Dr. William Petit Wins Election to State Legislature

CHESHIRE, CT — Dr. William Petit, the sole survivor of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion killings in which his wife and two daughters were murdered, has defeated longtime state representative Betty Boukus in the 22nd District, which covers Plainville and New Britain.

Petit, who was making his first run for state office, was linked to Donald Trump’s “attack on women and families” in a controversial political ad, which resulted in the resignation of the executive director of the SEIU Connecticut State Council.

The digital ad, which urged voters to “Stop Donald Trump and Republican William Petit’s attack on women and families,” was paid for by a union-based PAC called Labor United for Connecticut and was one of several digital ads targeting about a dozen state Republican House and Senate candidates they say haven’t criticized Donald Trump, the Hartford Courant reported.

“Anyone familiar with me should be outraged,” Petit said during a press conference at the time.

Petit called the ad “reckless and incomprehensible” and called on the organizations and unions related to the PAC to apologize and denounce the ad.

Paul Filson, executive director of the SEIU Connecticut State Council, stepped down in the wake of the firestorm that erupted from the ad.

Boukus also condemned the ad.

Boukus, an 11-term incumbent, arrived at Petit’s headquarters shortly after 8:30 p.m. to concede, according to the Hartford Courant.

Petit’s wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit and their children, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17, were killed in the 2007 home invasion. He met his wife Christine while she was volunteering at a Petit Family Foundation fundraising event in 2012.

The Petit Family Foundation was established in honor of Hawk-Petit and Michaela and Hayley and its funds are “given to foster the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence.”

Visit the foundation’s website here.