House GOP Leader Candelora Appoints Howard to Public Safety Committee Leadership Post
HARTFORD—House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora on Thursday announced that he has appointed state Rep. Greg Howard of Stonington as the leading House Republican on the General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee.
In his new role as Ranking Member of the committee, Howard will spearhead policy initiatives on behalf of the 54-member House Republican Caucus.
“Representative Howard’s real-world experience as a public safety professional combined with his deep commitment to on-the-ground community work makes him perfect for this role,” Candelora said. “Greg understands the far-reaching impact of this committee’s work, and I have no doubt that he’ll excel in this important leadership role.”
In the General Assembly, each legislative committee has four leadership posts. Senate and House Democrats, the majority party, each appoint a Co-Chairman to oversee committee activity while House and Senate Republicans have one Ranking Member apiece.
Rep. Howard, who is a Stonington Police Detective with 25 years of EMS experience, just finished serving his first year as a member of the Public Safety Committee. During his first legislative session, Howard emerged as a leader in debate on issues such as police “accountability,” the commercialization of marijuana, and budgetary matters involving intervention programming for young people.
Howard also helped usher through legislation which expands online gaming and permits sports wagering in Connecticut working with our two tribal partners ensuring economic viability for the Southeastern region for years to come.
“I’m honored to receive the confidence to do this job from Representative Candelora, and I look forward to tackling issues that come before this important legislative panel,” said Howard, who represents the 43rd House District serving Stonington and North Stonington. “I can’t wait to get to work.”
The Public Safety Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to homeland security, the Department of Public Safety, including state police, state organized task force on crime, municipal police training, fire marshals, the fire safety code and the state building code, civil preparedness and legalized gambling, and military and veterans’ affairs, except veterans’ pensions.
His new duties as Ranking Member are effective immediately.
Howard also serves on the legislature’s committees on Appropriations and Judiciary.
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