Meet the Candidate: Leo Canty for State Representative

Leo Canty's name is synonymous with local politics.

The chair of the Windsor Democratic Town Comittee, Canty has had a hand in the election of a number of sitting Windsor public officials. Statewide, as a leader of Connecticut's American Federation of Teachers, he has rubbed shoulders and negotiated with the capitol's heavy hitters for decades, in an effort to improve wages and benefits for local teachers.

Simply put, Canty has recorded his fair share of political victories in the state, including successfully lobbying the re-drawing of voting lines to give Windsor a majority within one of the districts in which its residents vote.

That said, the self-described "warrior for working families" says there's still plenty of work to be done, and that's why he's running to represent his neighbors in the fifth assembly district.

"These are trying times in the state of Connecticut... I have a deep sense of understanding of how the (legislative) process works, which makes me the unique candidate, being able to go in with my feet moving," said Canty.

An ability to hit the ground running, if elected, is the foundation of Canty's campaign heading into the August 14 primary, in which he'll face Hartford's Brandon McGee and Windsor Mayor Don Trinks for the re-drawn fifth district seat to be vacated in January when Marie Kirkley-Bey retires.

"I have the experience, I have the background. I'll go in; there's no learning curve. I know where all the men's rooms are," said Canty of his familiarity with the Capitol.

And while there's hardly a person who wouldn't consider the union and local democratic party leader a political insider, Canty says his political experience would be far from a hinderance on his ability to represent Windsor's needs. In fact, Canty says, it would be a boon to his effectiveness.

"The fact of the matter is it really helps to know how things work," he said.

Since assuming a union leadership position in the late 1970's Canty says he's done nothing but lead for decades, and, in doing so, he's acquired some of the essential tools of effective leaders.

"Most importantly, I really know how to listen. I really know how to represent," said Canty.

"My union is 29,000 people, and I have to get re-elected every two years. You don't stay a union leader for almost 35 years (without knowing how to represent)."

Having his finger on the pulse of Windsor, a town he's lived in for nearly 50 years, Canty says votes cast this year will be based on two issues: jobs and taxes.

While residents consistently clamor for decreased taxes, Canty suggests there's another culprit of financial burden that should be addressed.

"We should be looking at cutting our electric bills, cutting our cable bills and cutting our phone bills. Your tax rates haven't gone up anywhere near as far as what corporate America's getting from you for basic services," said Canty.

"Why can't we do bulk government purchasing of electricity to get people a cheaper rate?"

Canty, who says no money-saving idea is off the table for him because "I don't like inefficiency, and I don't like wasting money," suggests public utilities would go a long way in saving families a great deal of money.

"There are many places, including a few in Connecticut, where you have utilities that are public — electricity, cable systems, free wi-fi.

"If my taxes go up five or 10 or 20 bucks a year, and I can buy an entire wi-fi system for the town of Windsor... that saves me about $400 a year for my stinking cable bill. Well who doesn't want that to happen? The cable and the phone company."

People hear all around that taxes are going up, but no one has done the math. I look at my tax bill ten years ago and I look at my tax bill now — my cable bill went up ten times faster than my taxes did."

In addition to cutting the cost of basic services, Canty argues that legislators must make sure state money is spent on goods and services produced in Connecticut, and they must stay away from relying on bringing in minimum-wage jobs in an effort to boost the economy.

"Minimum-wage jobs do not add, in a significant way, to an economy," said Canty. "Yes, they help people get some money so they can buy goods and services, but the fact of the matter is that the 150-or-so-thousand people that are living on minimum-wage jobs probably have two of them, and probably have access to social services...

"When we get jobs that are $18-20 an hour, then people actually contribute (to the economy). They have disposable income. They're buying things in the local economy; contributing charitably. Those are the jobs we need more of. Those are the jobs, it seems, are escaping."

On August 14, Democratic voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes when Canty appears on the ballot alongside McGee and Trinks. The winner of the primary will go on November's ballot against Republican candidate, and current Windsor Board of Education Minority Leader, Paul Panos.