Rep DeFronzo Appointed to Key Legislative Committees; Community Meeting to be Held with Council Members and Legislators
Newly elected State Rep David DeFronzo (D-26) has announced that he has been appointed to several key legislative committees in his first term.
Rep DeFronzo is to serve on the legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee, as well as the Education Committee and the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
“I am honored to be appointed to the legislature’s powerful Appropriations Committee,” Rep DeFronzo said, “which is responsible for constructing the state’s annual 13-billion-dollar budget and setting the state’s spending priorities.”
DeFronzo’s office said that being on the Appropriations Committee will enable him to, “have a say in funding levels for state, non-profit and municipal services, including public education which is one of his top concerns.”
Rep DeFronzo, an educator, himself, sought to be appointed to the legislature’s Education Committee, which his office says, “sets educational policy and expenditure levels for local schools and the state Department of Education.”
“I hope to be an advocate for districts like New Britain who are struggling to fund special education services,” Rep DeFronzo said.
New Britain’s Central Connecticut State University is, “one of the city’s largest employers,” DeFronzo’s office said, adding that, by serving on the Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement, Rep DeFronzo, “hopes to advocate for CCSU, its faculty, employees, and students.”
The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee has cognizance of policy related to the University of Connecticut, the state’s community colleges and the state universities, including CCSU.
Speaker of the House, Rep Matt Ritter (D-1), said that his decision to appoint Rep DeFronzo to the three key committees demonstrates his confidence in DeFronzo. “Rep DeFronzo has broad experience in local government and education. He’ll be an asset to his committees while working on important issues to the residents of New Britain.”
“It is an honor to represent New Britain in the state legislature and on these three committees,” Rep DeFronzo. “I have a lot to learn and I’m eager to get to work.”
Rep DeFronzo also announced that, “to obtain input from residents,” at a community meeting to be held with other legislators and City Council members, on Saturday, January 25, from 10 am-noon, at Spottswood AME Church, 25 Crestwood Lane. The meeting is to be hosted by Common Council Majority Leader, Ald John McNamara (D-4) and Council President Pro Tempore, Ald Francisco Santiago (D-5), and is to include Ald Neil Connors (D-4), newly-elected State Rep David DeFronzo (D-26), State Rep Manny Sanchez (D-24) and State Sen Rick Lopes (D-6).
Editor’s note: The cover photo is by Dr. Frank Gerratana.
