Brandt Gains GOP Nod in 133rd

DeeDee Brandt received the Republican Party’s nomination Tuesday night as the candidate for the 133rd District of the Connecticut State Legislature. The district encompasses parts of Fairfield and Westport. She will challenge Democratic incumbent Kim Fawcett in the November election.

In accepting the nomination, Brandt stated that the recent state budget failed the leadership test. “Connecticut’s Democrat-controlled legislature did nothing to address the looming fiscal crisis with the passage of a budget on May 5,” she said. “Their actions were tantamount to punting on the tough issues and hoping it is swept under the rug for a new legislature. “Fairfielders in the 133rd District deserve a leader who will put people before politics, not business as usual,” Brandt continued. “These actions have heightened my resolve to be a part of addressing the financial problems our state is facing.” For decades, Brandt has been a leader in Fairfield, both as an elected official and with numerous non-profit organizations. She has served on both the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting and the Board of Finance. Additionally, she served two years as chair of the Sasco Brook Task Force, a cooperative effort between Fairfield and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to enforce clean water standards. She was also an active PTA member at Dwight School, Roger Ludlowe Middle School and Fairfield and Ludlowe high schools. Brandt also spent time as a Mill River Wetlands guide, Connecticut Audubon volunteer and supporter of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra and the Fairfield County Children’s Choir. On Brandt’s leadership record, state Sen. John McKinney, R-28, stated, "DeeDee Brandt has proven that she can govern with determination, thoughtfulness and decisive leadership. I believe she will be a tremendous asset in our efforts to solve Connecticut's economic problems." Brandt and her husband, David, have been foster parents for at-risk children, supporters of the Covenant to Care program and both currently volunteer in the Bridgeport Public Schools. She was named “A Woman of Substance” by the Connecticut Post for her work with both foster children and the Meals on Wheels program. Brandt’s leadership roles in the community also include serving as president of the Greenfield Hill Village Association; deacon at the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, tri-chair of the Dogwood Festival and development chairman of Micah Housing, now part of the supportive housing unit of Operation Hope. Brandt, who holds a mathematics degree from Hollins University in Virginia, worked for IBM before she and her husband began to raise their two daughters, Sara and Katherine, both graduates of the Fairfield public school system.

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