Alexandra Kasser
Alexandra Veronica Mochary Kasser (born May 4, 1967) is an attorney, advocate, American politician who served as a member of the Connecticut State Senate for the 36th district from 2018 to 2021. Connecticut's 36th district covers Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. She is a member of the Democratic Party and was the first Democrat to be elected to this seat since 1933. Early life and education. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kasser was raised in Montclair, New Jersey and is the daughter of Mary Mochary and Judge Stephen E. Mochary (d. 2001) . She is the  sister of Matt Mochary. Kasser received her bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1988. In 1993, she received a Juris Doctor from University of Chicago Law School a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Yale University in 2014. In that same year, Kasser became a candidate for a PhD at Yale University. Career. Kasser practiced corporate law at the firm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. In the 2018 election, Kasser was a political newcomer who defeated five-term Republican incumbent, Scott Frantz, and ended 88 years of Republican rule in the 36th Senate district. She was the  first Democrat elected to represent Greenwich in the state legislature since 1933. In 2020, Kasser won re-election by twice the margin of victory as her first election. Kasser's committee assignments included Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Banking Committee, Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, and membership on the Environment Committee, Public Health Committee, Legislative Regulation and Review Committee and the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee. She was also a Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate. Her advocacy focuses on defending democracy and achieving equality for women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community. She was also  a leader in the effort to build a sustainable and equitable economy. She led the effort to re-install tolls and create an Infrastructure Bank in Connecticut, to generate billions of dollars for much-needed infrastructure improvements. Kasser was a strong advocate for Paid Family Medical Leave, a living Minimum Wage, eliminating the state’s estate tax, and helping students pay down college debt and buy homes in Connecticut. She introduced and passed legislation in all these areas. Kasser is perhaps best known for being the primary force behind Jennifers’ Law a ground-breaking law that redefines domestic violence to  include coercive control. The law includes multiple protections for victims of domestic violence and their children, including the ability to access free legal help, change locks in rental units and apply for restraining orders if they’ve experienced coercive control. In a section that addresses custody matters, the law adds “physical and emotional safety of the child” as the first factor to be considered by judges and GALs. They must also consider “the effect on the child of the actions of an abuser if any domestic violence, as defined in 46b1 (which now includes coercive control) has occurred between the  parents." Jennifers’ Law is named in honor of all victims of Domestic Violence, including Jennifer Dulos, who lived in Kasser’s district when she was abducted and murdered by her husband Fotis Dulos. It also honors Jennifer Magnano who was shot and killed by her husband in front of her children. When Kasser’s bill had a public hearing in the Judiciary Committee, dozens of Domestic Violence victims testified, including the three children of Jennifer Magnano (now adults) and the actress and advocate Evan Rachel Wood. Divorce and resignation. On June 22, 2021, Kasser announced her resignation from public office , saying that her ability to do her job was impeded by ongoing divorce litigation with Seth Bergstein. In 2010, a decade before the divorce, Kasser came out to Bergstein as gay and asked for a divorce which he refused. She was succeeded by Republican Ryan Fazio. Personal life. After filing for divorce, Kasser began dating her current partner, Nichola Samponaro, a political consultant and Realtor who grew up in Greenwich, CT. Samponaro volunteered as Kasser’s 2018 and 2020 campaign manager and briefly worked as her Chief of Staff in 2018. Non-profit involvement. From 2012-2016 Kasser was Chairman  of the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center board, an organization dedicated to advancing research on the environmental and epigenetic causes of children’s diseases including cancer. Kasser is the founder of The Parity Partnership, a non-profit dedicated to advancing gender equality in the public and private sectors. She was also Chairman of Greenwich Community Gardens and has served on various boards dedicated to helping children, such as Kids in Crisis.