State Rep. Pamela Z. Sawyer, R-Bolton, will not seek a 12th term.
State Rep. Pamela Z. Sawyer, R-Bolton, will not seek a 12th term. House Republican Caucus

After 22 years representing Connecticut’s 55th District in the state House of Representatives, Bolton Republican Pamela Z. Sawyer announced Tuesday that she won’t seek a 12th term.

“I am deeply grateful for the great support I have been given by the wonderful folks in the 55th District over the last 22 years,” said Sawyer, whose district includes Andover, Hebron and Marlborough. “I will miss seeing so many of them at the many events I have enjoyed – watching, eating, shopping, and hugging! I have other challenges I am ready to pursue as well as having an evening or two home with my family.”

Sawyer devoted much of her tenure to reducing the devastating vehicle crash and death rate on U.S. Route 6 between Bolton and Columbia, working with multiple state and federal agencies and legislators, governors and other officials to establish various reforms.

The Bolton lawmaker also spearheaded successful passage in 2000 of what became known as the “Safe Havens” law – a measure to assist distressed mothers at risk of abandoning newborn children.

Since the law took effect, 22 infants have been left safely at hospitals by mothers who could not care for the children.

Sawyer also worked to secure funding for the Connecticut Aero Tech program at Brainard Airport. The school offers a certificate program for aircraft maintenance, providing the skills needed to get jobs along the Connecticut aviation corridor.

A vocal advocate for new rules to prohibit nonessential legislative debates between midnight and 6 a.m., Sawyer has a 100 percent voting record in 21 of her 22 years.

Keith has spent most of his 31 years as a reporter specializing in state government finances, analyzing such topics as income tax equity, waste in government and the complex funding systems behind Connecticut’s transportation and social services networks. He has been the state finances reporter at CT Mirror since it launched in 2010. Prior to joining CT Mirror Keith was State Capitol bureau chief for The Journal Inquirer of Manchester, a reporter for the Day of New London, and a former contributing writer to The New York Times. Keith is a graduate of and a former journalism instructor at the University of Connecticut.

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