Indian American state legislator, Rep. Srinivasan has declared his candidacy for the governor’s office in the state of Connecticut. A 4th term state representative, Dr. Prasad Srinivasan, an allergist, was elected six years ago to the state House of Representatives.
In an exclusive interview with this writer, Srinivasan, 67, of Glastonbury, CT said, “I am very clear in my mind. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, maybe six months in my mind the idea has been brewing. My wife and I talked about it. We decided the time was right to run for this position.”
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a Republican, State Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown, Peter Lumaj, a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 and the GOP nominee for secretary of the state in 2014, and State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, are some others who have already thrown in their towels in the ring, trying to unseat an unpopular governor of the state, under whose rule major companies and millionaires are “forced to leave the state” due to dismal fiscal policies.
A physician by profession, Srinivasan opposed the legalization of cannabis for medical use in 2012, saying he believed in its efficacy, but was troubled by questions of practicality. But he relented in 2016 and voted to expand the law to allow the limited use of cannabis to treat children with conditions not treatable by conventional means.
He voted against repeal of the death penalty in 2012. He supported passage of the sweeping gun-control law passed in 2013 in response to the Sandy Hook School shooting of 26 children and staff. “I am old enough,” he said, “and I am young enough.”
An eloquent speaker and totally committed to high ideals in public and private life, Dr. Srinivasan has been serving as the Assistant Republican leader in the House, a Ranking member of the Public Health Committee, and a National Co-Chair of the Health Policy Council. He has been presented with numerous awards for his legislative leadership. He was the Top Doctor 7th year in a row by Connecticut Magazine.
Prasad Srinivasan is married to Mrs. Kala Prasad, a professional musician for over 30 years. Their two children graduated from Glastonbury High school. Son, Sashank Prasad, M.D., is Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Sashank’s wife, Kerry, is a high school teacher by profession, currently a stay home mom taking care of their two children. Daughter, Anusha Prasad-Rodriguez is the Head of Alternate Investments at Oppenheimer. Her husband, Paul, is a manager at Analysis Group, Inc. They have two daughters.
According to the senior, physician, “Connecticut has been prosperous in our lifetimes, and we can get back to prosperity again. But the path of divisive special interest politics that Governor Malloy and the Democrats in the legislature have chosen is not working. We need to change things around to revive our state. We need new leadership and new vision to conquer the old problems that are continuing to hold us back. That is why I want to be your governor. I have the energy, enthusiasm and experience to overcome these challenging issues to bring prosperity to Connecticut and ensure a bright future for our children. I ask you to join me in working toward a better tomorrow for Connecticut.”
Prasad Srinivasan has been a successful Legislator and works across the aisles. Making his case for running for this office, he says, “I am running to be your governor because I know that, if we work together, we can make these changes and put Connecticut on the right track.
“I have a simple story. I moved to Connecticut in 1980. I chose Connecticut because it was then a state that had everything going for it. Over the last thirty-six years, my wife and I have raised our two children in Connecticut and built a successful medical practice here. We have lived our American dream right here in Connecticut.”
Dr. Prasad Srinivasan, a long time resident of the town of Glastonbury, has been practicing in Glastonbury and the Hartford area for over 30 years, and been treating pediatric and adult patients with allergies. Dr. Srinivasan has been an accomplished Legislator, Physician, Business Owner and Philanthropist and won many endorsements, accolades, awards and recognitions.
On November 8th 2016, Prasad Srinivasan was elected to his fourth (4th) term as the State Representative of the Glastonbury 31st Assembly District. He is an Assistant Republican Leader and Ranking Member of the Public Health committee in Connecticut General Assembly besides being a member of Environment and Judiciary committees.
Prasad Srinivasan was chief pediatric resident at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He did his fellowship in allergy and immunology at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He is a graduate of Baroda Medical College in India. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. His community involvement is remarkable and has been recognized on numerous occasions.
Dr. Srinivasan has kept his promise to give 100% of his state legislative salary to worthy causes, and has been actively engaged in community services throughout his career. He was the Ambassador, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and was the Corporator, Hartford Hospital. He was instrumental in founding the Prasad Family Foundation in 1999 which awards merit-based scholarships to graduates of GHS and need-based scholarships for college education across the country. He established the Prasad Srinivasan Award for dedication to medical advocacy established by Fairfield Medical County Association
Pointing to the fact that the state spiraling downwards, Dr. Srinivasan says, “ Our businesses, large and small, are leaving our state. People are moving out of the state. Young people do not see the same opportunities that drew us to Connecticut in 1980. This pattern has to end. We can make it happen.”
Dr. Srinivasan says, “We deserve a better Connecticut, and our children deserve a brighter future. We need to revive our state so we all can prosper. Together, we can take back our state, turn it around and bring prosperity back to Connecticut for ourselves and our children.”