Greg Ehlers, a Darien resident who works as a consultant in a cyber-security firm and advisor in an investment company, has announced that he’s running for state Senate in the 25th District seat now occupied by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat.
Ehlers’ announcement appeared on Darien Patch on Friday evening.
Ehlers, in his announcement, reportedly said Duff has worked closely with Gov. Dannel Malloy to raise taxes, increase state spending and pursue policies that hurt Connecticut businesses, lessening their ability to compete with businesses in other states.
Ehlers, according to the Patch article, is a 16-year resident of Darien and the father of three. His late wife, Laura, passed away last August.
Update Thursday, May 5: Ehlers emailed his news release to Darienite.com. Here’s what it said:
Republican businessman Greg Ehlers Friday said he will seek the GOP nomination to challenge State Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, to serve the 25th district, which includes all of Norwalk and part of Darien.
“Hartford bureaucrats especially Bob Duff do not respect the taxpayers of Darien and Norwalk. There is no accountability. We are being left behind, unable to fairly compete in today’s ever changing world. The Duff- Malloy duo spend our hard- earned money without vision and understanding that we are in the 21st century and Connecticut must be competitive.” said Ehlers. “Bob Duff has supported raising taxes to record levels, increasing spending on failed programs of yesterday and piling debt on future generations. Connecticut deserves better.”
Ehlers, who moved to Darien 16 years ago to start a successful financial-services company, said that Duff, the Senate Majority Leader, is a principal architect of failed policies that are destroying business, hurting the middle class and driving working people to other states. Duff should not be the steward of the taxpayers hard-earned money.
This is the first time Ehlers is seeking elective office. Voters are angry about Connecticut’s stalled economic growth and Hartford’s professional political class, which is failing to deliver both realistic budgets or creditable long term plans for the State. Issues that require professionals not professional politicians.
Duff was instrumental in enacting two of the biggest tax increases on the middle class in state history – championed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy -under the mistaken belief it would generate jobs and revenue. They were wrong. It produced neither, Connecticut residents were left with record deficits and flat wages.
“People are leaving the state in record numbers. We cannot improve our state economy if we re-elect the same politicians and expect them to fix the problems they created” said Ehlers. “I want my children and your children to have the opportunity to pursue a life and career in Connecticut. We cannot do that with Bob Duff representing us in Hartford.”
Ehlers was a member of Round Table Investment Management Company, a global macro hedge fund, and special advisor to Rareview Macro, an advisory firm to some of the world’s most influential investors. In 2007, Ehlers co-founded Navigate Advisors, a boutique macro broker-dealer. In his capacity as Managing Partner, he provided advice and facilitated trading in an array of financial assets. He is currently Managing Director at SROcalendar LLC, which offers consulting solutions in cyber security to Registered Investment Advisers, Investment Advisers, and the Broker Dealer Industry.
Ehlers received his B.S. in Finance and Economics from the University of Montana School of Business. He has three sons, and mentors young professionals in the financial services industry.
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