State Rep. Vicino Nominated to Run for Second Term

The following is a press release from the campaign to re-elect state Rep. Tom Vicino.

In front of a group of enthusiastic supporters at Clinton’s Town Hall, incumbent State Representative Tom Vicino was unanimously nominated as the Democratic candidate in the race for Connecticut’s 35th District, which includes Clinton, Killingworth and parts of Westbrook, CT.   

This will be Vicino’s second run for office, the first being when he defeated Republican candidate John Samperi from Killingworth in the 2012 election race that won him his present seat in the Connecticut General Assembly. 

“I am greatly honored that you have once again chosen me to represent this great District up in Hartford,” Vicino said during a 15-minute speech accepting his nomination. “I will continue to work hard on all the issues that matter to us here in this District, especially fair and equitable flood insurance rates, continued access to top-notch schools and the best educational opportunities for our kids, a clean and safe Long Island Sound, a robust transportation infrastructure and — most importantly — stimulating the area by supporting business owners and entrepreneurs, the backbone of our state’s economy.”  

Vicino pointed out during his speech that he had started his own successful business 30 years ago from the ground up, and that he knows what it takes to be a small business owner today. 

Other speakers during the nomination meeting included Clinton First Selectman Willie Fritz and Democratic Town Committee chairman Larry Ouellette, Jr.  

Fritz pointed out that Vicino had facilitated substantial funding for many important projects that had “provided great benefits” to Clinton and to the rest of the District, and Ouellette praised Vicino’s long years of community service at the local level before even getting elected to serve in Hartford.  

“Tom is one of us,” Ouellette said. “He has worked tirelessly to make this area a great place to live and work, and he will continue to do so during his second term in office.”  

Chairing the meeting was John Olsen, President Emeritus and recently retired President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.  

Olsen, a longtime Clinton resident who also serves on a number of local boards and commissions, was enthusiastic in his praise for Vicino, calling him an “excellent public servant, the kind we need in larger numbers up in Hartford.”

Vicino will face Republican candidate Jesse MacLachlan in the race for 35th District House seat. 

MacLachlan, a 2012 graduate of Gordon College, was nominated by his party earlier this week.