Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Interest in 5th District Senate seat heats up fast

  • Politics
  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • January 2, 2019
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Rep. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, a former chief of staff to the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 6:45 p.m.

It didn’t take long for interest in the newly vacated 5th Senate District seat to heat up.

State Rep. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, former chief of staff to the Senate Democratic Caucus, announced Wednesday he would run for the post being vacated by Beth Bye. Slap has represented West Hartford, Farmington and Avon in the House for the past two years.

Also Wednesday, state Rep.-elect Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, said she is considering a possible bid for the 5th Senate District seat and expects to make a decision in the next few days.

Two other West Hartford Democrats who said they are weighing a run for Bye’s seat are Deputy Mayor Beth Kerrigan, and attorney Janee Woods Weber, director of organizational culture for the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Foundation. Weber served on an advisory panel studying women’s issues for Lamont’s transition team.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said Wednesday she was approached by several people who urged her to run, but ultimately decided not to do so. “I gave this a lot of thought,” she said. “It’s really important to me to stay committed to the town right now.”

Bye, also a West Hartford Democrat, was re-elected to a fifth term in the Senate in November. Instead, she will leave when her current term ends on Jan. 9 and join Gov.-elect Ned Lamont’s administration as commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood.

Slap, 45, who spearheaded the 2018 push in the General Assembly for pay equity reform, said there are many other priorities he still wants to pursue.

“A sustainable budget and strengthening our economy — these have to be the top priorities for all of us,” said Slap.

Nonpartisan analysts say state finances, unless adjusted, are on pace to run 10 percent in deficit, about $1.7 billion, in the upcoming fiscal year. Much of that problem is tied to surging pension and other retirement benefit costs, programs that suffer from seven decades of inadequate funding.

Slap and Bye worked together over the past two years to build a bipartisan coalition that enacted a pay equity measure that prohibits employers from asking prospective hires about their pay history. Supporters argued that inquiries about wage history traditionally have been a tool used to maintain the gender gap.

Slap applauded Bye’s contribution to Connecticut during her eight years in the Senate and four in the House.

“With apologies to Red Sox fans, but this is like trying to replace (former Yankees’ all-star) Derek Jeter at shortstop,” he said. “She’s been a fabulous state senator. These are very big shoes to fill.”

Besides continuing to promote pay equity, Slap said he also would work in the Senate to expand access to early voting, reduce underage vaping, and combat age discrimination.

Slap this week ended a four-year stint as a vice president of marketing and communications for the University of Connecticut Foundation. In addition to representing the 19th House District, Slap also lectures on political science and the media at Yale University.

Rep. Jillian Gilchrest

Gilchrest, 36, was elected this past year to her first term representing the 18th House district, first defeating incumbent Rep. Andrew Fleischmann of West Hartford in a Democratic primary and then outpolling Republican Mary Fay, a West Hartford town councilor, in the general election.

“I am interested, that’s the best way to say it,” Gilchrest told the CT Mirror. “People are reaching out to me to see if I’m going for it.”

And though this would be Gilchrest’s first term as a legislator, she is no stranger to state policy or to the Capitol.

Over the past decade Gilchrest has served as: director of health professional outreach at the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; senior policy analyst for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women; policy director at the Alliance to End Sexual Violence; and as executive director of NARAL Pro-choice CT.

Gilchrest, who will be teaching psychology and social welfare policy at St. Joseph’s University in West Hartford this spring, pointed out that women gained nunerous seats in the House and Senate during the November election and that she believes it’s crucial for “a progressive woman” to succeed Bye.

“We’ve made significant gains in this last election,” Gilchrest said. “I’d hate to see us slide back even one seat.”

Weber told the CT Mirror “I am strongly considering a run,” adding she also expects to make a final decision in the coming days.

“It stems from my love of the community,” Weber said. “Also I believe this seat represents a lot of things right now that are important to our community. Senator Bye has been an excellent leader and an excellent steward of power and resources for our community.”

