Biography
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Mary Ann Carson was first elected to the General Assembly in a March 1999 special election and reelected to her fifth term representing the 108th District in November 2006. This district includes the majority of New Fairfield, sections of New Milford and the towns of Kent and Sherman.

A resident of New Fairfield, Representative Carson served as the town’s Registrar of Voters for 20 years. She currently serves as Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Public Health Committee and as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

The Public Health Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Public Health; the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Mental Retardation; the Office of Health Care Access; and all other matters relating to health, including emergency medical services, all licensing boards within the Department of Public Health, nursing homes, pure food and drugs, and controlled substances, including the treatment of substance abuse.

Rep. Carson has been an effective advocate in promoting the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), which can save the life of someone who is in the midst of cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association bestowed her its 2002 Legislator of the Year award in recognition of her efforts to improve access to AEDs. She also initiated legislation requiring the Department of Public Health (DPH) to adopt regulations setting statewide standards for the certification of emergency service personnel, including paramedics. The legislation ensures that the same level of emergency care is available throughout Connecticut.

Representative Carson is an advocate for smaller more efficient government, improving education and health care reform. She also continues to prioritize local issues, such as protecting Candlewood Lake, progress on the expansion of Route 7 and the passage of the Underground Storage Tank Amnesty Program to assist homeowners cover the cost of removing these tanks.

Representative Carson has a long history of community involvement, serving as president, vice-president and member of parent-teacher organizations for Consolidated and Meeting House Hill Schools. She was the first recipient of the New Fairfield Jaycees’ Jaycette of the Year.

Representative Carson has served as research volunteer for the American Cancer Society and for 10 years, served as volunteer coordinator for Special Olympics in conjunction with the Jaycees. She helped organize New Fairfield’s “Welcome Home the Troops’ event following the Persian Gulf War.

Mary Ann is married to Doug Carson Jr. They have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.