RJ Scofield, Patch Staff
Beth Cliff shares with Patch why she should be elected to serve the 112th State House District in Monroe, Trumbull and Easton.
TRUMBULL, CT — Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024, is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Connecticut.
Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.
Beth Cliff, 65, a Democrat, is running for state representative of the 112th House District.
What city or town do you live in?
Easton.
Party affiliation
Democratic, Independent, Working Families.
Education
MBA, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business (service marketing) BA, Princeton University in American History.
Occupation
Retired after 30+ years in management consulting, business and academia, at large global companies, boutique firms, and universities (Northeastern and MIT). Leadership roles in sales, marketing, operations, and HR.
Family
I am happily married to my husband Gordon, with whom I have two grown daughters in their mid-20s, Lorraine and Helen. They thrived in their public schools and various music and sport activities (clarinet and bassoon, swimming and crew) and are now on their own in NYC and DC respectively. Gordon is a retired strategy consultant and finance executive, born and raised in New Jersey with much of his career working in NYC, which is where we met.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No.
Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am in this race because I see that the people in District 112 are not being represented as well as they could be. When I knock on doors many people don’t know who my opponent is, let alone anything he has done for them. We need someone with a strong, clear voice and the energy and commitment to get things done: someone who will work hard for us all to make our lives more affordable and enriched, and to set up those who need our focused attention: working families, seniors, children and youth. I have the time, energy, commitment and business experience to do this: I am fortunate to be able to give back in this way. I know that being part of the majority party in Hartford will help get things done for Monroe, Easton and Trumbull.
I also recognize that it’s time that working women have an equal voice when governing decisions are made, especially those that affect women’s lives in the privacy of their homes, workplaces, communities and yes, doctors’ offices. I can’t sit on the sidelines any longer. Now is the time to get involved. The national political scene requires states like Connecticut to stand firm on the principles of democracy – including separation of church and state, the three distinct branches of government, honoring the will of the people and the rule of law – including people’s right to have control over their own bodies, especially their reproductive freedom.
The issues affecting the underrepresented and overlooked need to be brought forward. And whatever happens at the Presidential level in November, Connecticut needs to stand firm against a potential onslaught of national and presidential overreach. This is critical to preserving the American principles and values that were originally mapped out in the late 1700s. This is what is at risk, and I cannot stand by. The voters in our towns need to have a good choice in front of them; I am that good choice.
What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?
There is more than one issue facing Connecticut right now that deserves priority attention: we need to multi-task. Making sure that the lives we in CT live are affordable is certainly front and center, and involves so many interconnected issues: review of our tax policy for sure, but also reworking our relationship with utilities; continuing to support benefits like paid sick and family leave; ensuring equal pay for equal work; investing in public transportation and access to affordable healthcare including prescription drugs; and investing in affordable housing. But there are other issues that are as important to us at this time that affect our lives, locally: gun safety, climate change and investments in green energy, personal privacy, strong education, and the preservation of our democratic principles and laws. We need to be able to work on all of these at the same time.
There have been an alarming number of deaths on Connecticut’s roadways. Is there anything from a legislative standpoint that can be done to address that?
