NORWALK, Conn. — State Rep. Josh Elliott, a Democratic candidate for governor, returned NancyOnNorwalk‘s candidate questionnaire covering housing, education funding, utility rates, health insurance, and other issues important to Norwalk voters.
His answers are printed below in full, organized by topic.
Editor’s note: NancyOnNorwalk sent the same questionnaire to Elliott and his primary opponent, Gov. Ned Lamont, on the same day. Elliott’s answers are published first, because he returned his ahead of Lamont.
Housing
Under the 8-30g affordable housing statute, what specific changes would you make, and would they make it easier or harder for a town like Norwalk to reach its housing goals?
“I’d preserve the core mechanism but fix the ‘moratorium’ loophole that lets wealthy suburbs lock out affordable housing for years by approving a handful of units. I’d tighten moratorium eligibility and strengthen affordability deed restrictions so units stay affordable longer.”
Education funding
Norwalk’s Education Cost Sharing grant has not kept pace with enrollment and cost increases. Would you change the ECS formula, and if so, how would that change affect Norwalk specifically?
“I’d weigh ECS more heavily toward actual enrollment, poverty concentration, and English learner population, and end the practice of holding districts harmless at outdated funding floors that bear no relationship to current need.”
Connecticut has one of the highest per-pupil special education cost burdens in the country. What would you change about how the state reimburses towns for special education?
“I would have the state be fully responsible for funding special education costs, so municipalities aren’t forced to absorb enormous costs.”
State budget and taxes
Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails (the spending cap, bonding cap and volatility cap) are up for renewal. Would you extend them as written, modify them, or replace them?
“Modify, not extend as written. The spending cap has been used to block urgent investments while the state sits on surpluses. I’d restructure the volatility cap so revenue above the threshold can be actually used for long term spending, and build in emergency flexibility that doesn’t require a supermajority to access.”
Public Act 26-76 changed how towns can offer property tax relief. Should the state go further and cap or restructure municipal property taxes statewide, or should that stay a local decision?
“The state should set a baseline circuit breaker that applies statewide, fully funded by the state, so relief doesn’t depend on whether your town can afford to offer it. Beyond that, the structural fix is fully funding ECS and PILOT so towns aren’t forced to compensate on property taxes in the first place.”
Name a specific state contract, tax break, or spending line from the current budget that you would eliminate, not just “review.”
“The Eversource-friendly structure of the Public Benefits Charge as currently administered, specifically the portion that funds programs which should be line items in the state budget rather than hidden on your electric bill. Ratepayers are currently subsidizing things through their utility bills that should be funded transparently through appropriations, which obscures both the cost and the accountability.”
Utilities
Eversource and UI customers have seen sharp rate increases. What specific state action would you take to lower electric bills, and what tradeoffs or costs would your proposal involve?
“Eversource and UI have exclusive franchises to serve most of Connecticut. There’s no competition, no alternative, no accountability. We should open their franchise rights to review and create space for municipal utilities or a state-run option. This would lower rates for consumers, and give the public far more accountability over energy corporations.”
Transportation
Metro-North’s New Haven Line carries thousands of Fairfield County commuters daily. What level of state investment do you support for rail improvements over the next four years?
“I’d commit to a four-year capital plan that prioritizes reliability improvements, station upgrades, and frequency increases on the New Haven Line. Metro-North is the economic spine of Fairfield County and the state has chronically underinvested relative to the ridership it carries.”
Campaign finance
Name one donor, industry, or interest group whose financial support you would decline, and explain why.
“If I had to pick just one, it would be energy corporations. However, I’ve already committed to no corporate or PAC money from any industry and using the state’s clean elections program.”
Health care
Connecticut residents have filed a growing number of complaints against health insurers over denied claims and prescription costs. What specific changes to state law or regulation would you pursue to reduce claim denials and improve insurer accountability?
“I plan to create a new office of the Connecticut Healthcare Consumer Protection Agency, which would be a first of its kind that would have investigative authority, subpoena power, and the capacity to enforce action against hospital systems, insurance companies, drug manufacturers and PBMs that rip off patients in the name of profits. The agency would have rate review authority with the power to approve, modify, or reject proposed premium increases. Insurers whose rates are unreasonable will be required to justify those increases at public hearings.”
State workforce
State employee and teacher pension liabilities remain a long-term drag on the budget. Do you support any changes to benefits for future hires, and if so, what?
“I won’t cut defined benefits for current employees or retirees. That’s a promise made and I’ll honor it. The bigger fix is funding the obligation honestly every year, which I will continue to do.”
Government structure
What is the first structural change you would make inside state government during your first 100 days, and why?
“On Day One of my administration I will appoint a new Federal Response Coordinator within the Governor’s office to actually get ahead of what is coming down from the Federal Government. Our Medicaid recipients are in real danger of losing coverage if we continue down Ned Lamont’s ‘wait and see’ approach.”
Environment
Long Island Sound flooding and erosion increasingly affect Norwalk’s shoreline neighborhoods. What specific coastal resilience projects would you prioritize, and how would you fund them?
“Prioritize nature-based solutions like living shorelines, restored tidal wetlands, and green infrastructure. Fund it through a combination of DEEP capital grants, federal coastal resilience dollars, and a state green bond program.”
Transparency
Would you support requiring more disclosure from municipal boards and agencies under the Freedom of Information Act, given documented gaps in how some Connecticut towns interpret exemptions like personnel matters?
“Yes, I’d close the personnel exemption loophole that towns use to shield misconduct investigations, contract negotiations, and disciplinary records that the public has a clear interest in seeing.”
On changing his mind
What is one policy position you have changed in the last five years, and what changed your mind?
“Zoning and housing density. Early in my legislative career I was more deferential to municipal control over land use and more skeptical of state intervention in local zoning decisions. What changed my mind was the data. We are not building housing fast enough here in Connecticut to keep up with demand and it is causing our economy to be uncompetitive.”
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