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Will Champion Our Rights

I am writing to urge your readers to vote for Colin Heffernan for state representative.

In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe/Casey, electing Colin Heffernan on Tuesday, Nov. 8 is an ethical imperative. As a practicing lawyer and centrist Democrat, Colin is experienced in asserting and defending his clients’ legal rights and will bring this same expertise and dedication on our behalf to the state legislature. Colin will champion our rights to make our own decisions about our bodies and reproductive destinies. He understands that such personal, complex, and life-changing decisions should be free from government interference. He also understands the importance of abortion access and the ability to practice medicine without fear in our state.

In contrast, incumbent state representative Devin Carney (R) voted against HB 5414, the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act of 2022, which passed with a majority that included Senator Paul Formica (R) in favor. The law is two-fold: First, it increases the number of available care providers by allowing trained and qualified advanced practice caregivers (APCs) to provide first trimester abortions. Abortion care provided by APCs is safe and legal in over a dozen other states and is advocated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Second, HB 5414 seeks to shield providers and patients from foreign courts seeking to compel cooperation with the prosecution or extradition of individuals lawfully giving or receiving abortion care in Connecticut. Devin Carney’s “no” vote on HB 5414 showed that he is out of step with the majority of voters, who value the reproductive healthcare choices and privacy we have long enjoyed in Connecticut. We cannot afford to lose a single vote to preserve these fundamental rights. Let’s elect Colin Heffernan, who will vote “yes” to our freedom to choose the medical care we need.

Deborah DeHertogh, M.D

Old Saybrook