59-Year-Old Scientist Challenges Bolinsky for 106th House Seat on Nov. 3

Democrat Michelle Embree Ku, 59, is running against Republican incumbent state Rep. Mitch Bolinsky for the 106th State House District seat in Newtown, Connecticut, on Nov. 3. The district covers part of Newtown. Ku works as a regulatory submissions scientist and lives in Newtown with her husband, Warren, and their three boys, who attended the town's public schools.

Ku has held a series of local posts. She served on the Newtown Board of Education from 2013 to 2021, chairing it from 2017 to 2021, on the Board of Selectmen from 2023 to 2025, and on the Legislative Council in 2021-2023 and again from 2025 to the present. From 2013 to 2020 she sat on the EdAdvance Regional Education Service Center board of directors, serving as president in 2020 and vice president in 2018-2019. In 2016 she co-chaired the State of Connecticut General Assembly's Task Force to Study Life Threatening Food Allergies in Schools, and in 2012 she served on the Newtown Charter Revision Commission.

Ku identifies health care as the top issue facing Connecticut. She cites a $95 million loss at UConn reported by its leaders following federal cuts, and Yale's report that 50 grants were cancelled and 22 were partially cancelled or paused. She said she would back the Connecticut Option proposed by Comptroller Sean Scanlon and Governor Lamont, enforce limits on private equity control of hospitals, and support research funding.

On energy, Ku points to Connecticut's electric rates as among the highest in the country. She notes regulators cut the public benefits charge in the spring and supply rates fell in July, and that Eversource has since requested a rate increase. Her plan calls for added supply through affordable renewable energy, storage and grid upgrades, a rigorous and transparent Public Utilities Regulatory Authority review of rate requests, and continued efficiency and weatherization programs.

On affordability, Ku ties property tax increases in Newtown to health care costs for staff and energy costs for buildings and equipment. She supports expanded child care and pre-kindergarten access, affordable housing development that uses existing infrastructure, and state grants that encourage local solutions over mandates. She also calls on the state to meet its education commitments and fix special education funding.

Ku arrived in Newtown 17 years ago. After Dec. 14, 2012, she said, she committed herself to the community's recovery. Her campaign website is kuisforyou.com.