By LISA CAPOBIANCO
STAFF WRITER
Improving jobs and the economy is the first issue Rob Michalik plans to tackle if elected as state senator this November.
One way to spur job growth, said Michalik, is to get the state’s fiscal house in order. Michalik said one way to do this is to “hold the line on taxes and spending” and to take on the state’s long-term liabilities, including its debt.
With a projected large state deficit in the state’s budget next year, Michalik said he is not in favor of raising taxes, and the state’s spending will be examined more closely.
“I think we do need to take a close look at… all of the programs the state offers to see which ones work, which ones don’t work,” said Michalik, adding the state also should make sound investments in education, transportation and innovation.
Born and raised in Plainville with ties to Bristol, Michalik is the Democratic candidate in the race for the 31st District state senate seat. If elected, he will represent the 31st district, which covers Bristol, Plainville, Harwinton, Thomaston, and Plymouth. Michalik’s opponent is Bristol Republican City Councilor Henri Martin.
Michalik has experience working at both the local and state level. Although this would be the first time he serves as state senator if elected, Michalik said his work experience at the state level is an advantage. Michalik said he feels confident that he can “hit the ground running.”
“I have relationships with a lot of these folks already, and I think it’s just a question of building on those relationships,” said Michalik, adding how his knowledge of the state legislature’s processes also serves as an advantage. “I’m a practical and pragmatic guy. I view policies in terms of what’s going to be best for working and middle class families and small businesses.”
After receiving his master’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut, Michalik worked in the field of marketing research. During that time, he served on the Planning and Zoning Commission in Plainville for two years before elected to the Plainville Town Council. Michalik served on the Council for three terms from 2001 to 2007.
Looking back on his years as a councilor, Michalik recalled how he developed creative ways to save money, which serves as one qualifier for the state senate seat, he said. While serving on the council, Michalik said he spearheaded various initiatives that saved money for taxpayers. One initiative included a “step up delinquent tax collection program,” which helped alleviate the burden on taxpayers. He also pushed for the town of Plainville to implement an “Ebay-like” auction system for the sale of bonds.
“Hopefully, I can take that kind of experience at the state level, and also try and find creative ways to save the state money,” said Michalik.
While serving his final term on the council, Michalik served as district director for then-U.S. Rep (now U.S. Senator) Christopher Murphy, which involved managing his congressional office in the state.
When Murphy became the state’s senator, Michalik served as his state Economic Development Director. Earlier this year, Michalik left Murphy’s office to serve as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, which allowed him to work closely with the state legislature.
Michalik said this background experience in that area will help small businesses thrive in Connecticut, especially those in the district he will serve if elected. During his role in the area of economic development, Michalik said he worked on state programs that help small businesses. One program includes the Small Business Express Program which provides loans and grants to small businesses for job growth and creation.
“More than 1,000 businesses in the state have been helped by the program, and the program has resulted in thousands of jobs being either retaining or created,” said Michalik.
Michalik added he also feels proud to work on a new “manufacturing innovation fund” that the state legislature passed this past spring.
“That is geared to helping small businesses purchase new technologies and equipment so they can…remain competitive…and grow jobs,” said Michalik.
When asked about the steps that should be taken to improve infrastructure in order to make the state more business friendly, Michalik said Connecticut should prioritize certain investments, such as infrastructure spending. He noted a recent study showing that shipping companies waste more than $26 billion a year on excess fuel and employee drive time.
“That’s too much—we need to prioritize investments in our roads, in our bridges, in our rail system…to make sure that businesses in our state can easily get their products to market, and that employees can get more efficiently to work,” said Michalik, adding he would like to see upgrades to the rail system in Connecticut.
Michalik said the biggest challenge small businesses face currently is the cost of doing business in Connecticut. Michalik noted how he has heard concerns from manufacturers who cannot find enough qualified workers or business owners who are concerned about the regulatory burdens.
“We’re never going to be the cheapest place to do business, but we can be the smartest place to do business, and that’s what we should strive [for],” said Michalik.
Rob Michalik