Dr. Wagner for Connecticut

08/25/2026

Our voices matter, but only if we use them.

Yesterday, I learned about a statewide survey from Connecticut’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education, asking residents to share their experiences and thoughts about how we fund public education and special education.

I didn’t know the survey was out yet. Maybe you didn’t either. But now that we know, we have an opportunity to speak up.

The cost of special education is one of the biggest challenges facing towns across Connecticut. Our children deserve the education and services they need. At the same time, we have to acknowledge what the current funding system is doing to municipal budgets and to the people being asked to make up the difference through their property taxes.

Those two things do not have to be in opposition.

We can support our children AND fight for a better, more sustainable way to fund their education.

If you have about 10 minutes, please fill out the survey. And when you do, tell your story. Explain what rising property taxes mean for your family. Talk about what your town is experiencing. If you are a parent, educator, taxpayer, or someone directly impacted by special education, share that experience.

Don’t just tell them what you think. Tell them why.

We have an opportunity to make sure the Quiet Corner is part of this conversation. Let’s use it.

Survey link: https://lawcolumbia.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9N7wB0GtbUPQmz4?fbclid=IwY2xjawT6znZwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMW5jQkJlZ1luWnZlRms5NmtzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe3wQCfxOtyecBITOlk2IX49F7WPW5MuCRqkiFWroIBJ4jVApNgK9yk8NHji0_aem_05IHrJ_Hblm2F1iLWU8PFQ

08/24/2026

I’m going to be on WINY Monday morning!

Tune in August 31 at 9am. We’ll be talking about the 51st District, some of the issues affecting Killingly, Putnam, and Thompson, and probably a little bit about why I decided to jump into all of this in the first place.

If you’ve been wondering who I am, what I stand for, or just want to hear more about the person asking for your vote, this is a great chance to get to know me a little better.

Hope you’ll tune in!

08/19/2026

I would love to meet and hear from residents. Plus, I plan on making an Enchilada dip 😁

From Washington to Hartford
to our own backyard—
Democratic leadership is coming together for one great night!
KDTC honored to welcome United States Senator Richard Blumenthal, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, State Senator Mae Flexer!
Please come and meet Dr Angelina Wagner and Samantha Derenthal who are running for State Representative.
We look forward to a night of community, conversation, laughter, and fundraising.
We guarantee a night of great people, great conversation, and dips worth debating!”

Donations go to help us support our local races.

08/18/2026

This is what happens when residents refuse to give up on something they love.

For months, people around Old Killingly Pond have continued asking questions, showing up, digging through documents, contacting officials, and advocating for the protection and restoration of this incredible natural resource.

And now the conversation is growing.

This article lays out not only why repairing Old Killingly Pond Dam matters, but what is at stake if we don’t. The pond is part of a much larger interconnected water system. Decisions made here can affect downstream waterways, water quality, wetlands, wildlife habitat, endangered species, recreation, and a resource that has been part of this community for generations.

I am especially encouraged to see the possibility of state ownership being discussed as part of a long term solution. With the state already owning approximately 150 acres surrounding the pond as part of the Killingly Pond State Park Scenic Reserve, it is absolutely worth exploring whether public ownership could help protect the pond and ensure the dam is properly maintained for generations to come.

There is still a long road ahead, and nothing is guaranteed. But seeing residents, local officials, state officials, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders engaged in this conversation gives me hope.

I am incredibly grateful to the residents who have trusted me enough to include me in this work and who have continued pushing for answers when it would have been much easier to walk away.

I would also like to extend an invitation to Office of Governor Ned Lamont, Office of Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Connecticut Office of the Attorney General to come to Killingly and see Old Killingly Pond firsthand.

Come see what has happened here. Walk the area. See the impacts. Talk with the residents who have been living with this issue and fighting to protect this resource. And perhaps most importantly, see how this issue has brought people together.

People with different backgrounds, perspectives, and political beliefs have found common ground around something much bigger than politics: protecting a place they love and ensuring it is still here for the generations who come after us.

There is something powerful happening here, and I believe our state leaders should have the opportunity to see it for themselves.

Old Killingly Pond is more than a pond. It is part of an interconnected ecosystem, part of Killingly’s history, and a shared resource worth fighting for.

And I am very glad to see that fight getting the attention it deserves.

Residents and town officials are pushing to repair Old Killingly Pond Dam and explore state ownership to preserve the pond and waterways.

08/18/2026

I am incredibly honored to share that our campaign has officially been endorsed by AFT Connecticut! 💜

AFT Connecticut represents more than 30,000 working people across our state, including educators, healthcare professionals, public employees, and so many of the people who keep our communities running every single day.

This endorsement means so much to me because I fundamentally believe that our economy should work for the people who actually make it work.

As an Indigenous woman, I’ve always found it interesting how often people use the phrase “low on the totem pole” to mean that someone is less important. That interpretation itself misunderstands totem poles. Being positioned lower does not automatically mean being less valuable or less significant.

And I think there is a powerful lesson in that.

We have created a similar hierarchy in the way we talk about our economy. CEOs and executives are at the “top,” while the people actually doing the everyday work are often described as being somewhere toward the “bottom.”

But those workers aren’t the least important part of the structure.

They are the foundation holding it up.

Those 30,000+ AFT Connecticut members are part of that foundation. They educate our children. They care for us when we’re sick. They provide essential public services. They do the work that allows our communities, families, businesses, and our everyday lives as Connecticut residents to function.

