Full Nelson: Retired GE exec seeks McKinney’s Senate seat

Nelson Gonzalez

Nelson Gonzalez

Knocked by the political opposition for a lack of diversity among its candidates, the Connecticut GOP is stirring a melting pot in the home district of gubernatorial candidate and state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney.

Nelson Gonzalez, 60, who recently retired as chief risk officer for GE Capital’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, declared his candidacy Thursday in the 28th Senate District.

This is the first run for office for the Cuban refugee, who is married with three grown children and has resided in Fairfield for the past 21 years.

“Now I’m back to try to give back to this great country and all the good it’s done for me and my family,” Gonzalez told Hearst Connecticut Media.

The competition for the GOP nomination in the district, which includes Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton and, notably, Newtown, is also drawing interest from state Rep. Tony Hwang, R-134th District. Born in Taiwan, Hwang participated in a recent workshop organized by the state Republican Party for presumptive Senate candidates.

“It’s good to have good credible candidates to choose from,” Gonzalez said.

In contrast to Hwang, who is expected to seek public funding for the election, Gonzalez is expected to self-finance most of campaign, saying he and his wife have committed to a dollar amount that they’re willing to invest in the race.

“Well, I want to get elected,” said Gonzalez, who would not disclose the amount.

Gonzalez said he was compelled to run because of the condition of the state’s economy.

“I think it’s heading in the wrong direction financially,” he said.

By running for McKinney’s seat, Gonzalez is looking to succeed the GOP’s chief negotiator of Connecticut’s toughest-in-the-nation gun control law that was spawned by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown.

Gonzalez expressed tempered opposition to the package of restrictions on firearms, saying it didn’t go far enough address mental illness.

“On balance, I think that law-abiding citizens were more affected than mental health issues,” he said.

McKinney has caught hell on the stump from gun owners throughout the state for his lead role in the negotiations.

“I understand why it passed at the time it did,” Gonzalez said. “I can empathize with the families, but I think, as a legislator, I would have looked at the totality of it and would it have prevented another horrible incident. That’s such a heart-wrenching, tough, tough issue. I do want to do whatever I can to mitigate future potential tragedies like that.”

On the issue of raising the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2017, which is supported by Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Gonzalez also voiced opposition. Employers will cut hours and jobs if the mandate passes, he said.

“I think that when you increase the minimum wage, it just adds more cost to small businesses,” Gonzalez said.

Neil Vigdor