Bye, who is gay, also helped to diversify the Connecticut Democratic Party and the state Senate, said Weber, who would — if elected — be one of the first African-American women elected to the Senate from a Connecticut suburb.

“I think that it is very important that we continue to promote diversity and to bolster the number of women in the Senate,” Weber said.

Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill is expected to schedule a special election for Bye’s seat later this month.

Unlike in a regular election, though, there is no option for a primary to settle the major parties’ nominations in a special election. That means the decision rests with party insiders from the four communities in the 5th Senate District.

West Hartford is the most heavily populated community in the 5th, which also includes Burlington, Farmington and western Bloomfield.

The 5th District seat is one of 23 seats in the 36-member Senate that Democrats won this past November. Democrats have held the 5th District for more than three decades. The last Republican to hold the job was Anne Streeter of West Hartford, in 1986.

The Lamont transition team announced Bye’s appointment Wednesday morning. As of mid-day, no Republicans had declared their candidacy for the 5th Senate District seat.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said he expects the GOP will field a candidate, adding more details should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf A winner of numerous journalism awards, Keith Phaneuf has been CT Mirror’s state finances reporter since it launched in 2010. The former State Capitol bureau chief for The Journal Inquirer of Manchester, Keith has spent most of 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. A former contributing writer to The New York Times, Keith is a graduate of and a former journalism instructor at the University of Connecticut.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Equity issues dominate hearing on Lamont’s marijuana bill
by Kelan Lyons and Mark Pazniokas

The administration's testimony took up the hearing's first five hours. More than 130 people are signed up to speak.

Connecticut House joins national civil rights campaign over Black hair styles
by Mark Pazniokas

The Connecticut House voted for a bill intended to protect Black women from discrimination over their hair.

CT legislature poised to make early budget pledge to help cities and towns
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The state House is expected to approve more than $100 million in new, annual PILOT grants to municipalities.

Connecticut GOP picks Susan Hatfield as state chair
by Mark Pazniokas

Susan Hatfield, vice chair of the Connecticut Republican Party, will complete the term of the former chair, J.R. Romano.

Senator alleges voter fraud, but no complaint was filed
by Mark Pazniokas

Rob Sampson said a voter in his district was told an absentee ballot already had been cast in her name.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Gas pipeline will threaten water quality, wildlife and wetlands
by Susan Eastwood

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has granted tentative approval of the 401 water quality certification for the Pomfret to Killingly natural gas pipeline. I urge DEEP to deny the 401 certification, as the proposed pipeline would violate the Connecticut’s water quality standards, and the conditions in the draft certification fail to protect our streams, wetlands, and wildlife.

Opinion Connecticut and the other Connecticut. Which will endure?
by Ezra Kaprov

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Connecticut’? Possibly, you think of a 43-year-old Puerto Rican man who arrived here with his family following Hurricane Maria. He works full-time as a machinist at the Sikorsky plant, and he coaches a prizefighter on the side.

Opinion COVID-19 increases urgency for legislature to pass medical aid-in-dying law
by Dr. Gary Blick

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the profound tragedy of loved ones dying alone, in a hospital or nursing home, without the care and comfort of loved ones surrounding them. This pandemic also demonstrates the fragility of life, the limits of modern medicine to relieve suffering, and has magnified the systemic racial disparities in our healthcare system, resulting in higher hospitalization and death rates for people in communities of color. We must eradicate these disparities, so everyone has equal access to the full range of end-of-life care options.

Opinion Three fallacies and the truth about vaccines
by Kerri M. Raissian, Ph.D. and Dr. Jody Terranova

Connecticut’s Public Health Committee recently heard public testimony regarding HB6423 and SB568 --  bills that would remove the religious exemption (the medical exemption would rightfully remain in place) from vaccination in order to attend school.  The religious exemption allows parents to effectively opt their children out of vaccines. In doing so, these families can still send their children to Connecticut’s schools, daycares, colleges, and camps.  This places other children at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable illnesses, and it is imperative the Connecticut legislature remove this exception.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO