Lyddy Endorsed

By DTC

For 106th District Seat

By John Voket

Democratic Legislative Councilman Christopher Lyddy said he sees an opportunity to bring “youthful and energetic” representation to the residents of Newtown in the state assembly this November. Mr Lyddy previously announced he was seeking the local Democratic Town Committee’s (DTC) endorsement to run for the 106th District seat being vacated by Representative Julia Wasserman.

He received that unanimous recommendation from the DTC May 8.

Ms Wasserman announced earlier this year that she was not seeking reelection. Provided no other candidates surface, Mr Lyddy will face Republican council Chairman William Rodgers. The 106th assembly district makes up most of Newtown. Republican DebraLee Hovey represents a section of the 112th District, which overlays part of Botsford in the southwestern corner of Newtown.

According to a release from the committee, Mr Lyddy’s “enthusiasm during the last election cycle was contagious.” Following the endorsement vote, Lyddy addressed the DTC, saying, “With a new energy, I am embarking on a journey to serve on the frontline as your state representative.”

In his race for the council seat last November, town registrars confirmed he was the highest vote getter among 26 Legislative Council candidates. The DTC release identifies Mr Lyddy as the youngest elected official in Newtown.

In an interview with The Bee following the endorsement, Mr Lyddy said he started formulating his decision to seek state office while he was campaigning for the council.

“I was thinking a lot about the needs of the town during my council race,” he said. “I was focused on the council race but kept thinking about what could be done in other arenas.”

Mr Lyddy said the more he got involved, and especially since his election to the council, his interest in state initiatives and his interest in local concerns have tracked on “parallel paths.”

In his local candidate questionnaire for the council, Mr Lyddy cited the loss of young people to both the town and the state due to high housing costs and a lack of other incentives for young people to stay in Connecticut among his greatest concerns. He confirmed that this week.

“It’s important for the voices of Connecticut’s young people to continue to be heard, and there should be state programs to entice them to stay,” he said. Other grave concerns involve improving the quality of life for Connecticut’s children and families, and working to create a more “responsive government in Hartford.”

Since he is currently employed overseeing a juvenile risk reduction center in Hartford, Mr Lyddy believes he can bring an educated voice to the statehouse in November, and become a strong advocate for the needs of underserved children and families. He said he has developed many friends and partnerships in Hartford already, and is willing to work in bipartisan fashion to achieve his goals.

Mr Lyddy cited an internship with State Senator John McKinney, who is now the state Republican minority leader, as an important learning experience. If elected, the local councilman said he would work with Sen McKinney and other elected leaders to address tax and budget policies that he sees as damaging to families.

“I see healthy children and families as being the backbone of every community in Connecticut,” he said. “And as a social worker, I see firsthand how a growing number of them are faced with struggles with issues like Lyme disease and substance abuse.

“I’m extremely concerned with rising property taxes,” he said, adding that in order to preserve and improve the quality of life for everyone in Connecticut, the state must invest in expanding higher education opportunities and small business development.

“The needs of families, many of whom operate or work in small businesses, that are left unmet,” Mr Lyddy said, adding that he wants to play a role in giving people a voice in government, especially at the district level.

“I want to reengage the people of Newtown with their government,” he said. “I want to give people hope that when they have a youthful and energized state representative, they will have a voice.”

Mr Lyddy said he plans to file the necessary paperwork next week to apply for public financing for his campaign, and that he will continue meeting residents in the district at events and during door-knocking.

Local DTC Chairman James Juliano said he recalled meeting Mr Lyddy when the young man came to the committee seeking to join the Democratic cause.

“He seemed very astute, he had a lot on the ball,” Mr Juliano told The Bee. “He said he wanted to run for the council, and he did very well. He knocked on doors and got a lot of votes.”

Mr Juliano has high hopes for the young candidate this November, saying Mr Lyddy “has the best interests of the town in mind.”

“He’ll set the course,” Mr Juliano added. “Chris will be the fellow who will push the agenda, not the one following it.”

“It was very exciting to see the hard work and effort that Chris, a lifelong Newtown resident, his family, and friends put forth last year to win a seat on the Legislative Council. The residents of his district elected Chris with the highest vote total of anyone running for these positions townwide,” said DTC member Michael Kelly. “Now Chris is making an even bigger commitment to all residents of Newtown, both young and old, newcomers and long-time residents. Chris will make a difference in how Newtown fairs in Hartford with this same kind of enthusiasm and hard work.”

Mr Lyddy attributes his run to a passion instilled in him by his father. “It is this passion and the passion I have for this community that drives my decision to run for state rep. My experiences as a social worker, a graduate of Newtown public schools, and as a community activist have allowed me to develop a strong voice — a voice I know how to use to effect change,” said Mr Lyddy. “We need a representative who will amplify the voices of this community in Hartford.”