When first elected to the Connecticut legislature in 2016, I promised not to be that representative who shows up every two years and says, “Remember me?" Since first taking the oath of office, I have kept that promise, immersing myself in the life of the towns in our district and working diligently to serve my constituents.

I am proud of my legislative record – co-sponsor and lead House Republican on the bill to cap insulin prices; co-sponsor of the bill requiring parity for mental illness treatment; co-sponsor of the data privacy bill to protect our residents from out-of-control big tech.

I voted to protect our students’ mental health by supporting legislation providing new grants for school social workers, psychologists, counselors, and nurses. I confer regularly with our local school superintendents to remain informed on what they and our students need.

My opponent has scant knowledge of my record, describing it falsely as “empty words and promises.” “‘We need real investment, not empty words and promises’,” (Oct. 19).

This is not surprising given that he moved into the district only recently and has little understanding of the legislative process. How else could he confuse the state budget, for which I voted in 2021, with the 2022 budget adjustment bill, which I opposed?

I could not support a 1,000-page document that funds meditation gardens, golf tournaments, and $2 million for flights to Jamaica. It allocated $20 million for job training for convicted criminals but only $1million for our towns to recruit and retain the police we need to serve and protect us.

This year, as ranking member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, I fought for substantive relief for our residents, forcing public hearings on proposals like tax breaks for renters and indexing tax brackets and deductions to inflation. My opponent’s party rejected all these ideas.

As for “empty words and promises,” consider his plan, revealed at our Oct. 7 debate, to continue teaching fulltime in Norwich while serving in the legislature. Talk about a no-win situation. Norwich taxpayers and his students lose when a long-term substitute replaces him. East Lyme, Salem and Montville voters lose when he misses required committee meetings, public hearings, and legislative sessions to be in the classroom. In addition, the state legislature is hardly a venue for on-the-job training for someone with no experience in elected office. By contrast, before being elected to the legislature, I had served three terms on the East Lyme Board of Selectmen, 18 years on the East Lyme Library Board, and on the East Lyme Curriculum Council, with long memberships in the East Lyme Historical Society, Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, and many other civic organizations.

In the six years I have had the honor to represent the residents of the 37th District, I have missed just one vote out of thousands – when I drove my 95-year-old father to the hospital at 1 a.m. With your support on Nov. 8, I will continue the fight for a safer, more affordable, more prosperous Connecticut and represent every individual in our district with honor, integrity, and compassion.

Holly Cheeseman is the state Representative for the 37th District (East Lyme and Salem)