Biography

Mary Mushinsky was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1980 on a platform of environmental activism, consumer advocacy and improved energy policies. Elected to her sixteenth term in November, 2010, Mary was appointed Chair of Program Review and Investigations Committee where she is concentrating on economic rebuilding and workforce education policies, and recommendations for more efficient state agency responses to community needs. Mary served as co-chair of the legislature's Select Committee on Children for ten years and continues to concentrate on risk reduction among children and adolescents. She is the recipient of numerous awards for adolescent pregnancy prevention and reduction of child poverty.

Mary served for six years as co-chair of the legislature's Environment Committee. A biologist by training, Mary has been the chief proponent in the Connecticut legislature of major environmental legislation enacted during the 1980s and 1990s, including mandatory recycling, packaging reduction, open-space preservation, global warming mitigation and endangered-species protection laws.

The representative is a member of the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes and the Results-Based Accountability Working Group to achieve greater efficiencies in taxpayer funded programs, as well as the Peak Oil Caucus to reduce the impact of high oil prices on residents and businesses.

In Wallingford, Mary initiated and serves as co-chair of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail Advisory Committee, which works with local, state and federal officials and the community to expand the pedestrian/bicycle trail.  She also serves on the Wallingford Energy Conservation Commission, which promoted the energy audit and energy management recommendations now being implemented by the Town of Wallingford school system.

Mary lives in Wallingford with her husband Martin J. Waters and has two sons, Martin and Edward Waters.