Stamford Police Association Endorses Ryan Fazio For State Senate

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Association (SPA) has endorsed Ryan Fazio, a Republican who is running for the vacant 36th State Senate seat.

A special election will be held on Aug. 17 for the seat, which covers all of Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. Fazio is running against Democrat Alexis Gevanter and Independent candidate John Blankley.

Fazio is a lifelong Greenwich resident, and a member of Greenwich's Representative Town Meeting. He has spent most of his career as a renewable energy and agriculture professional working in Stamford.

According to a news release, the SPA believes Fazio has "pledged his support for a pro-public safety agenda and to advocate for better means to fight increasing regional crime and illegal guns on our street that is leading to an increase in shootings across many communities. He has also pledged his opposition to the transfer of state and community focused law enforcement budgets for non-public safety related purposes."

SPA President Kris Engstrand said "it is vital" to stand with Fazio.

"Today, the Stamford Police Association is happy to endorse Ryan Fazio. He believes strongly that Stamford’s status as one of America’s safest large cities, is good for our community, good for its residents, and very important to attract business," Engstrand said in a news release. "Look around and the evolution of Stamford is bright, attracting new families young and old, to be a part of our diverse city community."

Fazio said he was honored to receive the endorsement.

"For many years Stamford has grown, it has thrived, and it has attracted business of all types, specifically because it has been recognized as one of the safest cities in the entire country," Fazio said in a news release. "This is specifically because the city has invested in a high-caliber, highly professional police force. These men and women have always made sure the city and the community’s interests are priority number one."

According to the news release, Fazio said he would seek to overturn or significantly modify the 2020 Police Accountability Bill. The SPA says the bill "burdens law enforcement, with increased, counter-productive personal legal liability."