As one of the few women with young children serving in the Connecticut General Assembly, State Senate District 28 candidate Kim Fawcett feels a responsibility to be a strong voice for families, and knows a thing or two about the realities of trying to raise children while working.
Serving for eight years as a state representative for Fairfield's 133rd District, Kim earned a reputation as an independent leader who fights for fiscal restraint, investment in transportation and infrastructure, and protections for children and families. This year, she is running for the Senate seat being vacated by John McKinney, who is running for governor.
District 28 encompasses the towns of Easton, Fairfield and Newtown, as well as parts of Weston and Westport. If she wins, Kim would be the first woman to hold the seat and the first Democrat to win it in 40 years.
Of the 36 State Senators, there are eight women currently serving -- two of whom are retiring. "I truly believe that women bring a unique perspective and firsthand experiences to the table that need to be represented. If we want or expect our laws and policies to reflect what is best for our children and families, then we must unite, engage and speak out,” Kim said. She and her husband, Rick, have three children ages 16, 15 and 13.
Kim was inspired to run for office for the first time in 2006 after leading a grassroots effort to build a self-supporting community pool in Fairfield. That experience reinforced a longstanding passion for advocacy. In college, she started a sorority, then went on to earn a master's degree in legislative affairs and to work for the governor of Maryland.
In the General Assembly, Kim has played a leading role in legislation protecting Lyme disease patients seeking treatment, has pushed for a bill identifying chemicals of high concern to children, fought for results-based budgeting practices, and joined with moderate Democrats to oppose tax increases she believed were excessive in the 2010 and 2012 biennial budgets. She was the first Fairfield County legislator to publicly endorse gun safety legislation passed in 2013.
"I have always loved getting in there and trying to fix things that seem unjust or unfair. The state legislature seemed like a natural fit, since there are so many issues to tackle and constant challenges facing our state. I'm inspired every day to work to make government better for the people who elect me. It is the kind of work that can be all-consuming and something women and moms avoid because it is difficult to balance with family commitments," she said.
The youngest of her three children, Nicholas, was starting kindergarten during her first campaign and, like all working mothers, Kim struggled to manage her kids' schedules and demanding legislative duties. During campaign season, which can wreak havoc with a family's daily rhythm, Kim strives to only be out at meetings two nights a week. And on nights out, she usually plans to be home after school from 3:30-5:00pm, to have check-in time. She has at times relied on the local "wash and fold" laundry service, as well as local university students for help with driving, heating meals and running errands.
In Hartford, Kim enjoys working with other women in both parties. "I find that my female colleagues, regardless of whether they have children still living at home, show up to work with a focus on efficiency. The mindset tends to be on getting things done. We engage, we collaborate, we coordinate, we compromise -- then we go home. Press conferences and after-hours lounging in a local Hartford bar are not a priority for us. We don't have time," Kim says.
Click here for more information about Kim Fawcett.
