Pam Sawyer, dependable House member from Bolton, retiring after 22 years in the state House

This from Rep. Pam Sawyer, R-Bolton:

“Pamela Z Sawyer, R-Bolton, announced today that she will not be seeking a 12th term in the CT House of Representatives. “I am deeply grateful for the great support I have been given by the wonderful folks in the 55th district over the last 22 years. I will miss seeing so many of them at the many events I have enjoyed – watching, eating, shopping, and hugging! I have other challenges I am ready to pursue as well as having an evening or two home with my family”.

When asked what she has worked on that has had the most impact on people of CT she cited seven major actions.

Removing the label of ‘Suicide 6 – Second Worst Road in America’* was the first on her list. With a history of 2 deaths per year over the 11 miles, Sawyer worked over fifteen years with multiple agencies, Congressmen, Governors and Legislators to reduce the devastating crash and death rate from Bolton to Columbia.

Locally, she pressed for development of the Eastcoast and Airline Greenway Trail system across the district, saying “It makes me smile every time I see my dream of the a covered bridge in Andover at Rt 6 and Rt 316”.

Saving the lives of infants with the successful passage of Safe Havens bill in 2000 has given her deep satisfaction. Since this law took effect, 22 infants** have been left at hospitals by distressed mothers who could not care for their newborn child. Reducing the risk of child abandonment and possible loss of life, the mothers are not arrested, and the tiny one is immediately taken care of by the health facility and then turned over to DCF for placement and a speedy probable adoption.

Ten years in the planning, Rep Sawyer worked to obtain the funding for the successful CT Aero Tech at Brainard airport. The school offers a certificate program for aircraft maintenance, providing the skills needed to get jobs along the Connecticut aviation corridor.

 

Pam Sawyer said she never forgot her first view the UConn main Library in 1988, when it was wrapped in plastic for years. It stirred her passion support and promote the master building plan at the University of CT, the State university system, and the community colleges with many modern facilities and the advancement of scientific research which she believes is the envy of the nation.

 

As co- chairman of the Small Town Caucus, Sawyer was successful in establishing the state Small Town Economic Assistance Grant program in 2001 that has allowed 135 towns to use small pots of money to aid in the building of much needed infrastructures like sewers, water mains, main street upgrades, historical renovations and needed firehouses, helping to relieve the personal property tax burden for capitol improvement.

But most of all, she said, advocating for the high tech research for the past 17 years that has now resulted in mapping the 6 billion human genomes that have lead to imminent cures for cancer and other diseases at UConn Health Center and Jackson Laboratories would be life altering for so many.

 

In her dedicated tenure in the legislature, Rep Sawyer has the distinction of having a 100% voting record for 21 of the 22 years.”