Patch Candidate Profile: Jack Perry For 16th State Senate

Editor's Note: Connecticut Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The 2026 election is heating up in Connecticut, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Subscribe

Eyes are primarily focused on the Connecticut gubernatorial election, but every state representative and senate seat is up for grabs. All five of Connecticut's congressional seats are up for grabs as well.

There are 151 seats in the state House of Representatives and 36 in the state Senate.

Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers.

Southington Democrat Jack Perry is challenging state Sen. Robert C. Sampson, R-Wolcott, for the 16th Senate seat in Connecticut.

The 16th Senate District includes Southington, Wolcott, Prospect, Cheshire, and part of Waterbury.

Candidate's Name:
Jack Perry

What office are you seeking?
Connecticut State Senate, District 16

Age:
36

District:
16th State Senate

Party:
Democrat

Campaign website:
https://www.voteforjackperry.com/

Occupation:
Operations Manager, CWPM

Family:
I have two children with my partner, Lindsey Terry. Jack is 6, and Everly is 14 months old.

Does anyone in your family work in government?
N/A

Previous public office:
I served for two terms on the Southington Town Council (2021-23, 2023-25), as well as other various boards and committees in Southington.

Why are you seeking this office?
I originally entered public service in order to continue giving back to the community that has lent me so much support over the years, and that remains my motivation today. I am getting into this race because I have lived what so many families are going through— higher costs, skyrocketing utility bills, and politicians who are out of touch. I am looking to be the independent voice that our communities deserve, advocating for relief and change.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?
The number one issue facing our residents today is the cost of living. Household budgets are being squeezed from all sides, and people are actively being pushed into poverty. The working middle class is quickly becoming the working poor.

As a state senator, one of my central focuses would be providing relief on energy bills by thoroughly revamping and further strengthening the rules on Eversource.

I would look to create a new ratepayer advocacy commission with stricter rules, more transparency, and better representation.

Additionally, I would introduce legislation directing the state to pursue a minority ownership stake in the company, paving the way for more public ownership of the grid.

Additionally, I would serve as a relentless advocate in Hartford to ensure that the district receives its fair share in state funding.

When the state underfunds things like education, municipalities are forced to both make cuts and raise taxes on residents, further worsening the affordability crisis.

Making up this difference, in turn, would help alleviate the rise in property taxes and provide another form of relief for residents.

Finally, I would take on the large corporations that charge increased prices while refusing to pay a living wage, pairing this with a buildup of small businesses.

For too long, the state has operated with a "one-size-fits-all" approach, which under-regulates large companies while strangling small businesses.

I would look to reverse this trend in order to create local, well-paying jobs within the community.

Energy costs have been soaring in Connecticut. What are your plans to help address this issue?
For too long, Eversource has had an effective monopoly on energy in the state, charging ever-increasing rates while raking in profits and giving themselves massive executive salaries.

As a state senator, one of my central focuses would be providing relief on energy bills by thoroughly revamping and further strengthening the rules on Eversource.

I would look to create a new ratepayer advocacy commission with stricter conflict-of-interest rules, more public transparency, and better representation.

Additionally, I would introduce legislation directing the state to pursue a minority ownership stake in the company, paving the way for more public ownership of the grid.

These two steps are outlined on my campaign website and would serve as the foundation for a rework of our energy system.

Affordability has been a major topic across the country and here in Connecticut. How do you plan to address this issue?
As mentioned previously, affordability is the central focus of this campaign, as residents struggle with high prices across the board.

People are actively being pushed into poverty, and the working middle class is quickly becoming the working poor.

Besides tackling energy prices, I would serve as a relentless advocate in Hartford to ensure that the district receives its fair share in state funding.

When the state underfunds things like education, municipalities are forced to both make cuts and raise taxes on residents, further worsening the affordability crisis.

Making up this difference, in turn, would help alleviate the rise in property taxes and provide another form of relief for residents.

I would also look to take on the large corporations that charge increased prices while refusing to pay a living wage, pairing this with a buildup of small businesses.

Small businesses are the heart and soul of any area, providing local jobs while also giving back to the community.

For too long, the state has operated with a "one-size-fits-all" approach, which under-regulates large companies while strangling small businesses.

I would look to reverse this trend in order to create local, well-paying jobs within the community.

Furthermore, I believe it is essential to ensure people have access to affordable, quality healthcare.

I would look to expand access to low-cost options (such as generics and biosimilars), while also putting pressure on the drug and insurance companies to reduce costs and provide more transparency in pricing.

Finally, I would push to expand the stock of affordable housing, while preserving our communities.

I would support empowering municipalities to develop workforce housing near jobs, schools, transportation, and existing infrastructure, while taking on the private equity firms that are buying up single-family housing.

I also understand that childcare has become a massive burden on families — childcare can be as expensive as a mortgage, and people often have to choose between working and taking care of their children.

I would work with local and state advocates to expand affordable child care capacity through provider support, workforce training, and practical assistance for families.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
One of my proudest accomplishments while serving on the Southington Town Council was my successful push for a procurement committee, designed to stretch every dollar and reduce the need to either make cuts or reduce property taxes.

Prior to this effort, I had watched as the council made continuous cuts, yet was still forced to raise the mill rate in order to cover costs.

Meanwhile, there were no concrete efforts to stretch dollars and ensure spending was both responsible and efficient.

Therefore, I began my push for an overhaul of the bidding process.

Under my proposal, more projects were put out to bid, done through an online service that ensured as many contractors as possible were reached.

This led to more proposals, increasing the chance of finding savings.

Additionally, this service was visible to the public, so residents could see exactly where their money was being spent- a clear check against any conflicts of interest.

To this day, this process has saved money, increased dividends, ensured transparency, and made the bidding process much more streamlined for town staff.

This success was achieved through bipartisanship and relentless advocacy.

As a Democrat in a Republican-majority town, I learned to work across the aisle in order to find common-ground solutions and achieve results. In the state senate.

I will do the same, being an independent and relentless advocate who is willing and able to work with all sides to achieve the best possible results.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am proud to be an independent and moderate candidate, one who enters any room with an open mind to all viewpoints.

When I first ran for town council, I did so as an unaffiliated petitioning candidate, as I felt that both parties did not fully encompass my personal beliefs.

While I now run under the Democratic line, my approach remains the same.

I have no interest in being another rank-and-file, party-line vote, and pledge to approach each proposal and vote with nothing in mind but the well-being of my district and constituents.