As she campaigns for a fourth term in the legislature, State. Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, understands the national anti-incumbent wave is also crashing on shores in the 20th senate district.

"I know there is a sense of anger," Stillman said. "I know it's out there and we have to bring the budget down."

Stillman's Republican challenger, Daniel Docker of New London, is hoping to tap into that same voter dismay, and curtailing state spending is the focus of his campaign.

"I have no good label for the people we have in politics in the state and federal government," Docker said. "Nobody in their right mind can put up with the nuisance and double talk."

Stillman, who owns an office supply company in downtown New London, previously represented the 38th district in the state house and was a member of the Waterford Board of Finance for seven years.

But Stillman said this year feels different because of the "upheaval" the state and country has gone through since she won her third term in 2008.

"I take every election as a challenge, and I take nothing for granted," Stillman said.

This time, though, the focus for her is jobs.

"We have to get people back to work," Stillman said.

An emergency services worker, Docker, who is an appointed member of the New London Zoning Board of Appeals, is making his first stab at elective office, originally losing the GOP nomination to Brian Johnson of Montville. Shortly after the GOP convention, Johnson dropped out and Docker took his place.

Docker is a self described advocate of the so-called "slash and burn" tactic to the state budget, but is short on specifics except for pledges to cut waste and redundancy among state employees.

"If (laid off state workers) are any good they will be absorbed by the private sector," Docker said.

"State and local government should be run like businesses," Docker said. "In an absolute emergency, you cut something to create funds for that emergency."

Docker said that "in his heart and mind it is important to send people home with money in their paycheck," and that "extra cash will help businesses grow and hire."

Stillman is wary of the "slash and burn" approach, saying many constituents are concerned about vital state programs and that cutbacks to them come after careful consideration.

"It's not a simple process," Stillman said. "Government is not simplistic, it's complicated."

Stillman is also on the lookout for redundancy in government and is a member of a legislative group tasked with finding overlap in the budget.

"We're looking at overhauling functions at the Department of Motor Vehicles," Stillman said. "I also think we can streamline licensing and permitting. It can take six to eight weeks to get a liquor permit."

Libertarian candidate Marc Guttman is also running for the 20th district seat, which encompasses New London, Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, and parts of Old Saybrook and Montville.

Guttman said he is not mounting a serious run at the office, but would like to get enough support to keep the Libertarian Party on the ballot.

House District 38 Race

Both Rep. Betsy Ritter, the Democratic incumbent in the 38th House race, and Republican challenger Tony F. Siragusa want to take a hard look at the scope and role of state

government.

But they have different ideas for how to find savings in this financially strapped state.

Ritter, who is seeking her third consecutive term from the district that includes all of Waterford and southern Montville, said she opposes the "slash and burn" approach favored by some Republicans.

She called it "easy to advocate, but hard to administer."

"I don't think there is a single way to cut," Ritter said. "The slash and burn approach sounds really great until you realize there are state functions that have to be maintained … like the Medicaid program."

Siragusa, who is making his first foray into elective politics, said his first priority would be to take on spending.

"Until you fix spending, there is nothing else to fix," Siragusa said.

Siragusa supports cutting salaries for newly hired state employees by 10 percent and would seek concessions from unions on pensions during future contract negotiations.

"We need to change retirement benefits, vacations - change everything for new employees," Siragusa said.

Ritter and Siragusa differ starkly on the future of rail transportation in the state.

Siragusa is opposed to the proposed New Haven to Springfield commuter line that is currently undergoing an environmental assessment.

"It costs a fortune, and no one is going to ride it," Siragusa said.

Ritter countered and said she is "really concerned about Siragusa's stance" on the matter.

"Public transportation is a spur for economic development, and businesses want it," Ritter said.

Ritter pointed to the Shore Line East expansion to New London as something that could drive local business. Siragusa said Shore Line East trains need "a higher speed on the rail, but it costs a fortune."

Both candidates said they will advocate looking in the state budget for redundancies and efficiencies.

In knocking on doors and talking to voters, Ritter said she's heard the frustration voters have had with Hartford in the past two years, but she urged patience.

"I understand," Ritter said. "We live in such an instant society, and I know it's frustrating all the way around. People are concerned with jobs and income."

Siragusa decided to run for the 38th seat this year after Ritter ran unopposed in 2008.

"People should have a choice," Siragusa said.

Siragusa said he hopes there will be a strong GOP turnout this year and aligns himself with the Tea Party activists.

"(The Tea Party) is the best thing to happen to the country in a long time," Siragusa said.

Ritter, a New York native who moved to Waterford from Virginia, has served the town as tax collector, treasurer, and registrar of voters, before voters sent her to Hartford in 2004.

Norwich native Siragusa, a retired state transportation worker, was active in his union and is a member of the Montville Planning and Zoning Commission, the Montville Water Pollution Control Authority, and is on the board of the Southeast Connecticut Water Authority.

s.chupaska@theday.com

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