CT Patch Candidate Profile: Tom O'Dea For 125th State House District

NEW CANAAN, CT — Election Day on Nov. 3 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.

Tom O'Dea is running for re-election in the 125th State House District, which covers portions of New Canaan, Darien and Stamford.

Candidate's Name:

Tom O'Dea

What office are you seeking?

State Representative, 125th District

Age:

60

District:

125th

Party:

Republican and Independent

Campaign website:

https://tomodeaforstaterep.com/

Occupation:

Trial Attorney

Family:

Wife Kerry, Children Tommy (27), Caroline (25), & Michael (22)

Does anyone in your family work in government?

Bookie Boland, Uncle, a retired Navy Captain, served in a variety of Atlantic Fleet squadrons and ships as a helicopter pilot flying the SH-2F Seasprite and the HH-1N Twin Huey. Commanded two squadrons and the Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and also served in several staff commands in Hampton Roads, VA, and Washington, DC.

Previous public office:

New Canaan Town Council, 2005-2012

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm running for re-election because the 14 years of work I've done for the 125th District aren't finished, and the next two years will decide whether Connecticut keeps what we've built.

Over my years in Hartford, I've worked across the aisle to get real results. I helped pass the bipartisan NARCAN law, which puts life-saving resources in the hands of first responders, and the 2017 fiscal guardrails, which have kept our state budgets balanced ever since. As Deputy Republican Leader, I run House floor operations for our caucus, and that job depends on trust from both parties and from the executive branch.

That progress is at risk. In recent years, the majority party has weakened those fiscal guardrails, and deficits are projected to return within a few years. I want to be there to defend the guardrails.

I've also fought for local control of zoning and education. I'm the only legislator who got 8-30g amended so towns can more easily qualify for moratoriums, and New Canaan just received its latest moratorium because of that amendment. Regarding Education, I worked with our Superintendent and BOE to have our remote learning application in the hands of the Governor's office and Department of Education the day before the COVID shutdown so that New Canaan was the first District in the state, if not the country, to be approved for remote learning.

Protecting the fiscal guardrails, fixing our affordable housing law, and lowering the tax burden so Connecticut is more affordable are the priorities I'll keep fighting for. I'm asking for your vote so I can keep delivering for our towns and our state.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

The most important issue facing Connecticut is affordability. Families and small businesses are being squeezed by high taxes, high energy costs, and a housing market Hartford keeps trying to fix with one-size-fits-all mandates. Affordability, job growth, and local control are really one issue. When the state spends within its means and trusts towns to make their own decisions, Connecticut becomes a place people can afford to live, and businesses want to grow.

In 2017, I helped pass the bipartisan fiscal guardrails, including the spending cap and the volatility cap, which have kept our budgets balanced. The majority party has been weakening them, and projected deficits are the result. I'll fight to protect them, cut state spending, deliver real tax relief, and lower energy costs. I'll also keep fighting for local control, because towns know their communities best. My amendment to 8-30g lets towns get credit for the affordable housing they build. I opposed the 2025 housing bills that took zoning decisions away from towns, and I'll keep defending local control of our schools.

I have also drafted legislation that received a hearing last year that allows towns the right of first refusal for any 8-30g proposal as long as the town builds affordable housing within 8 years. I am gaining bipartisan support for that legislation.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?

Connecticut families and businesses pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and the answer starts with more supply. I've long proposed legislation to bring private-sector investment into community solar paired with battery storage, which adds clean power to the grid without putting the cost on ratepayers. More supply means lower prices.

I've also voted for, and advocated for, classifying nuclear power as clean energy and expanding nuclear generation here in Connecticut. Nuclear is reliable, carbon-free, and already one of our biggest sources of power, so we should be building on it, not walking away from it.

We also need to eliminate the public benefits charge from electric bills. Those are state policy costs, and they belong in the general budget, where they're transparent and accountable, not hidden in what families pay to keep the lights on. Lowering energy costs isn't a partisan issue. It's about keeping Connecticut affordable for the people who live and work here.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?

See response to #12 above: The most important issue facing Connecticut is affordability. Families and small businesses are being squeezed by high taxes, high energy costs, and a housing market Hartford keeps trying to fix with one-size-fits-all mandates. Affordability, job growth, and local control are really one issue. When the state spends within its means and trusts towns to make their own decisions, Connecticut becomes a place people can afford to live, and businesses want to grow.

In 2017, I helped pass the bipartisan fiscal guardrails, including the spending cap and the volatility cap, which have kept our budgets balanced. The majority party has been weakening them, and projected deficits are the result. I'll fight to protect them, cut state spending, deliver real tax relief, and lower energy costs.

The majority party already has a supermajority. I guarantee you, if more Democrats are elected, the proposed statewide property tax, which was proposed by the President of the Senate, will pass next year. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For 35 years as a trial lawyer, I've read, interpreted, and argued Connecticut's statutes every day, in session and out of it. That gives me a practical understanding of what our laws actually do in the real world. I've defended and advised municipalities, police officers, businesses, and individuals in every state and federal court in Connecticut, and for years I trained newly elected officials on how to run public meetings properly.

I've also served the state in roles that demanded fairness and judgment. From 1995 to 2004, I was a member of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which oversees training and certification for every municipal police officer in Connecticut. From 1997 to 2004, I served by appointment of the Governor as a Victim Compensation Commissioner in the Judicial Branch, deciding claims brought by crime victims. In 2004, I was appointed to the Judicial Selection Commission, which recommends state judges for appointment and reappointment, and I served three years there, including as chair.

Locally, I served on New Canaan's Town Council from 2005 to 2013. I led the efforts to approve outdoor dining, connect our parks to downtown with sidewalks, and purchase Irwin Park.

Since 2013, I've represented the 125th District in the House, and today I serve as Deputy Republican Leader, running floor operations for our caucus. I helped pass the 2017 fiscal guardrails and won an amendment to 8-30g that lets towns get credit for the affordable housing they build.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love this job. I have 25,000 bosses, and representing the 125th District has been the honor of a lifetime.

I've lived in our district for more than 28 years, and in that time I've built a reputation as a hard-working attorney and public servant who works with both parties. I've helped found and oversee many local nonprofits, including Voices of September 11 (now Voices Center for Resilience) and Staying Put in New Canaan.

I'm running on both the Republican and Independent Party lines because the Independent Party values my record of working across the aisle.

I was also proud to be endorsed by former Senator Mitt Romney, who came to New Canaan to make the endorsement in person.

I don't do this for the money. Public service has cost me a great deal, including time away from my wife and three children and a loss of income over the years, and I'd make the same choice again. I serve because I believe in public service.

I have one request. Before you vote, please review every candidate's qualifications, what they've done for the district, and what they plan to do next. Experience and results matter, and I'd be grateful for your vote to keep serving you.