Republican candidate Michael Pace.
A practitioner of chiropractic treatment and acupuncture is looking to break into the political arena by running to represent Hamden in the state legislature — after pinpointing high taxes and public safety concerns as local issues in need of policy adjustments.
Michael Pace has filed papers and started campaigning for the 88th state House of Representatives district seat. That district covers Hamden’s West Woods, Mount Carmel and Spring Glen neighborhoods.
Pace is the only candidate challenging incumbent Democratic State Rep. Josh Elliott, a leading progressive legislator who has promoted marijuana legalization, prison reform, and increased voting access. Read more about Elliott’s continued candidacy here. The election takes place Nov. 8.
Pace, a sports-injury specialist, owns a practice with his wife called Mount Carmel Chiropractic & Acupuncture, which has been operating in Hamden since 2002. A press release from Republican Town Committee (RTC) Chairman Andrew Tammaro states that Pace also volunteers with North Haven youth programs and has a Masterclass Captain’s license issued by the United States Coast Guard.
Pace could not be reached for comment by the time of this article’s publication. The RTC release quotes him as saying: “Over the years, it has become increasingly clear that Connecticut is becoming more unaffordable, less safe, and a less friendly home to businesses and Hamden is facing the brunt of it. I have spoken with concerned residents from all over Hamden and was compelled to run to represent their voice in Hartford. So many of them feel that their state government is out-of-touch and inaccessible, and that’s simply unacceptable.”
Elliott originally faced a primary challenge from Community Soup Kitchen Director Joshua Watkins, but Watkins ultimately fell short by around 15 voter signatures of the 310 he needed to qualify for the ballot.