Former CT Senate Minority Leader John McKinney endorses Toni Boucher for State Senate

Highlights Boucher’s Bipartisan “Courageous” LeadershipAfter Sandy Hook Tragedy

Former Connecticut Senate Minority Leader John McKinney has endorsed Toni Boucher for the 26th District’s State Senate seat, which includes Wilton, Westport, Weston, Redding and parts of Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien and Stamford.

“Toni Boucher loves Connecticut and she loves helping people,” McKinney said.  “Toni is a mother and a grandmother who cares deeply about our state’s future. Toni is also a dear and trusted friend. For many years, I was honored to serve the people of southwestern Connecticut alongside Toni in the General Assembly. No one works harder on behalf of her constituents. She is an independent thinker who is a well-respected voice for everyone. I wholeheartedly endorse Toni to be the next state senator to represent the good people of the 26th District.”

The son of former 4th District Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, John McKinney for several years served as the highest-ranking Republican in Connecticut after Gov. M. Jodi Rell left office in 2011.

McKinney highlighted how Boucher in 2013 was appointed to chair a bipartisan committee in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. The committee helped produce a package of sweeping gun control, school safety, and mental health policy measures which have since become law and are a national model for other states to follow.

“Toni stepped up and brought people together during a tremendously painful time in our state’s history,” McKinney said. “She exhibited true leadership in helping to forge that compromise legislation. What Toni did was courageous.”

“To this day, I remain humbled that Sen. McKinney saw fit to appoint me to serve in that critical leadership role,” Boucher said. “I have long admired John McKinney for his centrism and how he unflinchingly stands up for what he believes in. He is a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, as am I.  Working with John McKinney taught me how to be an effective lawmaker. It really boils down to common sense and always remembering that the best interests of the people must always be our top priority as elected officials. I thank John for his endorsement, his commitment to public service and his friendship.”

Her numerous public service awards include twice being named “Environmental Champion” by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and being named “Children’s Champion” by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance on seven different occasions.

Boucher encouraged voters of all parties as well as unaffiliated voters to visit www.ToniBoucher.com today for more information about her campaign and to learn about volunteer opportunities. Election Day is Nov. 8.