Fire Fighter Wife Challenges Connecticut Incumbent

July 25, 2008 – Longtime labor supporter and fire fighter spouse Gina Russell Tracy is running for Connecticut State Representative in the 101st District. She will face incumbent Deborah Heinrich, who has failed to support fire fighter issues, in the Democratic Primary August 12.

If elected, Tracy plans to sponsor a comprehensive cardiac, carcinogen and communicable disease Worker’s Compensation bill; advocate for Worker’s Compensation coverage for job-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for first responders; protect collective bargaining and binding arbitration rights; and support pension protections.

Gina’s husband is Fairfield, CT Local 1426 fire fighter Chris Tracy, also her campaign manager. He is a graduate of the 2005 IAFF Political Training Academy and sits on the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) of Connecticut Legislative Committee.

“Using a lot of what I learned at the training academy, we have been going to door-to-door and making other grassroots efforts,” says Chris Tracy. “While we know it is difficult to unseat an incumbent, the public has favored voting for my wife because of her position on important issues.”

As Gina Russell Tracy campaigns for the August primary, she is working to raise the $5,000 she needs to qualify for public campaign funding ($25,000), which will play a key role in the November election. Only donations between $5 and $100 can be accepted. Click here for a donation form.

Tracy is a member of the Democratic Town Committee in Guilford, Connecticut. She has campaigned for Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) in both his senatorial and presidential campaigns. Tracy has also supported Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and some state legislators in their campaigns. To learn more, visit her campaign web site.