Mary Welander. Contributed photo.
Mary Welander of Orange officially launched her candidacy today for state Representative in the 114th House District, serving the towns of Derby, Orange and Woodbridge.
Welander, a Democrat, is seeking the seat held by Republican House Minority Leader Themis Klarides.
Welander enters the race with the goal of representing and fighting for comprehensive educational opportunities for children, advancement for families, and stronger support for seniors in the district.
“For too long we have been waiting for someone to put our needs and priorities first, and it hasn’t happened,” Welander said. “Opportunities have been missed, families are being left behind, and people aren’t being helped. And that is what this is all about: helping people. It’s not about building up a name for yourself; it’s about building up our communities. The truth is that things aren’t going to get better for the everyday families in our communities until we have more people from those families involved in making the decisions that affect our everyday lives. We feel the effects; we should be part of the conversation.”
“Mary Welander is a dedicated community advocate who is committed to addressing the challenging issues in education, economic improvement, the environment, and a better quality of life for all our citizens,” said Paul Davis, former state representative and Orange selectman, and current member of the Amity Board of Education. “Mary’s focus is on people, not politics.”
“Mary understands what our community is facing and is ready to work so that our families have the best chance for success in their futures,” said Beth Heller, first selectwoman of Woodbridge. “Her commitment to our towns and real-life problem solving is clear and we look forward to Mary truly representing Woodbridge in Hartford.”
Welander is a member of the Orange Board of Education and currently serves as the vice chair of both the Finance and Personnel, Policy, and Transportation subcommittees. She is also co-president of the Race Brook School PTA. She is an Ambassador for Connecticut for Sandy Hook Promise and regularly promotes education-based, common sense solutions for gun violence prevention programs both within the state and through bipartisan outreach trips to Washington, DC. She has also recently joined the team of Pirie Associates, an architecture, landscape, and interior design firm in New Haven committed to sustainable and equitable built environments.
Marc Garofalo, former mayor of Derby, said, “Mary shows true commitment to bipartisan problem solving every day with her work on the Orange Board of Education. She has dedicated herself to making better futures for families in her town and I know she will do the same for the families of Derby.”
Welander and her husband Matt live in Orange with their three children and their dog, Bauer. These days she is often found at High Plains Community Center and other various pools cheering on their daughter and the rest of the ARAC Swim Team, or attending meetings for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other various organizations she and her family are part of.
“My dedication to the Orange Board of Education will not change; serving on the board and working in a bipartisan way to help our children is a huge honor for me,” Welander said. “My commitment to all of our towns hasn’t wavered – in fact it has grown. This district, my neighbors, our schools, and our state deserve someone who will do the work and fight for them. Problems aren’t solved by pointing fingers and I am tired of hearing the same arguments while nothing changes and families continue to struggle. Orange, Derby and Woodbridge deserve more. I hope I can earn their trust and support.”