For the past decade, John Hetherington has served with honor and distinction as the Representative of the 125th District in the Connecticut General Assembly. He has done an outstanding job trying to bring reason and common sense to our state government. Recently, John has announced his retirement from the legislature. He will be greatly missed.
After considerable thought and deliberation, I am announcing my candidacy to follow in John's footsteps as the Representative for the 125th District and to continue his legacy of integrity, hard work and strong advocacy for less taxes and a smaller and smarter state government.
I believe my experience as a member of New Canaan’s Town Council since 2005 and as a practicing local attorney for over 20 years makes me uniquely qualified to represent New Canaan and Wilton in Hartford. I have a number of close friends in the General Assembly - on both sides of the aisle - with whom I will work tirelessly if I am elected.
I am proud to have the support of many New Canaan and Wilton residents, including , Selectman Nick Williams, and all but one of the Republican members of New Canaan’s Town Council, in my effort to succeed Mr. Hetherington.
In the coming weeks, I will be setting forth the issues that I believe are of vital importance to our state and our town, as well as the manner in which I intend to address those issues in the legislature. In the meantime, thank you, John, for your many years of exemplary service on behalf of New Canaan and Wilton. If am blessed to succeed you as Representative, I promise to do my best to continue your outstanding legacy.
-Tom O'Dea
Mr. O'Dea voted enthusiastically for the sidewalks in a Town Council meeting. During the referendum, he also represented Town Council both in a letter to Patch and at the railroad station where he handed out literature identifying himself as a Town Council Member. His tactics, in combination with the suppression of the Lakeside Bridge cost debacle information by town leadership, were successful in squeezing out a closely-contested "win".
In view of the dire condition of the state with regard to fixed expenses, maybe this is the time for Mr. O’Dea to recommend that the new sidewalk on Old Norwalk Road be postponed until times are better. Apparently there will be more large bank layoffs and the Main Street sidewalk cost just went up with the gratuitous addition of sidewalks adjacent to King’s Grant. We need someone in Hartford who will be fiscally responsible and not another “New Republican” dedicated to more tax, $pend and bonded boondoggles.