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E.J. Maher

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E.J. Maher
Image of E.J. Maher

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Associate

Housatonic Community College, 2002

Bachelor's

New York University, 2004

Personal
Birthplace
New Haven, Conn.
Religion
Catholic
Profession
Firefighter
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

E.J. Maher (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Connecticut House of Representatives to represent District 89. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Maher completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Maher was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned an associate degree from Housatonic Community College in 2002 and a bachelor's degree from New York University in 2004. His career experience includes working as a firefighter for the city of Norwalk. He has also worked in retail and retail management, food service, sales/marketing, customer service, internet startup management, construction, property management, farming, nonprofit (paid and volunteer), film production, manufacturing management, education, and as a lifeguard.[1][2]

Elections

2020

See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 89

Incumbent Lezlye Zupkus defeated E.J. Maher in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 89 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lezlye Zupkus
Lezlye Zupkus (R / Independent Party)
 
63.6
 
9,366
Image of E.J. Maher
E.J. Maher (D) Candidate Connection
 
36.4
 
5,351

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 14,717
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. E.J. Maher advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 89.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lezlye Zupkus advanced from the Republican primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 89.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

E.J. Maher completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Maher's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am a lifetime CT resident, a father, husband and a professional union firefighter. I am a board member of multiple boards of education and an active member of my community. I care deeply about my family, neighbors, community and state. I know the issues that are important to CT residents because at one time or another i feel like i have been in their shoes. I know what it is like to struggle and i am fortunate enough to know what it feels like to succeed. I have worked in retail, food service, public safety, manufacturing, construction and more. I know what its like to have some to save and i know what its like to not have enough to make ends meet even while working multiple jobs. I know the struggles and the joys of raising a family here in CT. I also now the impact healthcare or lack thereof can have on a family. I am eager to get to work making CT a place of opportunity, affordability, efficiency and compassion for each and every resident.
  • All CT children deserve a rigorous and equitable education at a fair cost to taxpayers
  • Fair wages for honest work, fair labor practices, equitable tax policy and access to quality healthcare for all residents.
  • Bringing together all stakeholders to address inequality and equity to move forward together for a better CT
I am passionate about education and ensuring equitable and affordable education for all children regardless of income or need. Vocational training for learners of all ages is also vital to improving opportunity for CT workers and businesses alike. We must make tax policy equitable so everyone and every business pays their fair share. Ensuring healthcare, including mental health services and substance abuse treatment is affordable and within reach of every single CT resident is a moral obligation we must undertake. The relationship between the public safety community (which as a firefighter i am a part) and many of the communities we serve is tenuous in CT at best. I believe we can and must work together to build strong relationships with the diverse communities we serve while providing the vital services CT residents expect and deserve. Giving small businesses the tools and resources they need to succeed while ensuring fair labor practices for workers keeps our economy strong, the interest of one cannot outweigh the other. Investing in our post COVID recovery and in CT infrastructure is important work that also must be done quickly, done right and can be done together. As leaders we are expected to act for the public good and must do so, but we can only do so if we put our differences aside and work together. We are... Better. Together.
I believe the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office include representing the interests of the community by advocating for state resources on their behalf, helping constituents connect to resources they need but have trouble accessing and generally being available to hear the opinions, values and concerns of the district and to effectively represent those interests through legislative action.
If i am remembered for anything i hope it is for being honest, for doing my best on behalf of those i am elected to represent and for contributing to the greater good while never compromising my values even if i must compromise to accomplish progress.
Age 15, Harrison's Hardware in Milford (which incidentally stood on/near the spot where my family ran Maher's Livery over 100 years earlier). I worked there after school for a year or so for 4.19/hr. I will never forget working the parts counter selling nuts and bolts one by one. Not many old school hardware stores left like that any more.
I would say J.K. Rowlings, "Harry Potter" series which i enjoyed reading through for the first time to my children as a bedtime story but more influential would be "A People's History of the United States," by Howard Zinn. I am a proud American and this book was the first i read that challenged me to think critically about American history and the legacy of the actions that shaped this country. It also compelled me to rigorously scrutinize everything proffered as fact because a lot of my education growing up i learned was often selective or only partially truthful. I believe the natural skepticism it fostered helps keep my perspective from being skewed by the propaganda and disinformation that dominates public discourse today...
I believe, as in all affairs, diversity among legislators is the key to success. It helps to have leaders who know the system and how to get things done but it takes a constant influx of new blood to make sure new ideas and ways of thinking are represented in our laws and policies. I do however believe in term limits. They keep corrosive, entrenched or otherwise outdated ideals out of our system that only thrives when it grows and keeps pace with the needs of the state as they evolve in real time.
I perceive our state's greatest challenges over the next decade include post-CoVID economic recovery, rebuilding CTs aging infrastructure, equity and financial stability.
You must build relationships both within and outside your own party in order to effectively legislate. You need votes to be able to pass meaningful legislation and though i appreciate and respect people of unwavering principle, this is democracy and democracy demands compromise. I further believe diverse viewpoints must be cultivated to effect true representative governance and only by building relationships can you foster honest and civil discourse.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ E.J. Maher 2020 campaign website, “About me,” accessed September 30, 2020


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