PAID ADVERTISEMENT Cohen A No-Show for Full House District 12 State Senate Town Hall As candidates vie for their po- sitions and narrow down their campaign messaging going into the home stretch of the 2024 election season, local candidates prepare to face off against their respective oppo- nents with debates and town hall discussions. Traditionally, these events are hosted by orga- nizations such as the League of Women Voters and the Shore- line Chamber of Commerce, offering residents the opportu- nity to hear directly from each candidate about the visions they propose if elected. Unfor- tunately, this year's opportu- nities to schedule such events have seemed complicated and clusive due to venue availabil- ity, scheduling issues, and an unusual appetite for forum-for- mat discussions. Many see these issues as opportunities for incumbents to avoid direct con- versation with their opponents, leaving one to wonder what the outcomes of a vigorous one-on- one debate could have been. One town hall that was able to take place was the District 12 state senate race between three- term incumbent Christine Co- hen and two-time challenger Paul Crisci, attracting a large and diverse crowd of voters, including Democrats, Republi- cans, independents, and many unaffiliated voters. The event took place at the Stony Creek Brewery and was moderated by popular talk show host Vinnie Penn. The Crisci campaign, as hosts, provided pizza and re- freshments for the event. Each candidate was allotted three minutes to answer questions regarding state and district is sues voters deemed "top of their list" concerns, such as affordability, utility costs, pa- rental rights, the environment, and crime. Unlike traditional debates, this was intended to be more of a conversation about the issues, along with questions previously submitted online and from attending audience participants. Unfortunately, to the dismay of many. Sena- tor Cohen was a "no-show," leaving constituents and her opponent questioning why she would miss the opportunity to address voters with what she has deemed her accomplish- ments and visions for the fu- ture. When asked, challenger Paul Crisci stated, "It's disap- pointing not just for myself but for the voters. Senator Cohen was contacted numerous times by my campaign to confirm her attendance, but we assumed her lack of response was due to her busy schedule." Crisci contin- ued, "Nevertheless, I will still answer questions from the au- dience, and if Senator Cohen arrives late, it would be my pleasure to have the moderator allot her the time necessary to address the attendees." Although the absence of Sen- ator Cohen was noticeable, host Vinnie Penn of The Vin- nie Penn Project morning show managed the candidate's ab- sence by redirecting attention to the attending candidate, Paul even though she paid for the Crisci. After some brief intro- paper, ink, and postage stamp. ductions, Penn got right to it by The articles that have been asking questions on everything shared in the newspaper bear from crime to the affordabili- the same validity as those of ty of utility bills and everyday all other media sources." Crisci necessities. However, it wasn't punctuated his defense of the until questions from voters on- situation by saying, "I think line and in the audience were sometimes people forget that asked that voters were given the Shoreline newspaper exists the real opportunity to decide because of paid advertising dol- which candidate they should lars. I would hope more people vote for. The first question was will support them by paying for directly related to Candidate ads in the paper and donating to Crisci's unique methods of their efforts to bring local news marketing his campaign mes- to the area." sages. Samuel from Branford asked, "Recently, I received a call from a Democratic Party poll- ster asking for my thoughts on your newspaper ads, particular- ly since you own a marketing agency. There have been claims that you've been tricking peo- ple into reading your articles. Could you address the criticism you've been receiving and clar- ify the situation?" Crisci responded, stating. "First, I am not some Jedi us ing mental telepathy to make people read a newspaper arti- cle. With that said, I am real- ly amazed that there are some people more concerned with the delivery method of the mes- sage than the actual content of the message." Crisci advised. "When Senator Cohen sends a piece of mail with claims of her accomplishments, no one is screaming foul' at the post office for delivering the mail, C The second question was clear ly one of pointless but amusing distinction. Diana from Guil- ford asked: "Who makes your suit jackets?" This was a refer- ence to Crisci's notable signa- ture wardrobe, which includes custom-made sports jackets with a unique inseam showcas- ing everything from scripture quotes and his business logo to pictures of his grandson and his dogs. Crisci's response: "I give all the credit to Tony 'Suits' Costanzo. It's not easy to make my shape and size look somewhat presentable," Crisci joked. "But in all seriousness, Tony is a great guy known throughout the state for custom formal and casual wear. I high- ly recommend him." The next question came from Tim of Guilford, who offered accolades to Senator Cohen's environmental record and asked her challenger, Paul Crisci, "Christine Cohen has PAUL CRISCI For State Senate District 12 Still No Politics. Just Common Sense. PCforCT.com Paid for by Paul for Senate, Mann Hasen, Treasurer. Approved by Poul Cresci. done an amazing job on the environment, advocating for climate change and protecting our shoreline. If elected, what makes you think you can do a better job?" Crisci respond- ed, "There is no question that Senator Cohen has made the environment the pinnacle of her time as a senator and has participated in bills that include the removal of forever chem- icals' or PFAS, as well as the limitation of plastic bags and straws, which I applaud her for doing. However, she has fall- en short in many other areas involving the environment." Crisci stated, "I have concerns that we are not addressing the core environmental issues that are going to affect our district and state long-term, not just en- vironmentally but financially." Crisci elaborated, "The envi- ronment is an expensive ini- tiative requiring not just vision and wishes but a fiscally re- sponsible method to fund these projects for the long term. