Stamford Patch: CT Patch Candidate Profile: Eilish Collins Main For State Rep.
Eilish Collins Main shares with Patch why she should be elected to serve the 146th State House District in Stamford.
Richard Kaufman, Patch Staff
Posted Fri, Oct 4, 2024 at 11:03 am ET
Election Day is Nov. 5. (Courtesy of Katharine Calderwood.)
STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 5 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.
Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city and state.
Candidate’s Name
Eilish Collins Main
What office are you seeking?
State Representative
District
146th State House District
Campaign website
What city or town do you live in?
Stamford
Party affiliation
Democratic and Independent (cross-endorsed)
Education
B.A. in Government from Franklin & Marshall College
Occupation
Businesswoman in the Education Technology sector for 35+ years
Family
I have three children, all born and raised in Stamford. Caroline, 32 years old, working as account director at an advertising company Ryan, 29 years old, studying at Tufts Medical School Kaelin, 22 years old, studying at Duke University.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
N/A
Previous public office, appointive or elective
I was appointed to serve on the City of Stamford’s Personnel Commission, where I have been serving as a member of the five-person panel since last year.
Age
60
Why are you seeking this office?
My background is a commitment to community and a passion for public service. So I see this as the next natural step in my efforts to give back to the city and community that has given so much to me.
What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?
The affordability issue is what I hear the most about from residents while speaking with them on the doors and the phone. Specifically, housing, for every age and every stage. There is no one singular solution so I would take an all-of-the-above approach to tackling the issue. This means advocating for more funding to provide resources like housing rebates, tackling high utility costs, or pushing for tax credits to alleviate other affordability concerns that we’re facing these days. The state legislature has taken steps to address the problems, but we can always do more.
There have been an alarming number of deaths on Connecticut's roadways. Is there anything from a legislative standpoint that can be done to address that?
Some action has been taken in recent years, but we must do more to address this persistent concern. Pedestrians and cyclists deserve accessible and safe streets so we can prioritize infrastructure changes to make it happen. Drivers deserve safer routes to wherever they’re going. Let’s also consider improved lighting and new technology like cameras or sensors that can make these roadways safer for everyone.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Two major areas come to mind. The first one is that I am a community advocate. I have had the privilege of volunteering with several local organizations like Building One Community and the Police Activities League (PAL) Art program which help me stay grounded in and committed to the city where I was born and raised my amazing kids. I am a first-generation American with parents who came from another country to settle here and strive for the American dream. As a 30-year working mom, I know the struggle of finding affordable childcare, quality early childhood education, and afterschool programs while balancing competing commitments to give my children the best opportunities to follow their dreams.
Secondly, our campaign has been building a broad coalition of support throughout Stamford and even statewide. We have been endorsed by incredible public servants including Congressman Himes, Attorney General Tong, and Mayor Simmons. I’m proud to be endorsed by the Stamford Democratic Party and Independent Party of Connecticut, but also important groups like the Connecticut AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut, Connecticut Association of REALTORS, and Connecticut Against Gun Violence. I value practical policy solutions, not political sound bites, so I’m excited to have overwhelming support from groups embedded in these impactful policy discussions and it means so much to me.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
With five years of experience volunteering on political campaigns, including our current mayor’s campaign, and two solid years of serving in campaign management roles in Stamford, I am on a first-name basis with our local, state, and national delegations. Through some of this important work, I have also had the opportunity to speak with voters across our district and hear about their concerns. With a 35-year business career in EdTech management, marketing, and business development, I bring substantial experience to serving in the legislature as a strategic thinker, consensus builder, and skilled negotiator. This combination makes me particularly prepared to serve on day one in the state legislature.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am a working parent and single mom with a lifelong passion for giving back to my community. Voters can elect a longtime resident with a life of lived experiences to lean into not only to understand but to empathize with the people of this city that I love, and work to promote common-sense policy solutions to address their needs and priorities.
If elected, I want to ensure that residents of the 146th District know that they have an ally and an advocate in me as their state representative. Whether a small business owner, a teacher, a police officer, a firefighter, or other profession, voters deserve someone who will stand up for what is right and maintain an open-door policy to ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear. That’s what I offer as a candidate in this race and that’s why I hope to earn the voters’ support as vote by November 5th.
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