Yes: we need a multi-faceted approach: strengthened law enforcement to keep speeding down, better signage, computer programs to tell people they’re driving in the wrong direction, more driver education, increased penalties for driving violations. But this also has to do with people’s mental health and behavior: drunk driving is too frequently at the root of our accidents, and we know these last years post COVID have been particularly stressful for many. Providing for mental health and substance abuse and education in our schools is important. Just understanding the common causes of fatalities – including wrong way driving, driving while under the influence, texting and driving, and the inherent challenges of motorcycle driving — are important to convey to our young people, for whom, at their age, life seem endless and death something you read about in literature class.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
My opponent and I have different world views and party affiliations that determine how we make decisions, that in turn affect the lives of folks in District 112. My values and belief systems support a democracy where we support and honor the Constitution; where we are free to express our opinions and share our concerns openly and in safety; where we keep government out of our decisions on what books we can read, whom we can live with and love, and how we handle our personal health and family planning; and where everyone – no matter religion, gender, country of origin, skin color, economic situation – has an equal and fair shake at the American dream. The Republican Party of which my opponent has been a proud and longtime member, is very clearly in a different space than I am, and that so many of us in District 112 are. As I meet people at the doors and in their homes, they thank me for being a voice of reason and for giving them a choice they can be proud of. They are nervous – some terrified – about what could lie ahead. We need strong voices in Connecticut that will take on the frightening propositions shared in Project 2025 and that we hear on TV every evening. What happens at the national level affects us locally. Tax cuts for the wealthy, tariffs that will fall on the backs of American workers, taking away the rights of union workers, supporting Big Oil at all costs, repurposing protected lands for housing tracts, deporting legal immigrants – the impact of these positions will play out in our towns, amongst our neighbors and in our homes.
Locally, our towns will always need state support; as a member of the majority party I will be in a better position to provide that to our towns. We need significant and timely grant monies for roads, schools, and other public infrastructure, and we need representatives who are talking with people, understanding their needs and then working with town officials and fellow legislators to make it all happen. This takes persistence, hard work and time, something our towns have not seen from our incumbent. It’s more than photo ops and signing paperwork that comes across one’s desk. Our townspeople should expect, and receive, better. As important, we need a representative to vote for things that will keep us safe and our families whole while we live in our Connecticut towns: gun safety; reproductive health; no-excuse absentee voting and transparent government process; paid family leave and childcare; new green energy sources; investment in affordable housing, public transportation. I am committed to working with our townspeople to understand what they want and need, and then working with colleagues in Hartford to make that happen. A close of examination of my opponent’s voting record (just facts.votesmart.org) reveals he does not share many of these same commitments. And a close look at his claims of bringing back money to our towns will reveal that much of the heavy-lifting was done not by him, but by others who put in the hours and invested in the relationships to make things happen.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My successful business career, spanning over 30 years, and played out in Hartford, Boston, New York, Chicago, DC, and involving multiple international clients, has demonstrated that I can handle this job. My roles have always involved serving people by understanding their needs and concerns and figuring out ways to address them. Among my most successful projects have been business start-ups and creating new approaches for my teams to deliver outstanding results. My business performance was always strong: exceeding sales targets, launching successful greenfield operations, and introducing processes and initiatives that improved internal and external performance. In all of these roles, I was in the minority as a working woman with a family: I know how to succeed in a traditional “man’s world.” Between my education (Princeton/UVA business school) and work experience, I am ready to take on challenges, and collaborate with colleagues in the Statehouse to make a difference. A Division 1 college varsity athlete in women’s lacrosse, and a 12-letter high school athlete (field hockey, basketball, tennis and lacrosse), I know what it takes to win and how to get things done, whatever the circumstances facing me and the team. I am tough and persistent, as any high-powered athlete is trained to be. Finally, as a retired person and with my children grown and my parents gone, I have the time and energy and drive to give this role my full attention and time. I welcome the opportunity to serve.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe our towns of Easton, Monroe and Trumbull need strong, involved leadership, and I have done that all my life and am still doing it. A quick example: on my own I put together a pro-choice rally earlier this month in Easton where state dignitaries including the Governor, Lt. Governor, US Rep Himes and many other state officials and candidates spoke: attendance count was close if not over 100 people. This is what I am good at: recognizing a need, organizing a response, and making sure it happens. Not just by myself, but in concert with others who are in a position to help and support and lend the power to make it happen. I believe our towns need this kind of “can-do” attitude to build coalitions and address the issues we all are facing every day. Another notable fact that supports this commitment to work and getting things done: I have been endorsed by three different political parties (Democratic, Independent and Working Families) and a multitude of associations who recognize that my values and platforms are in line with theirs. From Planned Parenthood to Connecticut Against Gun Violence, to a variety of CT and local unions, these organizations recognize that I’m about making all our lives safe, productive and fulfilled.