Nichols Runs for 36th District in Connecticut
“My goal is simplistic, it is to listen to people’s concerns and be their voice in several issues,” Nichols said.
Nicholas grew up in Connecticut and looked up to the policies of Republican Governor John Davis Lodge, 1951 to 1955, Democratic Governor Abraham Ribicoff, 1955 to 1961, and Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell, 2004 to present.
Lodge fought vigorously for the construction of the 135-mile long Greenwich-Killingly Turnpike, also known as the Connecticut Turnpike, despite opposition from Fairfield County residents.
The turnpike was renamed the Gov. John Davis Lodge Turnpike in 1985 and includes three segments: I-95 from Byram to Waterford, I-395 from Waterford to Plainfield, and Route 695 from Plainfield to Killingly.
According to the Connecticut Secretary of the State Office, Ribicoff aided recovery efforts from the flood of 1955, saved lives with his highway safety program, and made advances in the state’s health and educational systems.
Nichols said those he emulates are those who believed in the “pay as you go” theory, which Nichols adds has been abandoned and the state has one of the highest per capita debt in the country.
“Governor Rell has made it her business to run a government surplus and I want to be part of that process,” Nichols said, adding he believes in growth and development of economic opportunities in the 36th district.
“I moved to Essex ten years ago and one third of the grand list was businesses, now it is twenty percent,” Nichols said, adding, “The tax burden citizens have is directed at the lack of business opportunities.”
Nichols has an extensive background in business including his employment with Pan American World Airways Inc. from 1967 to 1991.
During his later years, he served in positions on the negotiating team that “by most accounts extended the life of Pan Am at least for years,” Nichols said.
“Citizens of the state are cynical about whether state government cares about individuals,” Nichols said, “when their taxes going up and the quality of service go down, they don’t see where their taxes are going.”
Nichols said he supported Rell’s proposal to eliminate the motor vehicle property tax as long as the state promised to give an equal amount of revenue to its municipalities.
To eliminate the burden on Connecticut residents, Nichols advocates lowering the gas tax in Connecticut, which he calls “one of the highest gas taxes in the country.”
Nichols said he would support the effort to bring back tolls on Connecticut highways provided they have the latest technology and prefers having them at state borders on I-95 and I-84 to target those using Connecticut as a thoroughfare rather than a destination.
Connecticut residents should receive a quality education, Nichols believes, adding he supports an ECS (education cost sharing) system with better accountability.
Every town collects property taxes that are sent to the state, which reallocates these funds for towns and cities needing educational assistance. Towns benefiting most by this system are those labeled “distressed municipalities” by the state including
Nichols believes residents are “paying an inordinate share to solve the problem.”
According to the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, the ECS formula is based on the number of students in each district, the amount the state believes should be spent to provide an adequate education, and by the district’s wealth.
In the end, Nichols, a man who has never before run for office, was inspired to because of problems facing seniors.
“People with homes that received significant revaluation may be paying four times more in taxes,” Nichols said, adding, “the number of people putting their houses for sale or on a circuit breaker program is increasing.”
With taxes, the cost of energy, and electricity all going up, people living on fixed incomes feel the most pain and Nichols advocates state legislation to lower tax rates for seniors.
“This issue broke my back of resistance in running for office,” Nichols said.
Nichols is running against three-term incumbent Democrat James Spallone who has promised to refrain from accepting donations from political action committees and lobbyists so that he can show his commitment toward good government.
Spallone has spent his time in the legislature on the Judiciary, Environment, and Government Administration and Election Committees.
