Vice President Joe Biden hugs Newtown, Conn. First Selectwoman Pat Llodra after speaking at a gun violence conference in Danbury, Conn., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The conference, held near Newtown, Conn. where 26 lives were lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, was organized by members of the state’s congressional delegation is to push President Barack Obama’s gun control proposals. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
“America’s First Selectman” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as “America’s Mayor.”
Pat Llodra, hailed for her leadership of Newtown following the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, won’t be pulling a Rudy Giuliani.
Addressing a published report by Hearst Connecticut Newspapers that she is on the short list of dream candidates for Congress or lieutenant governor in state and national GOP circles, the Republican reaffirmed her commitment to Newtown Wednesday.
“I can clearly say that it’s not on my radar right now,” Llodra told Hearst by phone Wednesday afternoon.
Llodra, 70, announced in May that she will seek a third two-year term as Newtown’s chief elected official this November.
The recipient of the woman’s leadership award at the state GOP’s annual fundraising dinner in May, Llodra confirmed that she has been recruited to run for higher office.
“I’ve had some conversations over the last couple of months with folks that have made some gentle inquiries,” she said. “I’m really very honored that my name would even come up as someone who would have the characteristics to serve at that level.”
Llodra spoke of unfinished business in Newtown, highlighted by the task of building a new school on the site where 20 children and six educators were slain in the worst elementary school shooting in U.S. history on Dec. 14.
“My level of commitment to this community is pretty significant,” Llodra said. “We’ve got some struggles ahead. I see myself as someone who can probably help with those challenges.”
Llodra left the door slightly ajar to a change of plans, however.
“In the last decade, I’ve learned never to eliminate any options for the future,” she said.