And that extends far beyond these 30,000 workers. Working people are the foundation of our communities, our state, and our economy.

Without that foundation, nothing above it stands.

Working people deserve wages they can live on. Educators deserve the resources and support they need to teach our children. Healthcare workers deserve safe and sustainable working conditions. Public servants deserve respect for the essential work they do. And every family deserves the opportunity not just to survive, but to build a good life.

I am deeply grateful to AFT Connecticut for taking the time to speak with me, ask thoughtful questions, and learn about the kind of representative I hope to be for the 51st District.

Thank you for placing your trust in me. I don’t take it lightly.

I am incredibly proud to stand with working people, and I will continue fighting to make sure the voices of Killingly, Putnam, and Thompson are heard in Hartford.

Because the people doing the work aren’t at the bottom of our society. They are the foundation that holds it up. 💜

08/17/2026

This is a step in the right direction, and I genuinely appreciate seeing Connecticut invest $10.6 million in helping school districts strengthen in district special education programs.

But it cannot be the end of the conversation.

Towns across Connecticut are struggling under the growing cost of providing special education services. These are services our children need and deserve, and ensuring every child has access to an appropriate education should never be viewed as optional.

The question is how we pay for it.

Right now, too much of that responsibility continues to fall on individual municipalities and, ultimately, local property taxpayers. Residents contribute to education through their state taxes, while their towns are simultaneously trying to absorb significant special education costs through local budgets.

For small and rural communities especially, a handful of high cost placements can have an enormous impact on an entire municipal budget.

Today’s announcement recognizes part of that problem. Helping districts create strong in district and regional programs can keep students closer to home while potentially reducing reliance on expensive out of district placements. That is something worth supporting.

But we need to go further.

Connecticut needs a serious conversation about how the state shares responsibility for special education funding so that a child’s educational needs do not create an unpredictable financial burden for an individual town.

This isn’t about spending less on children.

It’s about funding their education more fairly.

I appreciate this investment, and I hope it is the beginning of much more substantial reform. Our towns need relief. Our taxpayers need relief. And our students deserve a system where communities don’t have to choose between meeting mandated educational needs and maintaining the other programs and services that help children and towns thrive.

We can support our students and protect our municipalities. We just have to be willing to rethink how Connecticut shares the responsibility.

https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/08-2026/governor-lamont-announces-state-grants-to-strengthen-in-district-special-education?language=en_US

Press Release Homepage Governor Lamont Announces $10.6 Million in State Grants To Strengthen In-District Special Education Programs 8/17/2026 Grants Awarded Through Connecticut’s Newly Established High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant Program (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Con...

08/17/2026

A Community Conversation: Understanding Thompson’s Budget Referendum

One of the things I’ve heard most over the past several weeks is, “What actually happens if the budget passes? What happens if it doesn’t?”

That’s exactly why I made this video.

My goal isn’t to tell anyone how to vote. Whether you’re planning to vote yes or no, I believe everyone deserves to understand how the process works before casting their ballot.

In this video, I walk through:
• What the referendum is actually deciding.
• What happens if the budget passes.
• What happens if it doesn’t.
• Why some expenses exist regardless of the outcome.
• Why school budgets don’t always decrease when enrollment declines.
• What happens if the final approved budget is lower than the amount of revenue collected.
• Why your participation matters, regardless of how you vote.

Local government can be complicated, but it shouldn’t be inaccessible. The more we understand how these processes work, the better conversations we can have about the future of our communities.

Whether you support the proposed budget or oppose it, I encourage every eligible Thompson voter to make their voice heard on Wednesday, August 19th.

An informed community is a stronger community.

08/17/2026

A Community Conversation: Putnam Special Town Meeting

If you live in Putnam, tonight is an opportunity to make your voice heard.

The evening begins with a Public Hearing at 6:15 p.m., where residents can ask questions, share concerns, or speak in support of several proposed ordinances and amendments. These include changes related to veterans’ property tax exemptions, the Ash Landfill Ground Lease Revenue Fund, vehicle tax exemptions, and proposed penalties for zoning violations.

Immediately following the public hearing, at 6:30 p.m., the Special Town Meeting will begin, where eligible Putnam residents will vote on these proposed ordinances and amendments. The agenda includes votes on each of the items discussed during the public hearing.

Whether you support these proposals, oppose them, or simply have questions, this is your opportunity to participate in the process before the votes are taken.

An informed community is a stronger community, and local government works best when residents stay engaged.

08/17/2026

A Community Conversation: 90 Putnam Pike Update

If you live in Killingly or the surrounding communities, tonight’s Planning & Zoning meeting is an important one.

The public hearing for 90 Putnam Pike is expected to continue and likely close. This proposal includes two distribution centers totaling just under 500,000 square feet along Route 12, across from the town garage.

One important reminder: This is a new application. Comments submitted during the previous application do not carry over into this one. If you shared concerns or support before, you’ll need to submit them again for them to become part of the official record.

If you can’t attend in person tonight, written comments must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. today to be included in the record.

In this video, I also explain:
• What has happened since the last hearing
• The applicant’s responses to the third party review by Tighe & Bond
• Why those documents matter
• What to expect with the Husky Project, which is also on tonight’s agenda

Whether you support these projects, oppose them, or are still gathering information, your voice matters. Local government works best when residents stay informed and participate in the process.

As always, my goal is to help make these processes easier to understand so our community can make informed decisions together.