Trumbull State Reps Hold Coffee Hour With Constituents

Dozens of Trumbull residents joined State Representative Dave Rutigliano and Representative-elect Laura Devlin for coffee Tuesday at Brueggers Bagels in Trumbull.

During the meet and greet, Rutigliano and Devlin answered questions and listened to concerns covering a wide spectrum, including local community topics to state and federal issues.

Rutigliano thanked the group for taking time out of their busy days to attend.

“This is where new legislation begins. Legislation starts with citizens communicating their concerns to their elected officials,” he said.

The group discussed shopping plazas, traffic lights, commercial space utilization, the state’s small business express program, tolls, taxes, and business regulations.

“As small business owners, we have a good understanding of the issues that affect many local residents,” Devlin said. “Knowing your concerns, we want to do everything we can to assist at the state level.”

When asked how to navigate Connecticut’s stiff tax increases and business regulations, Rutigliano answered to an array of smiles and nods of agreement.

“Buy local. It’s better for everybody, he said.”

Rutigliano and Devlin will be sworn into office Jan. 7 at the state capitol. Devlin will begin her first term, representing Trumbull and Fairfield, and Rutigliano will convene his second.

Both representatives expressed the importance continuing hearing from constituents throughout the legislative session, which adjourns June 3.

“Keep talking to us. We represent you,” said Devlin.