Recently, I made a decision to come out from behind the camera and take people powered media to the next level by becoming a co-guest host on the public access show Ideas at Work and Beyond.

Since the show covers the Danbury area (which includes such towns as Bethel and Ridgefield), last night, Democratic State Senate candidate John Hartwell sat in the hot seat with myself and host Mary Heiser (Republican Board of Finance Chairman for Ridgefield) and answered a series of questions that centered on issues in the 26th district (Bethel, New Cannan, Redding, Ridgefield, Westport, Weston, Wilton).

1. Public financing of campaigns.

As a big fan of the new campaign finance laws in Connecticut, I asked for Hartwell for his take on new law and how the new way of financing of campaigns levels out the playing field.

2. Health Care:

In his travels talking to people across the district, I asked Hartwell what was the biggest concern in the minds of his constituents. His response was Health care.

3. Transportation

As someone who had to endure traveling to New York from Danbury, one of the biggest complaints in portions of the 26th district is the terrible rail service on the Danbury section of the Metro-North New Haven Line. I asked Hartwell for his take on improving the line as well as his take on the ongoing problem with transportation in the area.

4. Minimum wage and earned income tax credit

My final direct question to Hartwell centered around the increase to the minimum wage and whether or not he approved with the decision of the Democrats to override Gov. Jodi Rell's veto.

You can watch the interview in it's entirety over at the local access show's website.