Deputy Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos Swears In: Video

From the Connecticut General Assembly: Deputy Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) was sworn in to the Connecticut State Senate on January 4, the opening day of the 2017 legislative session. Sen. Witkos was reelected to represent the 8th Senate District including the towns of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington. He will also serve as the deputy Republican leader during a historic legislative session in which Democrats and Republicans now hold an equal number of seats in the Senate for the first time in over 120 years.

Below are Senator Witkos’ remarks to the chamber:

"It’s so nice to see my colleagues returning to the circle to begin the work we were all reelected to do, that being to improve the economy of CT; enable business to grow in a predictable, stable environment; and empower our residents to raise themselves up and pursue success and happiness.

As lawmakers, we have a unique ability to help create an environment in our state where opportunity can flourish. To do so, we must empower people to pursue education, workforce development, self-reflection and, most importantly, to invest their time, energy and love into our great state’s future by being active citizens and investing in their children’s futures. We all have to look ahead together to build a better and brighter future for today, tomorrow and for generations yet to come.

To our new members: welcome! Your hard work and your clear vision for a prosperous Connecticut earned you the support of thousands of constituents who elected you to come to Hartford, to be their voice, to be their agent of change, to listen, to learn, and to represent their wishes. Congratulations. Today you become one of only a handful of individuals who are members of state legislatures across this great country we all call home.

Finally, to the Senate leadership, it has been a privilege and an honor to have served with you in the past. I look forward to the future term, which begins today, to continue our work in a bipartisan fashion.

The 2016 election has provided us the keen opportunity to create history. Together, as equal partners in the Senate, we must move our state forward and correct budgeting mistakes of the past. Together we must protect our most vulnerable citizens through finding efficiencies and eliminating duplication in government. We must bring all ideas together to do what is in the best interest of our state and the people we were all elected to serve.

Never compromising on our principles, we will still agree to disagree at times. But all the while we will focus on the 3.5 million people that depend on us to create an environment where businesses will grow, jobs will flourish, and people will have more money in their pockets. We will focus on becoming a destination state for businesses, students, families and visitors alike.

I promise to work side by side with each one of you as we tackle our state’s deepest challenges this legislative session. Unity can build confidence. And confidence in our state is what we need to grow, to heal and to thrive."

Sen. Witkos’ full remarks are on video here:

Photos from Sen. Witkos’ opening day remarks are courtesy of the Connecticut General Assembly.