CTLCV Issues Endorsements for Statewide Constitutional Office: Environmental Champions Governor Lamont & Lt Governor Bysiewicz offer stark contrast to Stefanowski ticket

Hartford, CT- Today, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) announced their 2022 endorsements for State Constitutional Offices. CTLCV is dedicated to protecting Connecticut’s democracy and environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. CTLCV-endorsed candidates are seriously committed to tackling climate change, investing in clean energy, and protecting our state’s precious natural resources equitably for future generation

“Voters expect state leaders to uphold the environmental values of Connecticut’s citizens, but don’t always have the information they need to know who is living up to that expectation,” said Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director.  The League is counting on voters to consider these endorsements when they cast their ballot on November 8th. 

Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz have demonstrated tremendous leadership on the environment, most notably putting Connecticut on a path to a sustainable “green economy.” Their administration has made groundbreaking investments in clean renewable energy and is providing transformative incentives to reduce polluting emissions from cars, trucks, and buses. These efforts are in line with the state’s growing focus on equity and environmental justice, and reducing the cost of energy for all.

The contrast between the motivations of the two candidates running to lead our state could not be more clear. While Governor Lamont has committed to a 100% clean energy goal for our state, Bob Stefanowski is disinterested in investing in clean energy and combating climate change. Stefanowski is profiting in the millions from his partnership with the dictator of Saudi Arabia, a country that makes a billion dollars daily from dirty oil. This revelation calls to question the true values of Bob Stefanowski. This was true in 2018 and remains true today.

The national League of Conservation Voters, who is fighting climate change at the federal level, were so concerned with his candidacy that they named him as one of the worst anti-environmental state level candidates in the nation. 

“Connecticut needs strong and reliable environmental leadership at the top. Governor Ned Lamont is committed to clean transportation, clean energy, and clean air. We need him at the Capital to get the job done,” said  Brown.

In addition to endorsing the Governor and Lt. Governor, CTLCV has determined that two other candidates for statewide office are leading the way on environmental progress and protecting our Democracy: Attorney General William Tong is leveraging the powers of his office to fight polluters and enforce state and federal environmental law. Secretary of the State candidate Stephanie Thomas is a passionate advocate for voting rights and fighting voter suppression. If elected, she will cut a new path for engaging more citizens, providing reliable information during elections, and helping people use their power to vote to achieve their policy goals, whatever they may be.

“Each of these candidates sought CTLCV’s endorsement because they know these issues are important, and they want their constituents to know they are fighting for a clean, healthy environment for everyone,” said Brown.

CTLCV has evaluated their environmental accomplishments and interviewed each one to learn their plans if elected or re-elected. The League offers its highest praise and endorsement in support of Ned Lamont for Governor, Susan Bysiewicz for Lieutenant Governor, William Tong for Attorney General, and Stephanie Thomas for Secretary of the State. 

Below is additional information on the candidates based on CTLCV interviews:

Ned Lamont, Governor 
Ned Lamont has consistently prioritized clean air and water, renewable energy, and protecting public health during his administration’s first term. This year, Governor Lamont introduced and signed major environmental bills that will combat climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and protect clean water.  If elected to a second term, Governor Lamont will prioritize achieving a 100% clean electric grid, investing in clean transportation, and preserving open space. 

In other key areas: The Governor will leverage $250 million in the budget for energy efficiency programs and will invest in more EV charging stations using Inflation Reduction Act funding to meet growing demand. Formerly on the board of the Greenwich Land Trust, Governor Lamont is concerned about preservation of open space. He will seek federal funding to plant 5000 trees in urban areas, and believes that current clear-cutting practices by the state and utilities should use “a scalpel instead of a meat axe.” He is also focused on filling 72 positions at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection after the agency lost  hundreds of employees this year to early retirement. Tackling the waste crisis is a major concern for his administration, which is seeking solutions on how to get mixed materials out of the waste stream, increase recycling, and reduce the burden of polluting facilities in environmental justice communities..

​The Governor has shown he is committed to building a cleaner future for the residents of Connecticut.

Susan Bysiewicz, Lieutenant Governor 
Susan Bysiewicz is a strong voice for the environment. Her leadership this year was instrumental in breaking a legislative logjam, which allowed for the expansion of rooftop solar power programs, and passage of the administration’s bill requiring our state to achieve a 100% zero carbon electric grid by 2040. Her administration has also prioritized brownfield cleanups to restore land that can be put back into productive use. She wants to see that our regulatory processes are efficient and straightforward, and stresses the importance of replacing DEEP staff that has been lost over the years. Funding is always a challenge, but CT should prioritize investments in our parks, environmental cleanups, and other underfunded programs. She recently helped to save a large parcel of farmland in Middletown. 

Lt. Governor Bysiewicz opposed investing $300 million in the controversial Materials Innovation and Recovery Authority trash facility (known as MIRA) and wants the state to take greater leadership in coordinating municipalities around more sustainable waste management. She strongly supports environmental justice and equity issues as core components of future legislation. Looking to her next term, Susan Bysiewicz will continue to make progress on climate. She will focus on reducing carbon pollution from transportation by implementing stronger emission standards for heavy duty vehicles, supporting a clean energy economy with offshore wind, and investing in electric vehicle infrastructure. 

William Tong, Attorney General 
Attorney General William Tong has been intensely focused on protecting our environment and is helping Connecticut to combat climate change at both the state level and Federal level. Under his leadership, Connecticut has played a significant role in defending the nation’s bedrock environmental laws and has won several legal battles that protected Connecticut’s air quality and maritime economy. In 2020, Attorney General Tong sued Exxon Mobil under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act for its ongoing campaign of lies and deception that hid how the burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change.
William Tong’s office is enforcing the federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act rules in our state—critical environmental protection laws that were not enforced by the federal government during the Trump administration. He is actively working to advance the California Emission Standards that are part of the CT Clean Air Act that passed the Connecticut General Assembly earlier this year. He talks frequently with the AG’s in other states and is an important voice in regional and national initiatives.

Looking ahead, there are a lot of enforcement issues in Connecticut with regards to dumping and pollution. Attorney General Tong will continue to push for cleanup of toxic chemicals such as PFAS, and wants to do more to protect Connecticut’s wildlife.

Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State
Stephanie Thomas as a lawmaker was notably supportive of environmental issues, earning high marks for her votes on CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard during her first term. If elected as our next Secretary of State, Stephanie Thomas will change the culture of voting in our state. She is running on a platform of civic education that equates voting with policy-making. She intends to revolutionize how the electorate views voting and civic engagement as a way to empower citizens in achieving better state policies they care about. With an increase in voter education and voter resources, she will increase staff and community outreach to address common mistakes that voters make because they lack information. She noted that both election workers and voters made mistakes—not fraud—and that is something to look into and provide more training.

As a state legislator, she fought for the budget appropriation to hire a full-time staffer to proactively combat election misinformation, and “Malinformation” which is based on twisting small facts and is a form of voter suppression. She would also have the state ensure a baseline infrastructure for all towns. 

Please visit our website to view the complete list of CTLCV Endorsements.
                                                
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The CT League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) is a nonpartisan statewide organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut’s environment. CTLCV works to pass equitable and sustainable legislation that impacts our air, land, water, wildlife, and climate and holds all state legislators accountable with an annual Environmental Scorecard. 

Paid for by CTLCV PAC. This message was made independent of any candidate or political party. Contributions to CTLCV PAC of $5,000 or more were made by CTLCV, LCV, David Bingham, and Green Advocacy Project.