August 11, 2024
By Wendy Skratt
Aug 11, 2024
Technically, just registering as a Democrat makes you one. But most voters believe that the way you vote on issues makes you one. Having served on the Stamford Democratic City Committee, I’ve become much more invested in our Democratic representation. And I am compelled to raise my voice when I see our representatives divorced from the expectations of their Democratic voters. So let’s talk about the upcoming Democratic Primary Election on Aug. 13.
I recently learned that Rep. Anabel Figueroa (D) was a featured speaker at an anti-abortion rally and voted against measures supporting reproductive health care. Rep. Figueroa is now running a primary challenge — having lost the party endorsement to Jonathan Jacobson — and it’s easy to see why she lost that endorsement.
The Democratic Party supports reproductive health care and abortion rights.
And yet, at an anti-abortion rally at the Capitol on March 20, 2024, Rep. Figueroa (a featured speaker) said, “From personal experience, and as a Latina, I can tell you that Latinas don’t really look for abortions.” A Pew Research poll from 2022 shows 57% of Latinos nationally say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. At the rally, Figueroa never mentioned her district or her district Democrats.
And she voted...
• Against protecting Connecticut doctors and nurses who provide abortion care from criminal prosecution (May 18, 2024).
• To deny Connecticut college students convenient access to reproductive care, including birth control (June 1, 2024).
She also told rally attendees, “I strongly support an expectant mother to be given the opportunity to listen to their baby’s heart. We know that once this is done, the chances of this baby being terminated will definitely be eliminated.” There is no research or data that suggest this at all. Rep. Figueroa ignores statistics as well as the platform of the Democratic party. And her word choice strongly implies that she might support “heartbeat laws” that have drastically reduced access to abortion in many states with Republican-led state governments. She also said “I guarantee you, the minute I, as a woman, hear the baby’s heart, I am not going to become a criminal.” She sees abortion as a crime?
There were even significant Republican votes for these measures. But Rep. Figueroa, aligned with almost exclusively far right Republican legislators, cast her vote to remove people’s rights and restrict access to reproductive health care. In this light, Figueroa’s closing statement was a doozy. “I want to emphasize that by making these comments I am not taking anybody’s right. I still believe that every woman has the right to choose.” Her action contradicts her words; she voted to remove access to reproductive health care, and criminalize it.
By contrast, Jacobson says his constituent outreach shows that reproductive health care is top of mind for Democrats in the district. Jacobson has consistently shown up and spoken out at local events, over many years, in support of reproductive rights. He has a great track record on the Board of Representatives of working for his constituents. He champions transparency and ethical integrity. As a bonus, Jacobson has agreed that he will resign his seat on the Board of Representatives if he wins the state seat.
Rep. Figueroa continues to hold not only the seat on the BOR along with the state seat, but the seat on the DCC so that she can vote to endorse herself. She claims there is no conflict and that holding these three seats doesn’t affect her performance in each of the roles. As a former DCC member, I strongly disagree. Jacobson represents his constituents and his party.
I believe in choice — for reproductive care, and at the ballot box. And I care about the values of the Democratic Party. Rep. Figueroa has the right to her opinion and the right to vote her conscience as a legislator. The Democrats of her district have a right to decide whether she represents them. Evidently, she understood that she was voting against the will of her constituents as she said, “If what I am saying here today is going to affect me being reelected then let it be.” Yes, it will be up to the voters.
Wendy Skratt is a Stamford resident.
Aug 11, 2024
Wendy Skratt
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