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10/12/2022 09:00 AMRepublican Ray Ingraham is running for election as Branford's 102nd district state representative. He’s also endorsed by Connecticut’s Independent Party. Ingraham will challenge two-term incumbent Democrat Robin Comey on Nov. 8.
“What I want to bring to Hartford from Branford is that everything I do is Branford-focused,” said Ingraham. “My goal is Branford first. The greater good for the whole state has to be good for Branford.”
An Air Force veteran, Ingraham is an active member and volunteer of community and veterans’ groups and has given many years of involvement as a leader and coach of Branford girls’ recreational sports. His efforts on governing in town began a dozen years ago with the Branford Republican Town Committee, which he chaired for several years. He’s served as an elected member of Branford’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for 10 years, and is now in his eighth year as RTM majority leader. Ingraham and his wife, Mary Jane, have three daughters and have been Branford residents since 1986.
Representing RTM District 5, Ingraham said he's worked for outcomes in the best interests of Branford, and is known for his outreach, such as surveying constituents, to gauge their input on important items.
“When you’re elected, [constituents] trust you’re going to make the smaller decisions. The big ones, I feel you have to reach out directly; [and] then you have to weigh it, and come back, and not care that your ‘team’ wins. It’s not a team win. It’s a Branford win. It’s all of us.”
In Hartford, Ingraham said he’ll bring his years of governance experience and his reputation for helping decision-makers find “...common ground to move ahead.”
“On the RTM, I really push that the conversations are about what the issue is, what the hurdle is; so we can do things like passing budgets so that everybody in town can afford it.”
Ingraham grew up the oldest of 7 children who experienced divorce and living within limited means. He said residents deserve an “affordable Connecticut” and he’ll bring his RTM experience to the effort.
“Much of what we’ve done in Branford, with stabilizing how the tax increases happen, is by softening things, spreading things over years, to make sure it’s sustainable, while also making sure we have a fair increase for our employees. We’ve been very good at that. That’s part of the mentality I’d like to bring to Hartford.”
Tackling inflation and taxation are issues Ingraham wants to address in Hartford, especially with the state experiencing a budget surplus.
“We all feel the crunch of inflation. There’s some inflation that’s the natural course – we all want raises – but then we have the abnormal; and people are feeling it. We have ways of releasing safety valves. The state’s got a very large budget surplus, and part of that should go back. It’s not a hand-out to give back taxpayers their tax money.”
Fees are another form of taxation, he said.
“If the government charges you for something, it’s a tax. [But] if you’re not collecting enough to actually pay the tax, get rid of them. Why have this myriad, so that every time you walk into town hall or a state office, you have to pull your checkbook out to get something?”
Ingraham also supports retaining local control of zoning regulations instead of “...taking a broad brush and saying the whole state has to be ‘x’.”
“There’s more and more legislation lately to bring it to Hartford, to bring it to entities that are more regionalized. New England’s had a proud tradition of home rule in deciding how they want to handle what’s coming up in their neighborhoods and how they plan those things. I think people in the town should be the ones that make that decision.”
He pointed to state affordable housing legislation which recently led to the rezoning and redevelopment of Parkside Village 1.
“I think it’s sad that we’re losing what Parkside was, truly low-income housing for Branford seniors.”
Ingraham said CT’s 2020 police accountability law, which incorporated some qualified immunity limitations for police officers, may lead to more costs to municipalities at the contract bargaining table; as well as serving to encumber actions impacting public safety.
“We need to make sure that we’re not hindering some parts of the process,” said Ingraham, noting juvenile-based crimes of opportunity, such as car thefts or thefts from cars and homes, are of concern to residents.
“I’m hearing that a lot,” said Ingraham. “My perception of my neighbors in Branford is they’re not as safe. Now they have to lock their doors. They have to remember to lock their cars up.”
Regarding state government policies impacting family decisions on education and public health, especially for children under 16, Ingraham said, “Parents should have a say in these policies. If there’s a curriculum that a parent doesn’t want their child going through, there should be an opt-out.”
At his campaign’s Facebook page, he’s stated, “...parents are the first teachers for their children and they, not politicians and government bureaucrats, have the ultimate responsibility for their kids. Connecticut needs a ‘families first act’ to ensure they are front and center when it comes to decisions about their children's education and health care. We will make sure parents have a say in new government policies and decisions that will place undue stress on families.”
Regarding women’s reproductive rights, Ingraham said he’s “very firmly pro-choice.” If elected, he will continue to support Connecticut’s current law.
“Any changes to restrict that law is moot to me,” said Ingraham. “On the other side of it, I wouldn’t be looking to expand it, either. I think Connecticut has done the right thing strengthening it over the last few years.”
Ingraham’s grateful to have met community members during his campaign to learn what they want in their state representative.
“Since my first campaign in 2011, it’s been, ‘I want to listen to you.’ We’re all in this together. I’ve gotten some very good meet-ups on the green with people that normally wouldn’t vote for me, that wanted to meet me, which was pretty heartfelt to me. They didn’t just push me aside. They asked me questions.”
The 2022 campaign Ingraham for Branford can be followed on Facebook (@IngforBranford). District 102 represents Branford, except for areas of Pine Orchard and Stony Creek. A debate between Ingraham and Comey is set to be aired Thursday, October 20, at 8 p.m. on BCTV.