NORWALK, Conn. House Republican leader Lawrence F. Cafero will seek another term to represent his hometown of Norwalk and new constituents in New Canaan, he announced Sunday in a statement, saying that there is still unfinished work to do on behalf of the voters and taxpayers.
Cafero has led the Republican caucus since 2007, after serving five terms as deputy leader. He has made fiscal austerity, education and public safety his primary concerns in the legislature. Cafero was first elected in 1992. He represents the 142nd District, to which a portion of New Canaan was added during the reapportionment process.
"I have been honored throughout my career in public life to serve all my constituents. While I believe we have accomplished much, there is still a lot of work to do for all the people of Norwalk and New Canaan, whether it is protecting their pocketbooks, delivering quality education for their kids or making sure our streets and playgrounds are safe and secure," Cafero said in a statement.
"If I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to continue to serve, I know we can achieve great things," he added. "I also look forward to working with some new constituents in New Canaan."
Cafero is a former Norwalk Board of Education chairman and continues in the capacity of expulsion hearing officer for the city's schools. Cafero is a lifelong resident of Norwalk, where he and his wife Barbara have raised their three children.
Cafero has led the Republican efforts in Hartford in developing alternative no-tax increase budgets. Despite being in the minority in 2007, they were successful in preventing the Democrats from raising taxes. The Do Something budget Cafero offered in 2008 would have eliminated the deficit without raising taxes
He also spearheaded the Republican Common Sense Commitment to Connecticut agenda in 2010, a five-point plan to streamline the bureaucracy, rein in spending and reduce government. That effort resulted in winning an additional 15 seats for the Republican caucus in the last statewide election.
Despite the Democratic tax increases last year, the state's fiscal status remains shaky and continues to be the primary focus of the current legislative session, he said. "Connecticut's fiscal health is in doubt, according to all the assessments of nonpartisan experts. We must act now and deal with the deficit before it grows out of control," Cafero said in the statement.
Working with Democrats and Republicans on local issues, Cafero brought a successful conclusion to the stalemate surrounding the preservation of the historic Grumman-St. John House and the Norwalk Inn. The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism honored Cafero and Democratic state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, for their work.
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