It’s time for major reform and restructuring of state government. We must make government more transparent and reform the byzantine and archaic organizational structure in the state legislature. Montville is an example of this disjointed legislative construct. The town has two state senators and three state representatives. This makes no sense in practical terms, and there are significant costs associated with administering such an unwieldy system. We need a government that is more accountable to the people.

I plan to change the way they do business in Hartford by changing the legislature itself. We should decrease the number of legislators and install term limits.

I suggest amending the state Constitution so that Connecticut has three representatives in each of the 36 Senate districts, reducing the number of representatives in the General Assembly from 151 to 108, a 30 percent reduction. A conservative estimate suggests over $2 million in savings.

As for term limits, I recommend increasing legislative terms from two to four years, but limiting service to two terms, providing a maximum of eight years of service in the House or Senate. If someone excels in their elected position, and wants to continue public service, I would then suggest they consider higher office if the people so choose.

Having three state representatives for every one state senator in a geographic catchment area would promote a far more cohesive and collaborative alignment that benefits not only the constituents in the newly redefined House districts, but creates significant administrative cost savings. Fifteen states already have term limits in place.

More importantly, these proposals challenge the status quo in the legislature and establish a precedent and model for state governmental restructuring that is both urgent and necessary. Having been appointed as a freshman by the House Speaker to chair the Regional Entities Working Group of the M.O.R.E. (Municipal Opportunities for Regional Efficiencies) Commission, I understand and appreciate the value and effectiveness of bringing together stakeholders from both sides of the aisle. Only with Senate and House members of both parties working together with chief elected municipal leaders and other invested parties can Connecticut have the vigorous discussion necessary to seize the opportunities and confront the challenges facing the state.

It is time to address the problems we have in this state with specific solutions and resist falling back on old and tired and divisive political rhetoric. It is clear to me that people have no more appetite for political games. We need to get it real, we need to get it right, and we need to get it together, each and every one of us.

Timothy Bowles, a Preston resident, is a former state representative and currently a candidate for the state Senate in the 18th District.