The 100-member House majority selected their leaders tonight.
Here’s the release from second-term-elect Speaker Chris Donovan
HOUSE DEMOCRATS CHOOSE
CHRISTOPHER G. DONOVAN FOR SECOND TERM AS SPEAKER; ELECT REP. BRENDAN
SHARKEY MAJORITY LEADER
House Democrats on Thursday evening unanimously chose Rep. Christopher
G. Donovan (D-Meriden) for a second term as Speaker of the Connecticut
House of Representatives. With 100 votes in the Democratic Caucus, he is
assured of the needed 76 votes when the full House of Representatives
formally votes for Speaker in January. Rep. Donovan was elected to his
first two-year term as Speaker in January 2009.
In a separate vote, Rep. Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) was elected Majority
Leader of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Sharkey succeeds Denise
Merrill, who was elected on Tuesday as Connecticut’s next Secretary of
the State.
“I am grateful to the members of the House Democratic Caucus for
expressing confidence in me to help lead Connecticut into a new era of
job growth and prosperity,” Speaker Donovan said. “I look forward to
working with Majority Leader Sharkey in doing just that.”
“On Tuesday, the voters of Connecticut expressed that same confidence in
Democrats at all levels of state government, presenting us with an
opportunity to reshape Connecticut’s future. With a Democratic governor
for the first time in two decades, we now have a chance to help and grow
Connecticut’s middle class by putting people back to work, growing small
businesses, delivering vital services and giving residents a state
government that is more efficient and transparent.”
Speaker Donovan added, “Democrats won 66 percent of the seats in the
House of Representatives. Combined with strong support for
constitutional officeholders and our Congressional delegation, that is a
clear message that our values and ideas for Connecticut’s future
resonate with people across the state. We take the responsibility they
have given us seriously, and look forward to setting Connecticut on the
path to full recovery.”
Rep. Sharkey said, “I look forward to working with both parties in
passing legislation to create jobs and new businesses in Connecticut and
fix the state’s budget deficit. I’d like to thank my fellow Democrats in
the House for their support and I look forward to fulfilling my duties
as Majority Leader.”
“Communication and team building are keys to moving forward. We will
create a leadership structure that is reflective of the diversity in our
caucus,” said Rep. Sharkey.
Speaker Donovan has represented the 84th Assembly District of Meriden in
the General Assembly since 1992. He is a former House Chair of the Labor
and Public Employees Committee, served as Majority Leader from
2004-2008, and was sworn in to his first term as Speaker in January
2009.
Rep. Sharkey represents the 88th District of Hamden and served as
chairman of the Planning and Development Committee and also serves on
the Finance, Revenue and Bonding and Program Review and Investigations
Committees. He was elected to his sixth term as state representative on
Tuesday.
This year Rep. Sharkey chaired the Speaker’s Commission on Municipal
Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) that studied ways to
restructure government at all levels that produced a comprehensive
approach to regionalism and shared efficiencies between cities and towns
that saves taxpayer dollars. Rep. Sharkey is a member of Hamden Chamber
of Commerce and the CT Bar Association. He also serves on the board of
the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven.
END