Republican state representative Brian Lanoue has never lost a political race. It appears very likely that string will continue.

Lanoue, 40, is seeking a third term representing the 45th state house district, which, due to redistricting, now includes Preston, Griswold, Voluntown, and portions of Ledyard and Lisbon.

The Griswold resident is essentially running unopposed this year. Preston resident Kayla Thompson is on the ballot as a Democratic challenger, but party officials say she is just a placeholder candidate and isn't actively campaigning. She did not return phone and e-mail messages from The Day.

Still, Lanoue said he has been campaigning, especially in Preston and Ledyard, which are new additions to the district.

"It's not just a matter of getting votes, which of course I want," he said. "It helps me a lot when I'm knocking on doors, and talking with people. When I'm in Hartford, I remember a lot of the conversations I've had with voters, and I apply that knowledge to how I vote in the legislature. That's an invaluable commodity."

Lanoue is employed as a night dispatcher at American Industries in Griswold. He decided to get into politics in 2018, after complaining to friends about the state of affairs in Connecticut.

"My friends said you can complain, or do something about it. So, with the encouragement of then-state representative Kevin Skulczyck, I got a haircut, bought a suit, and threw my hat in the ring," he said.

He said one of the first pieces of legislation he helped passed, was a requirement that all people working in children's camps and youth sports programs undergo background checks.

"On my second day of freshman orientation in the legislature, I saw a news report saying a child attending a summer camp came back home and was suddenly very quiet and isolated," said Lanoue. "It turns out the child had been sexually molested many times by his camp counselor. "

The incident happened in another state, but Lanoue said he found Connecticut was one of 16 states that didn't require background checks for such camps.

With the help of State Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, a police detective and head of a youth football program, the legislation passed last year.

"It was a moment that still gave me hope that lawmakers on all sides of the political spectrum can work together," said Lanoue.

Looking ahead to the upcoming legislative session, Lanoue says if re-elected, he'd like to focus on the expansion of state programs passed in the latest budget.

"Programs were expanded by half a billion dollars, using federal Covid relief funding," he said. "Once that money goes away, how do we pay for those programs? Either the program has to be cut, or taxes have to be raised. It seems the answer has always been to raise taxes."

Lanoue is also pushing legislation that would waive state taxes on yearly stipends given to volunteer firefighters and emergency service personnel. The stipends were meant to encourage people to volunteer for such positions, but Lanoue said a lot of the stipend is wiped out by state and federal taxes, discouraging people from volunteering.

"If we don't have the volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, what option is left? A paid system, right? Can you imagine the additional tax burden for municipalities?," he said.

He said he's also concerned about what he sees as an erosion of parental rights when it comes to their children's education and welfare.

"Schools are trying to get parents out of the way in determining curriculum," he said. "Teaching young children about gender identity, and transgender issues....those are issues that should be discussed between parents and their children.“

Lanoue is also against the state's decision to eliminate religious exemptions to vaccines.

On abortion Lanoue said he's pro-life, and always has been. "I feel life begins at conception. I have taken an oath as a legislator to protect the people of my district, and the people of Connecticut, and that includes unborn children."

He said he does support exceptions for rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother but doesn't support late-term abortions.

Lanoue said, if reelected, he will be talking with Preston officials about the latest movement in getting the delayed clean-up of the former state hospital grounds completed, and the land turned over to the Mohegan tribe for potential development.

"It's a long time in coming, and very promising", he said. "We must make sure it's done appropriately."

Lanoue said the local concerns regarding noise, pollution, and traffic are valid regarding a Massachusetts company's interest in siting a dredging-processing plant on a portion of the former Dow Chemical plant in Gales Ferry.

"We have to make sure it's environmentally safe and sound," he said.

Lanoue said the state's current laws are too restrictive, and there should be more emphasis about the mental health component of the gun issue.He touted the Crisis Mission Initiative that started in Griswold, and has now been expanded to state police in which a mental health clinician can assist police in gun violence situations where mental health concerns are apparent. Police officers also receive crisis intervention training.

"These are the answers to gun violence issues, not targeting sportsmen and law-abiding citizens," he said.

Lanoue doesn't support a state constitutional amendment on the November ballot that could pave the way for early voting in the state. He believes it works against lesser-known candidates, especially newcomers, who may not have the funds for campaign ads, and may not be able to reach voters until late in the campaign season. "

As for the 2020 Presidential election, Lanoue said Joe Biden's election as president "wasn't the result I was hoping for, but he is the president, and I hope it changes in two years."