Rep. Candelora unanimous choice for House Republican Leader

HARTFORD——Republicans elected to serve in Connecticut’s House of Representatives have selected state Rep. Vincent Candelora to serve a second term as House Minority Leader. Candelora, who last week won re-election to a ninth term serving the 86th House District, was the unanimous choice of more than 50 Republicans who attended a Nov. 10 leadership caucus held at the State Capitol. “I remain humbled by the faith my caucus colleagues have placed in me to lead them in our shared effort to make the state a better place to live for all Connecticut residents,” Candelora said. “From rehabilitating our state’s economy to addressing the affordability crisis that’s hurting so many people, there’s little doubt that all of us serving in the General Assembly will face critical tasks when our new terms begin.” When his new term starts in early January, Candelora, 52, will serve residents of North Branford, Durham, East Haven and Guilford. During his first term as House Minority Leader, Candelora led the Republican effort to introduce proposals aimed at reducing the cost of living for Connecticut residents, including a middle-class tax cut, elimination of the highway use tax on trucks, and a reduction of the state’s sales tax. Over the last two years, the North Branford resident was also a leading voice in addressing Connecticut’s juvenile crime crisis while also working to fix the so-called “police accountability” legislation that’s made the job of law enforcement officers more difficult. Candelora, a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State University, lives in North Branford. He has three children. Outside of the legislature, Candelora helps run two family-owned businesses.