Embree Ku said. "It is very uncommon for a candidate who has never been on the ballot before, who has never been in office before, to win an election in a state house representative seat."

Embree Ku said she will continue knocking on doors and making phone calls, adding that her authentic reputation and the name recognition she has developed in town are something very valuable to her.

One audience member asked if they would be willing to put their political career at risk to vote in the interest of Newtown citizens.

Embree Ku said "1000%." She noted how when she ran for this seat two years ago, she would be pressured to do things as a member of a caucus. However, Embree Ku said there is no pressure in the Democratic caucus to vote a certain way.

"Of course, they will try to convince you to vote a certain way, but as far as I know, that is not the case," Embree Ku said. "Even if it is, I am there to represent Newtown ... I don't vote along with the party, I vote on my conscience of what I think is best for Newtown."

Moore said he very much disagrees with the assessment that there is no pressure inside the Democratic party in Hartford to vote a certain way, adding that this is why situations like 8-30g are not getting fixed.

While he has not been on the ballot multiple times like Embree Ku has, Moore said it was because he was busy fighting for America overseas. Moore continued by saying his military service gives him lived experiences that will make him an effective leader and legislator, noting it proves he lives his life with his personal values over any partisan affiliation.

Moore said he has the most support amongst elected leaders at his campaign launch, including Bysiewicz, Congresswoman Johanna Hayes, and Chris Liddy, the last Democrat who held the 106th District Legislature seat.

He added, "They know I'm the candidate that can beat [Bolinsky], and because I don't come from a political background, you can trust that I'll be exclusively representing the interests of Newtown when I'm in Hartford."

Another audience member asked if they would commit to dropping their campaign and supporting the other candidate if they were to lose the caucus.

Embree Ku said she would agree to drop out because she believes the caucus is the Democratic population coming together to make a chance. Depending on the results of the caucus, Embree Ku feels it is important they come together as Democrats after the caucus and get behind one candidate.

Moore said he will not because he feels it is important they do everything necessary in order to beat Bolinsky. Not only is Moore asking Embree Ku to drop, he is urging her, if he wins at the caucus, to primary him because it will mobilize Democrats across the board.

Other audience questions revolved around racism in the school system, if there is an answer to the town's increasing issues with traffic, among other topics.

A second Meet The Democrats Forum, also co-hosted by Newtown Democratic Committee and the League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County, is scheduled for Monday, May 4, returning to Newtown Community Center.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.