Leeper Is Democrat Candidate For State Rep Special Election

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Democrat candidate has been chosen for the Connecticut House of Representatives District 132 special election. Jennifer Leeper received the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee's unanimous endorsement Tuesday.

Leeper is running for the seat most recently occupied by Republican First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, who resigned from her role in the Connecticut General Assembly after she was elected town leader.

A Board of Education member since 2017, Leeper's professional background includes work as a policy and data analyst for the Connecticut State Department of Education and as a school administrator in New York City.

"I got into local government because I cared about fighting for Fairfield," Leeper said in her acceptance speech.

She went on to say that the special election is bigger than the 132nd District, referencing gun violence prevention, women's rights, redistricting and President Donald Trump.

"This larger fight begins here, tonight, with us" she said.

State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D-District 133, nominated Leeper for the seat, calling her an independent voice and a leader.

"She's the partner I need to fight for Fairfield in Hartford," McCarthy Vahey said.

Leeper had faced a Democrat opponent in activist Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, who ran against Kupchick for the seat in 2018, but Pereira told committee members Tuesday she would support Leeper.

"As the DTC, we need to come together," she said.

Pereira also said she will continue her work to stop gun violence, as well as her legal battle with the State Elections Enforcement Commission over the use of campaign dollars for childcare reimbursement.

The special election may be as early as Jan. 14, according to Committee Chairman Steve Sheinberg.

District 132 includes Southport, downtown Fairfield and much of Fairfield's coastal area, as well as a northeastern section of town.

The Republican Town Committee will hold its endorsement meeting Dec. 2. So far, only one Republican has officially announced a campaign to seek the seat: Brian Farnen, a Representative Town Meeting member for District 9 and general counsel for the Connecticut Green Bank. Kupchick, who has represented the 132nd District since 2011, has said she supports Farnen's candidacy.