Granby's CT State Sen. Witkos to Fight Size Reduction of Drug-Free School Zones

Press release:

TORRINGTON—Republican state representative candidate Dan Farley and state Sen. Kevin Witkos said today that they would fight legislative efforts to reduce the size of drug-free zones around schools and daycare centers.

Witkos and Farley, candidate for the 65th House District seat, held a news conference at City Hall today and were joined by candidates and legislators from several communities, including Winsted, Simsbury, Bristol, Granby and Shelton.

The group said it would work to block proposals like those considered during the last two legislative sessions—plans that would have reduced drug-free zones around schools, day care centers and public housing from 1,500 feet to 200 feet.

“I think a lot of people will be shocked to learn that their state representative, Michelle Cook, was a primary supporter of legislation that would allow someone caught selling drugs near a school to avoid the stiff penalty that they deservedly face today,” said Farley, a fourth generation business owner here. “I haven’t talked to a single Torrington resident who thinks this would be good for our community, and most say it’s the clearest indication yet that a majority of legislators who serve in Hartford have fallen out of touch with the people they serve. And, they’re frustrated that she didn’t tell them about it.”

The legislation (H.B. 6511) sponsored by Cook in 2013 was a response to concerns from urban areas such as Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven, where some people say it’s unfair that people arrested for selling drugs face an enhanced penalty due to the concentration of schools and public housing. The proposal from Rep. Cook and others made it to the House floor, where it was tabled after drawing fire from Republican legislators who opposed the one-size-fits all bill that would have been applied to suburban and rural communities.

The same concept (S.B. 259) was proposed in 2014, an election year, but died in committee after some suburban legislators who supported it previously, such as Cook, didn’t this time.

Witkos, a member of the legislature’s Public Safety & Security Committee, expects the concept to come up again. He offered a simple solution to the overall issue.

“People shouldn’t sell drugs—period,” said Witkos, a retired police officer who serves the 8th Senatorial District. “The legislature’s priorities are out of whack—we’ve spent time and effort debating how to make life easier for drug dealers, when we should be talking about protecting our children. The whole state should be a drug free zone.”

Farley, Witkos and the rest of the news conference’s Republican attendees challenged their opponents to opposing the concept of reducing drug-free zones in suburban and rural areas.

Kevin Witkos serves the 8th district which includes Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, Torrington.

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