Senator-elect Andrea Stillman

							Senator Andrea Stillman
Deputy Majority Leader
Chair: Education Committee
Member: Finance, Revenue & Bonding; Public Health; Transportation

ABOUT SENATOR STILLMAN
Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford) is serving her fourth term representing
residents of the 20th Senatorial District (East Lyme, Montville, New London, Old
Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem and Waterford). She is Deputy Majority Leader of
the Senate, and is the Senate Chair of the legislature’s Education Committee. She
also serves on the Public Health, Transportation, and Finance, Revenue, and
Bonding Committees.

LEGISLATIVE PROFILE
In January, 2011 Senator Stillman was appointed Senate Chair of the legislature’s
Education Committee. Improving the quality of public education has long been
one of Senator Stillman’s major priorities. She has worked to reform and provide
resources for our vocational-technical school system. And she was appointed by
the commissioner of the State Department of Education to represent our state on
the New England Secondary School Consortium. NESSC is dedicated to
increasing high school graduation and college enrollment rates, and to reshape
educational policy by adopting 21st century learning standards.

The senator embraces the idea that 21st century secondary education should inspire in
students an inclination for lifelong learning so they are prepared for, and can then adapt
to the rapid rate of change and challenges we can expect going forward. She also works
with knowledge and understanding that public school students of today will soon become
tomorrow’s workforce in an increasingly competitive, global marketplace.

Prior to this term, as Senate Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee,
Senator Stillman earned high marks for her stewardship over public safety issues
in general, as well as for her efforts in the area of fire safety and in addressing
towns’ concerns within the resident state trooper program. She also held a seat
on the Public Health Preparedness Advisory Committee, a group charged with
ensuring state and local emergency readiness and interagency coordination.

Senator Stillman has also been a vocal advocate on other critical issues, including
access to health care, job training, substance abuse and compulsive gambling,
and environmental preservation.

In her first year in the Senate, she served as Chair of the Environment
Committee. She was also appointed by the governor to serve as Co-chair of the
Long Island Sound LNG Task Force. This bipartisan task force succeeded in
thwarting a proposal to construct a floating liquid natural gas terminal on Long
Island Sound. For this, and for her dedicated efforts to protect our shoreline,
waterways, and open space, Senator Stillman has consistently received high
scores from the League of Conservation Voters.


Recently, Senator Stillman championed landmark legislation through the efforts
of the DUI Reform Working Group and the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic
Violence. As a member of both groups, she co-sponsored legislation to
strengthen drunk driving laws and protect and support victims of domestic
violence.

Senator Stillman was also a member of the Subase Coalition from its inception,
and was an active participant in the battle to preserve Subase New London in
Groton and protect it from closure during the federal government’s BRAC
process in 2005. The Subase Coalition continues to monitor potential future
BRAC proposals to protect the economic interests of Southeastern Connecticut.
Senator Stillman was instrumental in the creation of the Office of Military
Affairs, to ensure that the state continues to be an active partner in this initiative.

Senator Stillman’s fair and balanced approach to decision-making is well
respected by her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. She was selected by the
governor to serve on a special Commission on Judicial Reform, and was
appointed to the Senate’s six-member Bipartisan Committee of Review, which
was charged with determining whether a fellow senator should be expelled,
censured, or reprimanded for admittedly criminal activity.

In 2002, she was one of only 11 female state legislators in the country selected by
the Center for Women Policy Studies to attend their Foreign Policy Institute in
Washington, D.C., and meet with high-ranking officials from the State
Department, United Nations, human rights organizations, Doctors Without
Borders and other international agencies. The Institute explored the impact of
U.S. foreign policy and assistance on the health, education, economic
development and well-being of women worldwide.

This experience motivated Senator Stillman to fight for new legislation that
addresses the issue of sexual trafficking. She was instrumental in creating, and
served as the Chair of, the legislature’s Interagency Task Force on Human
Trafficking. This work further established her as a champion for women and
children and earned her recognition from the U Thant Institute.

Senator Stillman is also well known for her dedicated efforts to combat
compulsive gambling and to help those addicted. She has been a longtime
advocate for the state’s Council on Problem Gambling, and is sought out as a
panelist at forums on gambling issues.
Prior to her Senate tenure she served six terms in the House of Representatives,
representing the 38th District (originally Waterford and New London; after
redistricting, Waterford and Montville). She was elected Deputy Majority Leader
by her colleagues in the House, and was the House Chair of the Finance,
Revenue and Bonding Committee. She was a member of the Transportation and
Environment Committees, and served six years on the budget-writing
Appropriations Committee.

PERSONAL PROFILE
Outside of the General Assembly, Senator Stillman serves as a member of
numerous civic and community organizations, including the League of Women
Voters, American Association of University Women, Lawrence and Memorial
Benefactors Society, National Abortion Rights Action League, Southeastern
Regional Action Council (formerly Citizens’ Task Force on Addictions),
Waterford Lions Club, and Waterford Democratic Town Committee. She also
currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Waterford Country School and
the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board.

Before entering the state legislature, she was a long-time member of the
Waterford Board of Finance and served on the Waterford Representative Town
Meeting. She was assistant director of the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of
the American Red Cross, Blood Services, and chaired the Connecticut Solid
Waste Management Advisory Council and the Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Advisory Council.

She also has extensive experience running a small business. She and her husband
own J. Solomon Office Supply; the company has been located in New London
since 1902.

Senator Stillman was born in New York City and graduated from the University
of California at Northridge with a degree in Speech. She and her husband
Howard are the parents of two grown children and have five grandchildren. She
resides at 5 Coolidge Court in Waterford.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Senator Stillman has been recognized repeatedly for her leadership efforts in the
General Assembly and the community. She has been honored by such diverse
groups as the Connecticut Marine Trades Association, the Connecticut Alliance for
Basic Human Needs, and the Connecticut State Firefighters Association for her efforts
and advocacy on their behalf. Here are some other awards she has earned during
her tenure in the legislature:

Children’s Champion Award—Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance
Scholar Award—DNA EpiCenter, New London
Distinguished Citizen Award—Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Connecticut
Legislator of the Year—Connecticut State Alliance of YMCAs
Distinguished Service Award—Natchaug Hospital
Legislative Award—Connecticut Police Chiefs Association
Victims of Human Trafficking Advocate—International Institute of Connecticut, Inc.
Advocate for Children—Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut
Woman of Valor—New London Chapter of Hadassah
Community Champions Award—Opportunities Industrialization Center
Housing Hero Award—Connecticut Housing Coalition
Breath of Life Award—American Lung Association
Legislative Leadership Award—Connecticut Community Providers Association,
   Children’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division
Legislator of the Year—American Heart Association
Certificate of Appreciation—United Cerebral Palsy Association of Eastern
   Connecticut
Family Legislator of the Year—Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies
Founders’ Legislative Award—Connecticut AIDS Residence Coalition
Friend in the Legislature Award—Connecticut Council of Problem Gambling

http://www.SenatorStillman.cga.ct.gov/