Goff Announces Run for State Rep

Chris Goff said he had always wanted to run for office.

Perhaps his passion for politics began his sophomore year at East Hampton High School. Goff was on the Charter Oak Conference student senate. Each school had two student representatives that met monthly. By his senior year he was president.

Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass., was next, where Goff was elected president of the freshman class and eventually president of the student council.

Not long after that, the life-long East Hampton resident got involved in town politics, being appointed to the town’s board of education to replace Gail Hamm, who had won the 34th General Assembly District seat. After serving three years, Goff was elected to the town council.

Now, Goff wouldn’t mind replacing Hamm again.

Goff fulfilled another of his long-held ambitions by announcing his candidacy for state representative of the 34th District Thursday night at the East Hampton Democratic Town Committee meeting.

As Goff was preparing to make his announcement, he described his feelings as excited and relieved.

“I feel good,” he said Thursday. “At first it was overwhelming trying to get everyone lined up. I was surprised how easily it was coming together, getting people to volunteer for the different positions. It just fell together. I think I was over stressing getting the paperwork filled out, because the process just went so smoothly, to the point where I am already planning a campaign committee meeting in the next couple of weeks.”

The four-term town councilman, including one term as chairman, did not seek reelection in November, in part to give other Democrats a chance to run, but also because he felt the time might be right to take his political aspirations up a notch.

“That was on the back of my mind as well,” he said. “If I did run for council, and was [elected], I didn’t want to jump ship.”

The Goff name is well-known in the area. The Goff’s are credited with being among the first to settle the town. There also is the Joseph N. Goff House Museum and Cultural Center. Joseph Goff manufactured, among other things, bells, starting the East Hampton Bell Company in 1851.

Goff himself has been very visible outside political circles with the Yellow Ribbon/Welcome Home committee, which conducts ceremonies for local military personnel who have left for overseas or returning home. Goff has been conducting the ceremonies at the request of chairperson Ann McLaughlin. The next ribbon-tying event will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the East Hampton Village Center.

The family is known in political circles as well. Goff’s father, Leroy, is a former East Hampton Fire Chief and currently on the fire commission. Robert Cramer, an uncle, served as a selectman and later on the town council. Cramer also ran for state rep in 1990, losing to Terry Concannon.

Speaking of Concannon, the former three-term state rep for the 34th District will help lead Goff’s formidable campaign team as a co-campaign manager. East Haddam selectman John Blaschik is the other co-campaign manager. Blaschik, a lifelong resident of East Haddam, is a former four-term first selectman.

Rounding out the team is treasurer Tom O’Brien and deputy treasurer Dean Markham, who also is a former state rep. Goff didn’t rule out adding more members to his staff.

As Goff has shared his intentions of running, he’s been pleasantly surprised with how many offers of help and support he has gotten, calling it “humbling.”

“Very comfortable and happy with the support,” the father of three said.

Under the new reapportionment plan announced in November, East Hampton and East Haddam are now part of the 34th District, which also includes a small portion of Colchester. East Haddam had been part of the 48th District along with Colchester. East Hampton and part of Middletown belonged to the 34th district. Under the plan, Middletown is now divided between the 33rd and 100th Districts.

“I think it makes sense,” Goff said. “Logistically and geographically. We do have shared services already, animal, fire. It’s easier than working with South Middletown across the river. They have different issues than we do. I think it’s a great move.”

Goff pointed to money as a key issue. During tough economic times, money from the state has decreased in recent years leaving towns with tough budget decisions.

“Money is going to be the biggest issue for every town,” Goff said. “How can the town get as much of the grants, whether its federal, state, [Small Town Economic Assistance Program] STEAP grants, small town grants … there needs to be someone that’s going to speak up to try and get money for the towns to try and offset property taxes.”

Don’t expect Goff to be going door-to-door to get his message across, though, saying that it frustrates people to have a candidate come to their door, introduce themselves, hopefully get your vote and then you don’t see or hear from them again.

Goff sees meet and greet events as being more productive.

“One of the ideas of what I’m going to be doing is identifying neighborhoods - and I’ve already had many people offer their houses - to do meet and greets,” he said.

The idea is that residents could gather at a neighbor’s house for coffee or cocktails to discuss issues or different ideas. Goff sees taking the meet and greet idea to local businesses such as restaurants as well.

And should he be elected, he stressed the importance of still being visible.

“Having someone that will be around, who will still go to the Yellow Ribbon [ceremony], pancake breakfasts, different things, who is still there and accessible,” he said. “You’re still part of the towns.”

One thing Goff doesn’t want is for the campaign to turn negative. “Don’t attack the person, attack the issue” is a refrain heard at recent town council meetings in East Hampton, and it’s a course Goff plans on adopting.

“I don’t want to get into personal battles with people, other candidates running,” he said. “It should be about the issues, ideas and thoughts and how to solve problems.”

Who Goff will be running against, however, is still up in the air. Hamm’s staff has told Patch that the incumbent is undecided, and no one else has filed the necessary paperwork. East Haddam Republican Melissa Ziobron has, however, formed an exploratory committee.

If another Democrat runs, the primary will be held Aug. 14.

Those wishing to share their ideas with the candidate, may email CJG90@comcast.net. Those wishing to donate to the Goff For The 34th campaign, may email tomobrien67@comcast.net.