Candidate Profile: Rolf Maurer

Green Party candidate Rolf Maurer is running for Senate District 27 on a platform of the "Three Es."

Environment.

Education.

Economy.

Maurer — who ran for state representative last year and Stamford mayor in 2009 — said he wanted to run in the senate race because of the state's "emergency situation" surrounding his platform, and to bring more awareness to the Green Party.

"I'm hoping to .... get people accustomed to having more than two options," he said in a recent interview with Patch. "It seems more and more apparent that the two prevailing parties don't really have much distinction in the end and seem to work for the same interests. My big concern is fostering more public civic participation in the process."

Maurer is the only third party candidate in the race for Senate District 27, which represents parts of Stamford and Darien. He is up against , D-148, and Stamford Board of Finance member , a Republican. The Secretary of the State announced a special election for the district after former State Sen. Andrew McDonald vacated the position to join Gov. Dannel Malloy's administration as general counsel. Since Maurer did not meet the deadline for submitting petitions, he will remain a write-in candidate on the ballot. The special election will be held Tuesday.

Here's where Maurer stands on important issues facing the district and the state:

ON THE ECONOMY

Maurer thinks one way to improving Connecticut's economy is to create a public bank, similar to the Bank of North Dakota. A "Public Bank for Connecticut" would generate revenue which could be used toward balancing the state budget, he said.

"North Dakota is thriving and that's because they have this bank that supports the local economy," Maurer said. "It keeps money flowing in the state and they benefit by a bank that principally serves them rather than banks that engage in sub-prime mortgages."

ON JOBS

Maurer said he has an idea to "retool in reverse" and convert military contractors in Connecticut to making more buses, which could boost transportation convenience. He also said he'd support a light rail system in Stamford and rebuilding infrastructure, which could create more jobs.

"As much as driving a car is a privilege, transportation and access to it is a right," said Maurer who hasn't owned a car since the late '90s. "So in tandem with that, I'd be in support of more bike paths, an effort to educate the public about how to drive with cyclists on the road and respecting the bicycle as a vehicle."
Maurer said he's also interested in creating more jobs around green technology.

ON TAXES

"Just seeing from my perspective I think curbing a reliance on outsourcing would stabilize property taxes, not lower it," Maurer said. "I don't understand why the state cannot pony up more money to support the schools, that would certainly reduce property taxes.

"Gov. Rell did something regarding more support for trains and buses, which I beleive is a step in the right direction. I'm not adverse to spending money as long as it's on the right things and helps support the state's energy, agriculture and general livability because despite what is said on the national level that there is a recovery, we haven't seen it yet."

Maurer, originally a Democrat, has been a member of the Green Party for five years. He's a former associate editor with Folio magazine, and has spent eight years working in trade and directory publishing.

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