Danbury's Emanuela Palmares Announces Candidacy for State Representative

Republican Emanuela Palmares announced this week that she is seeking her party’s nomination to run in November for the 110th State Representative District in Danbury.

If she obtains the nomination, she’ll face 12-term incumbent Democrat Bob Godfrey, who is Deputy Speaker of the State House.

“It is time for the residents of the 110th District to be well represented in Hartford by an independent voice who reflects the diversity and everyday struggles of its people,” said Palmares in a statement. “Danbury is where I grew up, went to school, and saw my parents work three jobs and eventually start their own business. It’s where I choose to live and raise my beautiful son.”

Palmares, who lost a bid in 2015 for the Danbury Board of Education, is the editor of the Tribuna Newspaper, a biweekly English, Portuguese and Spanish publication.

She is a Commissioner on the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission which advises the Governor and the State Legislature, a council member on Danbury’s Aging in Place Council, and serves as a member of the Danbury Hospital Board of Directors.

“I am looking forward to an engaging and interactive campaign. I will be knocking on every door in the district and listening to the concerns of all residents,” said Palmares.

In 2015, Palmares was honored by Latinos United for Professional Advancement (LUPA) as one of the organization’s “50 Most Influential Latinos in Connecticut,” and in 2010, she was honored by the Fairfield County Business Journal and named on their 40 Under 40 list.

“Danbury has been failed by the Democrat-controlled legislature for almost three decades. Danbury Public Schools have been underfunded by 30 million dollars by the state,” she said in a statement. “With a Democrat Governor and a Democrat majority in the state legislature, Danbury has not received its fair share.”

Palmares will hold a campaign kickoff event at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at Two Steps Downtown Grille in Danbury, located at 5 Ives St.

Photo: Emanuela Palmares. Photo credit: Ballotpedia.org