Former State Representative John Shaban is seeking re-election to the 135th General Assembly District (Easton, Redding and Weston), the seat he held for three terms from 2011 to 2017. Shaban did not run for a fourth term, opting instead to run for U.S. Congress against Jim Himes.
For six years Shaban served on the Environment Committee (Ranking House Member), the Judiciary Committee, and the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Shaban continues to advocate for greater local control of education and land use, and opposes forced regionalization of schools and services. He has also been an advocate for the creation of a Special Transportation Fund Trustee to protect STF funds from legislative raids and thereby avoid tolls.
Shaban is an active leader in the fight against unpredictable tax and regulatory policies that inhibit job growth, and unfunded state and federal mandates. He helped prepare alternative budget proposals designed to reduce state spending while tackling Connecticut’s under-funded pension liabilities.
After leaving office in 2017, Shaban served on the Board of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Best Buddies International, and several other charitable organizations.
Shaban is a 27-year practicing attorney specializing in commercial and corporate litigation, and has an Environmental Law Degree. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York, all of the local federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court. Shaban has an “AV” peer and judicial rating (highest ethics/skills ranking), is a member of the ABA and CBA, served as a Fact Finder/Arbitrator for the Connecticut Judicial Branch, and is a FINRA Arbitrator.
Shaban was born in Brooklyn N.Y., attended high school in Westchester, and college at the University of Colorado. He played semi-pro football for 21 years. He has three sons, has been coaching youth football in Easton, Redding and Weston for over 15 years, and has served on numerous local boards and commissions.
Top Three Issues Facing Easton
Easton’s most pressing issues are: (i) Connecticut’s continuing economic problems; (ii) protecting local control of schools and land use; and (iii) having a robust voice in Hartford.
Economy/Jobs:
Our State’s poor fiscal policies have caused a decade of stagnant job growth, depressed home values, and wealth and opportunity to flee Connecticut. Our repeated multi-billion-dollar state deficits also result in the perpetual underfunding of important education, infrastructure and environmental programs.
The solution is proven and clear. Hartford must stop changing the rates and rules every year, and thereby let our economy, job creators and job seekers regain momentum. A stable tax and regulatory structure will return confidence, investment and prosperity to our state, which in turn will allow us to pursue needed social policies with funding and action instead of empty words.
Local Control of Schools and Land Use:
A group of legislators wants to strip small towns of control over schools and zoning, and send money and authority to Hartford. Indeed, our current freshman state representative is the co-chair of the “progressive” caucus that continues to pursue mandatory school regionalization with nearby towns and cities, the removal of SROs from our schools, and the weakening of local zoning control coupled with “desegregation” taxes.
I reject such “one size fits all” policies, oppose any forced regionalization of schools and services, and will continue to advocate for greater local control of education and land use. Our communities thrive when we govern at the local level first.
Parents, teachers and local school officials should determine how and where our children will be educated, and our communities should decide how and/or whether to work with SROs.
Likewise, I first fought as zoning vice-chair and then as your state representative for local control of land use. I support workable senior/affordable housing plans that both enhance the character of our communities and protect our property values and the natural environment.
Representing Easton First:
Small towns have different needs than big cities. My opponent is a spirited activist for all things other than the interests of our district. Her focus on national debates and justice movements may be laudable but does little to help Easton.
From the moment I began serving in 2011, I worked to pass legislation to: establish greater local control over cell tower placement (HB 6520); create the Small Business Express Program (PA 12-123); secure mandate relief for high-performing schools (PA 13-108); provide tax relief for families of fallen first responders (PA 13-204) (the “Russ Neary bill”); help unemployed veterans (PA 13-63); and expand early childhood education and reading initiatives (PA 14-39, 15-137).
As an environmental lawyer and leader on the Environment Committee, I also helped draft and pass legislation to secure more open space (PA 12-152); create the state’s GMO labeling paradigm (PA 13-183); draft fracking waste controls (PA 14-200); require microbead and pesticide phase-outs (PA 15-5); launch the Long Island Sound Blue Plan (PA 15-66); and create brownfield remediation programs (PA 14-88, 16-115).
I will pick up and build on these efforts to help our community and our state thrive.
