Toni Boucher wants her old job back.
The former state senator announced this morning that she is running for State Senator, in the 26th district. The Wilton resident — a Republican — represented that district for 10 years, before her defeat by Democrat Will Haskell of Westport in 2018. He was re-elected in 2020, but decided against running for a 3rd term. He will attend law school this fall.
Boucher’s announcement was reported first by Good Morning Wilton. Click here for the full story.
Boucher has also served as a state representative. Her roles included Senate chief deputy leader, and House assistant minority leader.
She cited as her major issues in this campaign:
- protecting local control regarding residential property rights
- protecting local control of education and respecting parental involvement
- making communities safer
- making Connecticut more affordable through tax relief.
Toni Boucher
In announcing her run, she said she most enjoys “helping others and making a positive difference in people’s lives …. I’m also very proud of my record of bipartisan legislative policy accomplishments which have helped to improve the quality of life for people of all ages across Connecticut.”
She called Haskell “hard-working, personable, and (he) cares deeply about Connecticut. I wish him nothing but success and happiness as he enters a new chapter of his life.”
Boucher has been a director at Commonfund in Wilton, working in business development, marketing, research, education and professional development activities for private clients and nonprofits.
Boucher is the first Republican candidate to announce a run. The lone Democrat in the race is another Wilton resident, Ceci Maher.
I know this is Connecticut, however, in other states “respecting parent involvement” meant banning books about the Holocaust and gay people. I would guess Ms. Boucher wouldn’t favor these actions– but I wish she wouldn’t wink at those who would.
Right out of the GOP national playbook.
I look forward to helping Ms. Boucher’s opponent.
A story from the New York Times appeared on the morning of Election Day 2018: “Ms. Boucher…characterized Mr. Haskell as a ‘privileged, wealthy kid from a wealthy family in Westport’ who only had opportunities to work in the offices of Mr. Murphy and Mr. Himes because of his family’s political donations to Democrats, according to a recording of her remarks obtained by The New York Times. But F.E.C. filings show Mr. Haskell’s parents have never made political donations.
“Ms. Boucher has also accused Mr. Haskell’s campaign of stealing lawn signs and conducting a push poll. Mr. Haskell has denied both accusations, pointing to his limited campaign resources and campaign finance records that show his campaign has not spent any money on polling.
“Ms. Boucher and her campaign dodged numerous requests for comment over the course of several days, asserting that the senator did not have the time to speak. Last week, when The Times approached Ms. Boucher after her first candidate forum with Mr. Haskell, she said she had no time to talk because of another event she had to attend that evening. Ms. Boucher then lingered at the forum for at least another 15 minutes, chatting amiably with constituents and the other Republican elected officials who appeared at the forum.”
Ms. Boucher appeared on the Westport train platform that morning just as some of us had finished reading the story. One guy asked her why she had dodged the Times’s questions. She dodged that question, too.
Focus more on your failing ordinance.
Toni is an amazing, smart and kind person who will work for the best interests of the towns in Fairfield County. She has spent years and countless hours schlepping up to Hartford while holding a full-time executive position at Commonfund. Thank you for stepping up again.
I wonder if she’s related to Martin Bouchar? Marty had a brother, but I can’t think of his name.
I sent Ms. Boucher several letters when she was in government. I specifically asked her to address all the concerning behavior of a newly elected president, Donald Trump. I heard crickets in response. At a town meeting I tried raising the question again, she refused to answer. Ms. Boucher,as John McCarthy and Tom Prince have suggested, has a habit of dodging questions, lying and smearing opponents, and going along with the party line. I was disappointed that Ken Bernhard dropped out of the race, but I will happily support Ceci Maher.
An email from “Lane Berganno” questioning “Hillary’s emails” was removed, because the commenter’s name and email address provided were fake.