John-Michael Parker

John-Michael Parker was born in Madison, Connecticut. Parker graduated from Daniel Hand High School in 2006.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from Yale University in 2010.[1][2] Parker's career experience includes working as a teacher, artist, and nonprofit executive. Parker has served on the Future Project and Revolutionary Love Project.[2]

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Growing the economy by investing in job training programs and transportation infrastructure, and making our state more friendly to businesses of all sizes; balancing our budget through increased transparency and efficiency and smarter spending; ensuring all CT residents have the opportunity to thrive by ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and housing?in small towns like Madison and Durham, and in big cities across the state.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I began my career as a 4th grade teacher, and joined the founding team of an education non-profit, The Future Project, which now provides social and emotional learning opportunities to more than 25,000 students across the country. So, I am particularly passionate about education policy, and am excited to bring a broader (and hopefully more holistic) perspective to not only the way we teach and develop our young people in schools, but to the way we support them in imagining and creating a good, decent life after they graduate.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Here in CT, I really look up to Sean Scanlon, State Representative of the 98th district. Like me, Sean ran his first race for State Representative at a relatively young age; since then, he has proven to be an effective, responsive, and well-respected legislator. I hear from his colleagues and his constituents (his district is directly adjacent to the 101st) that he is hard-working and passionate about his service, and that he has found a way as a young, new legislator to make an impact on important issues.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Make Gentle the Life of this World, by Robert F. Kennedy. It seems to me that the division and dysfunction we face today in not only our political institutions but our entire political conversation is similar to what RFK faced after the assassination of his brother and during his inspired and short-lived presidential campaign. RFK called on hope and justice to build an incredibly broad and diverse coalition, and built bridges rather than walls. It is not only his political philosophy, but his overall moral and civic philosophy that I admire.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Responsibility, respect, fairness, vision, commitment, intelligence, and most importantly, the self-awareness to recognize when one falls short in any of these areas and must, with humility, recalibrate and rise to the challenge of constantly being better.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a hard worker who is not easily deterred from achieving an inspired (and ambitious) vision, especially when that vision is co-created with a community whose well-being depends upon it coming to life. I always strive to approach my interactions with others as a listener and a learner first, and try to bring humility and empathy to the process of understanding the world through a different set of eyes. And I believe in the goodness and dignity of all people, and therefore hold justice and equity as guiding principles in all my work.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To advocate for the needs of the constituents in their district, while understanding the bigger picture of how those needs must interact (and co-exist) for distinct communities across the state. Also, to provide leadership through direct example and by empowering community members to take an even more active role in their society and democracy. Ultimately, to ensure the well-being of all residents in the state of Connecticut.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be a bridge-builder in this time of divisiveness, and to help break us out of the bitter partisan divides that seem to dominate so much of our political discourse?not only because I believe the return of basic decency and respect for others of differing opinions is required by our essential humanity, but because I believe this is the only way to find solutions that work for *all* of us and actually move our society forward.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

While I have a vague memory of the Oklahoma City Bombing, I have a strong, foundational memory of the Columbine High School massacre, which happened when I had just turned 11.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

In high school and college I worked on and off over summers at a local catering company. After graduating, my first *real* job was as a fourth grade teacher at the Dalton School in New York City, where I worked for a year.

What happened on your most awkward date?

The gap between who I thought I was in the context of romantic, mature relationships and who I actually was became painfully clear in contrast to someone who was, well, a bit more mature than I was.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

The older I've gotten, the more I've grown to appreciate Christmas which, given the religious tradition I was raised in, is the primary holiday for gift-giving. I have grown to love the process of finding (and often making) the perfect gift for my family members and loved ones, and experiencing the unique joy that brings. (Also, receiving gifts is pretty great, too.)

What is your favorite book? Why?

Nine Stories by JD Salinger. To me, this collection of interwoven short stories captures the nuanced, everyday humanity of people of all ages, with a special sprinkling throughout of the pure wonder and possibility (often in a tragic context) that defines how young people see the world.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Harry Potter! I came of age as a reader with the series' creation, and so I felt like Harry's journey through adolescence and young adulthood played out alongside mine.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My guitar. I feel like I can be the most full, self-expressed version of myself when I'm performing music, and one of my favorite ways to do that is with my voice and my guitar.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lucius' version of Strangers by The Kinks

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Balancing a desire to be and become what I thought my family and community wanted of me with becoming the most true version of myself.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

In the state house, there are enough people working together such that individual legislators can develop true expertise in a given issue or policy area, and taken together, bring direct, strong, critical thinking to many of the issues across the state. Also, as a state representative, the districts are small enough that you can meet nearly all of your constituents throughout a campaign, thereby developing a strong personal understanding of their challenges and hopes and dreams.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

As with any complex, challenging, highly-skilled job, experience that is the result of honest, hard, self-reflective work is of course a benefit. I want my doctors to be good doctors, I want my teachers to be good teachers, and I want my legislators to be good legislators, and given the nature of learning that I've come to know as an educator myself, I know that direct experience is an important element of mastery. Yet after a certain amount of time, and given a certain mindset throughout such experience, one can fall into complacency?and in these moments, an outside perspective can be helpful not only in sparking the leaps needed to take an idea (or organization) to the next level, but also in recalibrating the efforts of the field with the experience and needs of the people.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Most importantly, a balance of power. Ultimately, the executive's role is to set a vision for the state, and the legislature's role is to bring the individual creativity and critical thinking to the execution of that vision such that it is aligned with the wants and needs of the people and not solely at the discretion and direction of the governor.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely! This is the only way things can get done. Social capital is one of the most highly valued resources in any relationship-rich profession; the legislature is no different.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

A process that is fair and equitable and non-partisan, and that balances the grouping of people into definable, power-achieving constituencies with the mixing of different identities together to create diversity. We can not let gerrymandered redistricting be a force for further partisanship and divide, or a roundabout way of silencing minority opposition?whichever side it comes from?and stifling change.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I am particularly interested in education, human services, and public health, though am prepared (and excited) to offer my best thinking to any committee.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Certainly, at some point, though it is too early to say! I'd like to focus on getting in, and understanding the role as a great freshman legislator before thinking about any particular leadership.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

As mentioned earlier, I see Sean Scanlon, State Representative of the 98th district, as a role model. Sean is currently Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, and has passed some important and influential legislation early in his career in that role.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Let me see how I do as a legislator first!

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

While canvassing in a particularly remote part of Durham, I knocked at the door of a family who were immigrants to our country. The mother of the household answered, and immediately and graciously ushered me inside, excitedly calling her two young sons to meet me. The boys, who were around 7 and 11, came running downstairs and stood respectfully in awe of a *candidate for the legislature*. The admiration and respect and hopeful reverence all three of them displayed?not for me, but for the democracy they had worked so hard to join and through which such an occurrence was possible?was deeply humbling and inspiring. It reminded me of what's at stake here in our country, and of the high-minded and honorable ideals we must hold ourselves to in all we do as American citizens: equity, justice, and opportunity.

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What is your political philosophy?

I am running for office because I think here in Connecticut we new energy and new ideas in Hartford, and because I believe its time for my generation to step up and take responsibility for our future.[4]

—John-Michael Parker[1]