Bob Statchen, the Stonington Democrat making another run for the 18th Senate District seat occupied by Republican Heather Somers of Groton, believes the election is about values and leadership, areas in which he said the national GOP, as embodied by President Donald Trump, is sorely lacking.

Many Connecticut Republicans are among the presidents' enablers, according to Statchen, who said his opponent’s tendency to avoid commenting on Trump’s positions does voters a disservice.

“I don’t think it’s feasible to ignore his behavior and say it’s irrelevant,” Statchen said. “I think people are looking for a statement of values. In order to assess a candidate’s values, it’s relevant to ask where they stand (in relation to Trump).”

Statchen, 52, a law professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., and a member of the Stonington Board of Finance, said the coronavirus pandemic, the foremost issue on the minds of the district’s voters, has highlighted the fault lines in the political landscape.

“We’ve seen how in a purely employer-based system, health care is in jeopardy for so many people who are out of work,” he said. “I believe affordable health care is a right and that we have a responsibility to provide it. Two-thirds of all bankruptcies are due to health care costs. Clearly, there needs to be reform. We need a health care system that is more affordable. People need coverage.

“What’s the Republicans’ plan? I don’t think it’s been presented,” Statchen said. “During the Obama administration, the ACA (Affordable Care Act) provided coverage for 20 million more people. Since Trump, 2.8 million people have lost it. And they’re attacking the ACA now. It’s reflective of their values.”

Statchen said it’s his job as a candidate to highlight his opponent’s values.

“I don’t think my opponent has put forth how she would improve health care,” he said. “That’s the problem.”

“If she (Somers) had ever come out against hydroxychloroquine or ‘fine people on both sides’ in Charlottesville, it would be a different discussion,” Statchen said, referring to the malaria drug Trump touted as a COVID-19 treatment and the president’s description of those who participated in violent protests in 2017 in Virginia.

While the pandemic has curbed in-person and door-to-door campaigning, Statchen said he and his campaign have been engaging by phone and text with voters throughout the district, which comprises Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown. An Air Force veteran who serves as a colonel in the Connecticut Air National Guard, Statchen was unable to campaign for a time in the spring after the Guard tapped him to coordinate the distribution of personal protective equipment throughout the region.

Two years ago, in his first run for elective office, Statchen lost to Somers by 10 percentage points.

He said that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, people were most concerned about the state of the economy. Now, amid the pandemic, many are concerned about how the state's economy will recover. If elected, he said, he would like to work on such funding issues as support for special education and municipal initiatives as well as on ways to help small businesses.

Employment taxes, for example, are a significant burden for owners of the smallest of small businesses, those with just a few employees, Statchen said. For them, Medicare and Social Security payments account for 7.5 percent of payroll.

“We could make those payments deductible from an owner’s personal income tax. We need creative thinking,” he said.

Enabling a small business to add two or three employees can be “an economic home run,” Statchen said. “It’s great we have EB and Pfizer, but we’ve also got to advocate for smaller businesses, too.” 

Statchen said he would have voted for the police accountability bill the legislature approved during a special session in July. All Republican senators, including Somers, voted against it.

“In my military career, I’ve put people in jail and I’ve also defended people,” he said. “I believe accountability improves quality. I’ve spoken to police chiefs about the bill and there are areas where it could be improved. They’re looking for more clarity on the use of deadly force and the banning of consent searches. I would welcome that.”

He said the Stonington finance board, of which he is a member, asked an insurance agent if the town should expect its premiums to spike because of the law. He said the board was told early indications are that it won’t have that effect.

Statchen said his opponent’s claim to be an ally of law enforcement is hypocritical, given that she’s voted against pay raises for state police.

Regarding taxes, Statchen said he agrees with the approach espoused by former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, who has said no one earning under $400,000 will face a tax increase if he wins election.

“I would fight against regressive taxes that would impact middle class workers more than others, whether it’s a gas tax or a tax on commodities,” Statchen said. “I’m a Henny Penny guy, not a Starbucks guy. We shouldn't be making money off the middle class.”

b.hallenbeck@theday.com