Candidate, Connecticut House of Representatives, District 48, 2010

State Representative, 48th District, Connecticut State Legislature, 1981-1982

Former Member, Colchester Economic Development Commission

Attorney, Law Offices of Joseph A. Broder, 2001-present

Special Counsel, Town of East Haddam, 1980-present

Former Colchester Town Attorney, Town of Colchester

Senior Partner, Broder & Butts Attorneys, 1974-2000

Commander, United States Navy Reserves, JAG Corps, 1965-1989

Member, American Legion

Board of Directors, Colchester Business Association

Member, Colchester Fish and Game Club

Member, Colchester Grange

Member, Colchester Jaycees

Member/Former President, Rotary International, Colchester Chapter

Favorite Actor/Actress:

John Wayne

Favorite President and Why:

Abraham Lincoln. He had wisdom, common sense and humility - characteristics too often absent in political officeholders today.

Favorite Quote:

Abraham Lincoln: "The legitimate concern of government is to do for the individual only that which the individual cannot do for himself."

First Job:

Grocery clerk

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Fishing, hunting, sailing, poker

Number of Grandchildren:

2 grandkids, Hudson and Chloe

Pets (include names):

Have had two English Setters, Judge and Tory. Sadly both are gone now. Hoping to get a new Setter pup next year.

Priority Issues:

Top three priorities:
(1) Reduce state spending. We are facing a projected 3.5 billion dollar budget deficit. Some proposals: A real hiring freeze; pay freeze; pay reductions for highest paid employees; Consolidation of State agencies; Consolidation of presidential administrative staffing at the four regional state universities under a single president; Pension reform - change to defined contribution plan like most private employers; sell Bradley airport; relocation of state agencies offices to more efficiently use state buildings and sell excess buildings; consider unicameral legislature.

Job creation and retention: Focus on retaining existing businesses and jobs. Make Connecticut a more attractive place to do business. Ease up on burdensome regulations - especially for small businesses. Eliminate the $250 business entity tax.

Educational inprovements: Reward teachers that do good work and try to improve or week out those that don't; discourage excessive "teaching to the test"; greater use of interactive computer instruction; more emphasis on the basics of reading and math skills.

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

Actually, the question is most often asked as something like this: ? At this point in your life, why are you undertaking such a demanding mission, rather than just spending your time enjoying being retired from your law practice??

Well, when you do reach this stage in life, you begin to think about what you?ve done over your lifetime to make things better for your family and the people in your community. And, by ?community?, I mean more than just the town where you live. You wonder, ?has my being here helped make a difference?? 28 years ago, when I served a term in the legislature, I was a leader in the fight against drunk driving and kept legislation to strengthen DWI laws from being gutted by powerful senior legislators who, for some reason, opposed the stronger rules. That would not have happened if I had not been there.

If all of us who care, just throw up our hands and say that running for the legislature is too hard, too unpleasant, intrusive on our personal life and that people don?t want listen to rational arguments anyway, then we get people who only want to run for office for other reasons.

Today, we have a bigger battle. We need legislators who will stand up and vote to really cut back on state spending. Otherwise, taxes, for us, our children and grandchildren ? right through the roof!

I care about the future of Connecticut and, in particular, my friends and neighbors here in Colchester and East Haddam. I grew up here. Raised my family here. Built my law practice here.

I am alarmed about our economic future and realize that decisions made now will affect our entire future. Too many businesses, some that have been around for decades, are closing their doors. Too many people are losing jobs and many others are cutting back on the things they can no longer afford.

Yet, the response (or lack of it) coming out of Hartford ? and from our current state representative ? is very troubling. They are simply out of touch with our needs, concerns and priorities. They are certain the way things have been running is the only way government can run.

I believe we can do better. Connecticut is on the brink of financial collapse. We must get our fiscal house in order. Serious efforts must be made to sharply curb state spending and hold the line on taxes. The only responsible way to run our State is to see how much money is available to pay for government programs and, then, not spend a penny more.

We need to bring common sense back to Hartford. It?s time to put a stop to runaway spending, higher taxes, excessive borrowing and unnecessary regulations. Our State government is too big, too intrusive and too quick to spend our money. We need a State government that stops taking from us and starts working for us.

Our future depends on restoring fiscal sanity to State government.

Spouse's Occupation:

Former teacher, now retired.