Kassimis Challenges Duff in Race

Artie Kassimis declared his candidacy for State Senate. Kassimis, a Republican, will challenge incumbent Bob Duff, a Democrat. Kassimis made the announcement at Monday’s meeting of the Republican Town Committee.

“Sometimes I need to speak up and be a voice for those who have not been heard,” said Kassimis, explaining his reasons for entering the race. “I like Bob, he’s a nice guy. But the Democratic Party has not made the changes we need in Hartford.”

The candidate said his top priorities would be creating jobs and cutting taxes. Noting that Connecticut is next to the last in the country in creating jobs, Kassimis attributed the slow growth to the taxes levied on small businesses.  The state government, he said, is the largest employer in Connecticut. “State government just gets bigger and bigger and bigger,'' he said.

Kassimis, who ran unsuccessfully last year for the Norwalk school board, left a career in corporate business to become the pastor of the Word Alive Bible Church in Norwalk. He and his wife, Janice, have four children.  

The Republican Party convention to select a candidate will take place on May 13. Since the 25th District includes all of Norwalk and part of Darien, 20 delegates from Norwalk and seven from Darien will vote to select the endorsed candidate. “It’s a good and exciting time to be a Republican candidate,” said Art Scialabba, chairman of the Norwalk Republican Town Committee.

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