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 PAID ADVERTISEMENT Cohen A No - Show for Full House District 12 State Senate Town Hall As candidates vie for their po- sitions and narrow down their campaign messaging going into the home stretch of the 2024 election season , local candidates prepare to face off against their respective oppo- nents with debates and town hall discussions . Traditionally , these events are hosted by orga- nizations such as the League of Women Voters and the Shore- line Chamber of Commerce , offering residents the opportu- nity to hear directly from each candidate about the visions they propose if elected . Unfor- tunately , this year's opportu- nities to schedule such events have seemed complicated and clusive due to venue availabil- ity , scheduling issues , and an unusual appetite for forum - for- mat discussions . Many see these issues as opportunities for incumbents to avoid direct con- versation with their opponents , leaving one to wonder what the outcomes of a vigorous one - on- one debate could have been . One town hall that was able to take place was the District 12 state senate race between three- term incumbent Christine Co- hen and two - time challenger Paul Crisci , attracting a large and diverse crowd of voters , including Democrats , Republi- cans , independents , and many unaffiliated voters . The event took place at the Stony Creek Brewery and was moderated by popular talk show host Vinnie Penn . The Crisci campaign , as hosts , provided pizza and re- freshments for the event . Each candidate was allotted three minutes to answer questions regarding state and district is sues voters deemed " top of their list " concerns , such as affordability , utility costs , pa- rental rights , the environment , and crime . Unlike traditional debates , this was intended to be more of a conversation about the issues , along with questions previously submitted online and from attending audience participants . Unfortunately , to the dismay of many . Sena- tor Cohen was a " no - show , " leaving constituents and her opponent questioning why she would miss the opportunity to address voters with what she has deemed her accomplish- ments and visions for the fu- ture . When asked , challenger Paul Crisci stated , " It's disap- pointing not just for myself but for the voters . Senator Cohen was contacted numerous times by my campaign to confirm her attendance , but we assumed her lack of response was due to her busy schedule . " Crisci contin- ued , " Nevertheless , I will still answer questions from the au- dience , and if Senator Cohen arrives late , it would be my pleasure to have the moderator allot her the time necessary to address the attendees . " Although the absence of Sen- ator Cohen was noticeable , host Vinnie Penn of The Vin- nie Penn Project morning show managed the candidate's ab- sence by redirecting attention to the attending candidate , Paul even though she paid for the Crisci . After some brief intro- paper , ink , and postage stamp . ductions , Penn got right to it by The articles that have been asking questions on everything shared in the newspaper bear from crime to the affordabili- the same validity as those of ty of utility bills and everyday all other media sources . " Crisci necessities . However , it wasn't punctuated his defense of the until questions from voters on- situation by saying , " I think line and in the audience were sometimes people forget that asked that voters were given the Shoreline newspaper exists the real opportunity to decide because of paid advertising dol- which candidate they should lars . I would hope more people vote for . The first question was will support them by paying for directly related to Candidate ads in the paper and donating to Crisci's unique methods of their efforts to bring local news marketing his campaign mes- to the area . " sages . Samuel from Branford asked , " Recently , I received a call from a Democratic Party poll- ster asking for my thoughts on your newspaper ads , particular- ly since you own a marketing agency . There have been claims that you've been tricking peo- ple into reading your articles . Could you address the criticism you've been receiving and clar- ify the situation ? " Crisci responded , stating . " First , I am not some Jedi us ing mental telepathy to make people read a newspaper arti- cle . With that said , I am real- ly amazed that there are some people more concerned with the delivery method of the mes- sage than the actual content of the message . " Crisci advised . " When Senator Cohen sends a piece of mail with claims of her accomplishments , no one is screaming foul ' at the post office for delivering the mail , C The second question was clear ly one of pointless but amusing distinction . Diana from Guil- ford asked : " Who makes your suit jackets ? " This was a refer- ence to Crisci's notable signa- ture wardrobe , which includes custom - made sports jackets with a unique inseam showcas- ing everything from scripture quotes and his business logo to pictures of his grandson and his dogs . Crisci's response : " I give all the credit to Tony ' Suits ' Costanzo . It's not easy to make my shape and size look somewhat presentable , " Crisci joked . " But in all seriousness , Tony is a great guy known throughout the state for custom formal and casual wear . I high- ly recommend him . " The next question came from Tim of Guilford , who offered accolades to Senator Cohen's environmental record and asked her challenger , Paul Crisci , " Christine Cohen has PAUL CRISCI For State Senate District 12 Still No Politics . Just Common Sense . PCforCT.com Paid for by Paul for Senate , Mann Hasen , Treasurer . Approved by Poul Cresci . done an amazing job on the environment , advocating for climate change and protecting our shoreline . If elected , what makes you think you can do a better job ? " Crisci respond- ed , " There is no question that Senator Cohen has made the environment the pinnacle of her time as a senator and has participated in bills that include the removal of forever chem- icals ' or PFAS , as well as the limitation of plastic bags and straws , which I applaud her for doing . However , she has fall- en short in many other areas involving the environment . " Crisci stated , " I have concerns that we are not addressing the core environmental issues that are going to affect our district and state long - term , not just en- vironmentally but financially . " Crisci elaborated , " The envi- ronment is an expensive ini- tiative requiring not just vision and wishes but a fiscally re- sponsible method to fund these projects for the long term . CONTINUED ON PAGE 5