Submitted by Christine Palm.
CHESTER (Oct. 11, 2020) – Christine Palm, who is running for re-election to be state representative in the 36th district (Chester, Deep River, Essex and Haddam) has been endorsed by numerous groups for her advocacy and proven track record during the 2019-20 legislative term.
Protecting the environment is a major focus of Palm’s legislative efforts. She introduced two environmental protection bills (one to require the teaching of climate change in public schools and one to ban commercial seismic surveying and drilling off the Connecticut coastline), both of which passed one chamber. Palm in-tends to re-introduce them if re-elected. Because of these efforts, she was named a “Legislative Champion” by the non-partisan Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, which endorsed her again this year, as well as the Sierra Club and the Connecticut Chapter of the Sunrise Movement.
“I am gratified to earn the trust and endorsement of our seminal environmental groups because the urgency of protecting our earth cannot be overstated,” Palm said. “I have learned from and been inspired by the young activists in the Sunrise Movement, and I can’t wait to partner with them again.”
Among women’s rights groups, both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice CT have endorsed Palm, as they did during her first campaign for office.
“In the 2019 legislative session we were successful after six years of working with legislators to pass the paid family medical leave law, pass policy to ensure access to PrEP for young people to prevent the transmission of HIV and work to establish the LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network through the legislature,” said Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut’s chair, Danielle Eason. “We are grateful that you have indicated that as a legislator you are willing to stand up for our existing state policies and to advocate for improving ac-cess to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people.”
Palm has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO and is cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party, as well as the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG).
Palm, who taught high school in Hartford for 10 years, has been outspoken on the need to protect teachers’ retirement security, as well as advocating for their rights during the pandemic. She has earned the endorsement of The American Federation of Teachers Connecticut (AFT), and the Association for Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC-PAC).
“Our teachers are facing the greatest challenge of their lives right now, and our government has to do a better job of listening to their concerns and responding to them,” said Palm. “Additionally, too many people do not understand that here in Connecticut teachers cannot generally collect Social Security, and so it is up to all of us to keep the promise we made to them by protecting their retirement security.”
Palm is also endorsed by the political action committee of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the largest professional association of social workers in the state, representing more than 2,300 members.
As a member of the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee, Palm believes in both the Second Amendment and gun safety laws, and has earned the endorsement of Connecticut Against Gun Violence. And while it is not an endorsement, Palm was also awarded the 2020 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.
