Read Tammy Exum's Announcement for State Rep in the 19th

Full Text of Tammy’s Announcement

I’m Tammy Exum and I am announcing my intention be a Democratic candidate for State Representative for the 19th District.  

First, I would like to congratulate Derek Slap for his victory and thank former State Senator Beth Bye for her continued public service to our community.

I come from a family of educators.  My parents instilled in me the value and appreciation for the transformative power and opportunity that a good education can give. That’s why my first job was as an elementary school teacher.  

After receiving my MBA, I was recruited to Connecticut and decided to put down roots in West Hartford, along with my husband and two young sons.

Shortly after one of my sons started pre-school it became apparent that he would need special support services. This was an important moment for me, because at that point I had to learn how to be an effective advocate for my children.

I learned to work collaboratively and build relationships with the teachers and administrators to ensure that my children received the tools and support they needed.  Those skills were essential when I went on to serve on the West Hartford Board of Education.

I am proud that all three of my boys are products of the West Hartford Public Schools.  

Giving other parents the tools and training to also be effective advocates for their own children became my mission, as the coordinator for the Parent Leadership Training Program. In my role as a community leader I’ve listened to parents from every part of our community who shared with me their concerns.

One common concern that I’ve heard and one I share, is that Connecticut is becoming a more difficult place to afford to move to and to stay.  In order for our state to grow and thrive we need young people and families to move here, like I did a few decades ago.  That means we need to have public policy that helps grow businesses and jobs, and at the same time have policies that promote and enhance our quality of life.  That means passing laws like paid family and medical leave, looking at ways to connect high students with trades, and protecting our environment.  

My approach to any problem or role is be a consensus builder. No party or group has all the answers, and we should be open to solutions no matter who proposes them. In order to fix the serious financial challenges Connecticut faces all of us need to come together.

While this is the start of a campaign, I view it more as the start of a conversation about what the communities of Avon, Farmington, and West Hartford in the 19th District want in their next state representative.

So today, the conversation about our common values and aspirations begins. I look forward to connecting with as many of you as possible over the next few weeks and hopefully earn your support.

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