The Milford-Orange Times is continuing its election-year tradition of asking the candidates to respond to questions about what they would do for the residents of Milford and Orange if voters elect them. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Q: What will you do if elected to help make your district a more affordable place to live? Be as specific as possible.
State representative candidate Steve Visconti, Republican, District 118
Steve Visconti
Affordability is my top priority because I know firsthand what it means to struggle financially. Born and raised in Milford, I grew up in a family living below the poverty line and began working as a teenager to help pay household bills. Today, as a husband and father of three, I understand the pressure that rising property taxes, utility bills, housing costs, groceries and healthcare expenses place on working families. These are not abstract issues – they are challenges I have experienced personally.
If elected to represent Milford’s 118th District, I will make affordability the foundation of my work in Hartford. I will pursue meaningful property tax relief for homeowners and renters, explore reasonable limits on property tax increases and protect seniors on fixed incomes from being priced out of their homes.
Connecticut families also deserve transparent, fair and affordable utility bills. I will advocate for a thorough review of utility charges to eliminate unnecessary fees, expand access to reliable and competitively priced energy and modernize our electrical infrastructure.
Assistance programs should help working families get ahead, not penalize them for earning more. I support expanding sliding-scale access to benefits so families can increase their earnings while maintaining support as they move toward greater financial stability. Hard work should create opportunity, not additional hardship.
Fully funding our public schools is another essential priority. As someone who attended Milford public schools and now has children attending those same schools, I understand the importance of providing every student with a quality education. Our teachers, staff and students deserve safe classrooms, strong educational programs and the resources necessary to succeed. I will advocate for Milford to receive its fair share of state education funding, support fair compensation and retirement security for educators and work to ensure our schools are fully funded without placing an unreasonable burden on local property taxpayers.
Strong public schools are not only an investment in our children’s future; they are essential to maintaining strong neighborhoods, protecting property values and keeping Milford a community where families want to live and raise their children.
With nearly 20 years of business management experience, including work in the trades and service as a union shop steward, I understand the value of good-paying jobs and a strong local economy. I will support responsible business growth, expand career opportunities and help young people build their futures here in Connecticut while preserving Milford’s neighborhoods and environment.
Meaningful progress requires cooperation. I will work across party lines, evaluate the financial impact of legislation and pursue practical solutions that provide real relief without shifting costs onto other taxpayers. I believe we can support our schools, protect essential services and make Connecticut more affordable through responsible budgeting and a commitment to putting residents first.
Affordability is not a political talking point for me. It is personal. I have worked more than 70 hours a week to support my family, and I know many neighbors make those same sacrifices every day.
My goal is simple: Milford should remain a community where young adults can afford their first homes, working families can get ahead, our children receive the quality education they deserve and seniors can retire with dignity without being priced out of the city they love.