State Rep. Tom O'Dea Announces 2024 Re-Election Bid In New Canaan

NEW CANAAN, CT — State Rep. Tom O'Dea announced this week he will seek his seventh two-year term serving the 125th Assembly District in the legislature.

O'Dea currently serves as Deputy House Republican Leader. His district encompasses parts of New Canaan, Darien and north Stamford, according to a news release provided by his campaign.

"Connecticut needs strong, sensible leadership to tackle its most serious issues and difficult challenges, and I am humbled to receive the ongoing support to elect me as your state representative to take them head-on," O'Dea said in a news release. "I am proud to have been your voice in Hartford for the last 12 years and will never take it for granted."

According to O'Dea, he and his wife moved to New Canaan in 1998 and all three of their children have been born, raised and educated in New Canaan public schools.

"I have been actively engaged with community members as a parent and in several elected and appointed state and local positions for over two decades," O'Dea said in a news release. "I have gained valuable insight on our needs and concerns and how to successfully address them at the State Capitol. From making Connecticut more affordable to strengthening our critical infrastructure, and protecting local control of zoning and our educational system, it takes an experienced effort to assist our municipalities and put our state on the best path forward."

During his time as a legislator, O'Dea has continually fought to make Connecticut more affordable and stop uncontrolled spending, according to his campaign.

He was a principal architect of the Republican-led budget in 2017, which established fiscal guardrails that are credited with producing a stable and predictable budget that has yielded surpluses, a first-ever state income tax cut, and greater than a $10 billion reduction in state debt, according to his campaign.

Last year's state budget, which he supported, also featured expanded relief from state taxes on retirement income and benefits, according to his campaign.

O'Dea also noted there is more to be done for residents of New Canaan, Darien and Stamford, and he is looking forward to continuing the hard bi-partisan work that will be needed to get it done.

O'Dea is also a leading voice on reforming Connecticut's affordable housing law, referred to as state statute 8-30(g).

"There is no dispute that 8-30(g) is failing us across the board," O'Dea said in a news release. "For decades, this restrictive statute has stymied affordable housing growth in our state by punishing good-faith efforts to develop housing stock with local buy-in and encouraging predatory development projects in targeted areas like New Canaan and Darien."

O'Dea has continued to support legislation to amend the statute and predicts it will be another key issue of the next legislative term, according to his campaign.

In addition to serving as Deputy House Minority Leader, O'Dea is a member of the legislature's judiciary, environment and transportation committees.

In New Canaan, O'Dea is an active youth football coach and community volunteer and has helped start several local non-profits, including Staying Put and Voices of 9/11.

Professionally, O'Dea is an experienced trial attorney at Diserio Martin in Stamford and has represented individuals, businesses, municipalities and police officers throughout the state.

Before being elected as state representative, O'Dea served on the New Canaan Town Council from 2005-2013 and was a gubernatorial appointee as a victim compensation commissioner and member of the judicial selection commission, according to his campaign.