by Ryan McKeen
In February, the Connecticut Mirror ran an article on State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield entitled “Rookie of the Year:” Passion and Persuasion . The article quotes Representative Mike Lawlor on Holder-Winfield:
“Gary’s the guy that can pick an issue and get it done. Typically, the new members are the most skittish and are the least likely to take a controversial position, he said. “Not Gary.”
Gary represents New Haven’s 94th District in the General Assembly.
You can read Gary’s official biography here.
A week ago, I asked Gary if he would be willing to do an interview for this site. His response was “of course”.
Here’s Part 1 of the interview:
RM: What most surprised you about the legislative process in Connecticut?
GHW: I cannot say that I found much that surprised me about the legislative process. For years before I ran I was around the buiding (LOB) as an actvist. You slowly come to get a pretty good sense of how things work. If I were pinned down and had to pick something I guess I would have to say I expected more work to be done on the one on one level to sway opinion when it comes to issues (especially the tough ones).
RM: How did the public financing option influence your decision to run for office?
GHW: Public financing made it easier. I was instantaneously competitive. People say that in my first run I was up againt the New Haven Machine – others deny that – regardless of which side is correct what is true is that in my activism I never sough to make a name for myself so my name didn’t resonate with people. Common wisdom was that I was doomed from the start but with the public financing option the good message I had to offer could be heard. It made all the difference in the world .
RM: Turnout in the most recent primaries was low. To what degree do you think the absence of an African-American candidate on the ballot contributed to low turnout?
GHW: To get into that would be ungrounded specultion. There was a Latino on the ballot and that didn’t drive up turnout. I supported Gerry – I was excited by the possibility of his candidacy but it takes more than a non white candiate to drive up turnout.
The August primary is just, in my opinion, and I understand the reason for it, a bad idea where turnout is concerned. There is a reason that when running a campaign candidtes target “prime” voters. To hold the primary in the summer when people are vacationing and not thinking about elections (many I speak to feel like they will catch the General Election) I think results in low voter turnout.
Also, voters need to know the answer to the question why. Candidates spend alt of time talking about what they are going to do. They spend less time talking about how they are going to do it. They need to talk about why they are going to do what they say they are going to do. Why is the connector. Why is where who you are shines through. Why is the motivator. You can discuss money an operation all you want but the voters need to know why you are in the race because your reason to run becomes thir reason to vote.
RM: You introduced legislation to end the death penalty in Connecticut. Do you plan to introduce similar legislation in 2011 if re-elected? Why or why not?
GHW: I introduced and pushed that bill against the advice of everyone involved (advocates, legislators, friends etc.). I introduced it because it was the right thing to do. We are in a potentially better position with the elction of Dan Malloy and a legislature that has passed the bill before. I will absolutely reintroduce this bill.
–Tomorrow, I’ll post Part 2 of my interview with Gary Holder-Winfield.