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10/06/2020 03:33 PMChristine Goupil said that she was motivated to run for the state representative seat after she assessed what she saw as her strengths and determined one of them was her ability to work behind the scenes to move projects along.
“I thought I could be of value to the larger community,” said Goupil.
Goupil is currently a member of Clinton’s Town Council. Prior to that she was Clinton’s first selectman for a term of two years, however a charter change—one that Goupil supported—led to a change in government structure, eliminating the first selectman position in town in favor of a town manager/town council form. Goupil also served on the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission.
Pandemic First
To Goupil, navigating the future of the COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest issue the state will need to consider.
“The most pressing issue is COVID and how we’re going to support businesses and towns and rebuilding them,” Goupil said.
Goupil said she would like to see forums and outreach programs held to let businesses know what kind of assistance is available to them for COVID relief. Goupil said she held similar forums when she was first selectman so that businesses were aware of what programs from the state were available.
“Communication is very important,” said Goupil.
She also said that she would fight for a fair share of any federal assistance that became available.
When it comes to the state budget, Goupil said “It’s important to make sure as legislatures we are advocating for our districts,” and said she would like to make sure the towns in the 35th District get adequate educational cost sharing money from the state.
“I’d also like the focus on senior tax credits back on the state side from the municipalities,” Goupil said.
Goupil said the legislature should first look at the state’s debt and rainy-day fund before a proposed budget can be fully assessed.
“In terms of taxes, we need to look at creating new jobs,” Goupil said.
Goupil singled out job creation as part of a green new deal that she said would lead to new jobs and increase training in the energy sector.
Other Service
Besides her current role on the Town Council, Goupil is a member of the Connecticut River Area Health District Board and Central Regional Tourism District Board.
“It’s great to be on the board and seeing where we are going with COVID,” said Goupil of the health board.
Goupil said the tourism board is a “wonderful organization” that is assertive in going after grants that can help the area. Goupil said hasn’t decided if she would need to step back from any of these roles should she win the state representative seat.
“Ultimately my desire is to be where I can make sure I can best serve all three communities,” said Goupil.
As for qualifications, Goupil said she is “well versed on working with the state, particularly on grants.” Two years ago, when Clinton experienced a damaging flash-flood event, Goupil said she worked with FEMA and other federal and state agencies to make sure that Clinton didn’t have to foot the bill on the cleanup.
“I’ve been successful with municipal budgets due to actions I took as first selectman by bringing development to town and by refinancing our debt,” said Goupil.
Police Reform
Following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police in May, the nation was plunged into a summer of protests and arguments over policing protocols.
“First and foremost, we need communication and conversation,” Goupil said, noting that the Clinton Police Department is “a model of community policing” that could be followed.
Over the summer, Connecticut passed a police reform bill that was controversial and Goupil said there are items in the bill she would like to amend. One concern Goupil had was about the costs departments would face due to increased equipment like body cameras and the storage of the footage. Goupil said she would like to consider a regionalized solution through which departments could possibly share resources when it came to data collection so that each town wasn’t facing its own bill. Goupil said body cameras worn by police would protect both the police and the public.
Working Locally
When Goupil was first selectman, one thing people criticized was the use of consultants by the town to help with management on some issues. Particularly, opponents cited the three-month consultation done on the operations of the Department of Public Works (DPW) as a waste of money since the report concluded that the department was run effectively and was in good hands. Goupil argued that the town used the consultant to best fill the many hats worn by the outgoing department director.
“We utilized the consultants when the town saw gaps to fill in leadership,” Goupil said.
Additionally, Goupil contended the that the Board of Selectmen (BOS) kept the DPW in the loop with the plan for the consultant. The five-member BOS unanimously approved the contract.
Another criticism lobbed at Goupil was that she was “a dictator” who wanted things done her way.
Goupil pushed back on that criticism.
“When you look at my record, I think I’m very good at working across party lines. It’s important that you advocate for everyone in your district,” Goupil said.
Goupil said that when she was first selectman, she felt the BOS as a whole worked together in a way to accomplish a lot for the town.
Her proudest accomplishments include the developments that have sprung up around Clinton, which she said required working with the state and outsiders. One example is Clinton’s new train station that is set to open soon with expanded train service. Goupil said the long-planned renovations were “dead in the water” when she took over the role but that she advocated with the state to get the project going again.
Other examples include the former Unilever property, which sold in 2019, and the old Morgan School property that is soon to be turned into a mixed-use development. Goupil said that she worked on a waste water capacity grant that was helpful in getting the Unilever property eventually sold and worked with the developers of the old Morgan property to get that property sold.
“It’s been such a productive relationship,” said Goupil of the old Morgan development.
For more information, visit Goupil’s Facebook page “Christine Goupil 2020” and her website christinegoupil.com.