Stafford's, Willington's State Senator Sworn In, Gets Assignments

HARTFORD, CT – Stafford's and Willington's state senator — Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) — was sworn-in at the state Capitol in Hartford on Jan. 4 for his first term in the 35th District.

A physician with nearly three decades of patient-care experience, Gordon will serve as the leading Republican on the legislature's Veterans Affairs Committee.

He is also a member of the Appropriations Committee, Public Health Committee and Public Safety and Security Committee.

Gordon succeeds Dan Champagne (R-Vernon), who previously held the seat for two terms and retired in 2022. Before that, it was Stafford's own Tony Guglielmo in the seat.

The district now includes the towns of Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Stafford, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington and Woodstock.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to work for, and work with, the families of the 35th District," Gordon said. "Thank you to everyone who placed their trust in me. At the local level, I’ve worked to find commonsense solutions for the people of Woodstock as chair of the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission. This is a chance to work on a larger scale to broaden my impact by helping people through good public policy. The work begins now."

As Ranking Member of the Veterans Committee, Gordon said he plans to utilize his professional experience to tackle a significant recurring issue for veterans in Connecticut.

"Healthcare, including mental health, continues to be a big issue for Veterans. As a doctor, I've seen the need for long-term solutions to take care of those who’ve answered the call for this country. This is a core responsibility of our government," he said.

Gordon said he also plans to address quality-of-life issues that continue to affect all Connecticut families.

"I had the privilege to meet hundreds of families throughout my campaign. During this time, their message was clear. People in Northeast Connecticut are worried about the cost of groceries, gas and heating oil. They're also thinking about their safety," he said. "We can and must find lasting solutions to these problems, and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do so. This is our number one job as public servants."