Two of West Hartford’s state representatives received a perfect score on the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters’ Environmental Scorecard.

By Ronni Newton 

State Senators and Representatives are graded on a scale from 0% to 100% by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters on how they vote on important environmental legislation, and on the 2025 Environmental Scorecard the organization released this week, two of West Hartford’s representatives received perfect scores while three more received scores in the 90s.

State Reps. Tammy Exum (D-19th) and Kate Farrar (D-20th) received scores of 100%.

State Sen. Derek Slap (D-5th) received a score of 93%, as did state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-18th). State Rep. Bobby Gibson (D-15th) received a score of 91%, and Rep. James Sanchez (D-6th) received a score of 86%.

The tool has been used as a means of grading legislators for the past 25 years. “Holding legislators accountable on a variety of environmental issues, this year’s edition features a high level of engagement among freshmen legislators and illustrates the growing partisan divide over the funding and oversight related to environmental issues,” the CTLCV said in a news release.

“This year’s Scorecard graded votes on 23 environmental bills during this year’s four-month legislative session. Two major bills scored that earned a high degree of public interest and engagement include HB 5004, which targets energy and emissions, and SB 9, which addresses municipal and state planning for climate resiliency. Lobby efforts and advocacy by CTLCV and its partners played a key role in helping to pass these and eight other pro-environment bills. The group was also able to help stop or amend all but one of the seven hostile bills,” the news release states.

Board Chairman Joe McGee said of the Scorecard, “The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters was founded on a commitment to protect and conserve our natural resources and to fight for a healthy environment and healthy communities. Our founding Board Chairs, Julie Belaga, a Republican, and Russ Brenneman, a Democrat, knew how important it was to find common ground across the partisan divide. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, the urgency to address the challenges of climate change and a warming planet has become critical. It is our fervent hope and guiding principle that environmental solutions will be science-based and advanced after open, vigorous debate that respects different points of view. We invite Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, to advance Connecticut as a global leader in the fight to save our planet. Economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. In fact, economic innovation that enhances our environment will be the foundation of the 21st-century economy. We believe common ground exists – and that people of goodwill can find it.”

The complete Environmental Scorecard can be found here.

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