Derek Slap seeks return to Capitol as a House member

The number of retirements among House Democrats has reached 11 with a decision by Rep. Brian Becker, D-West Hartford, not seek a fourth term representing parts of West Hartford, Avon and Farmington.

Democrats have found a potential successor: Derek Slap, the former chief of staff for the Senate Democrats who now is the associate vice president of external relations for the UConn Foundation.

“It kind of came out of nowhere,” Slap said.

Slap, who lives in West Hartford, had interviewed recently for a vacancy on the Town Council. It went to someone else, but he evidently made a good impression. When Becker informed party leaders of his plans, they called Slap.

Slap agreed to run after checking with the Office of State Ethics and obtaining the permission of the UConn Foundation. Slap, who registered as a lobbyist for the foundation on a donor disclosure bill, has de-registered.

Becker won an open seat in 2010, succeeding Democrat Beth Bye, who won a Senate seat the same year.