Guglielmo to Retire From State Senate, Champagne to Run for Seat

VERNON, CT — State Sen. Tony Guglielmo said he would not be seeking another term after a quarter-century in office and Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said he will seek the Republican nomination for the 35th District seat. The two made the announcement Friday in a joint news conference at Vernon Town Hall.

Champagne said he will "honor my obligations to Vernon," which means he will maintain both positions if elected, at least until his mayoral term expires.

The state Senate elections are slated for November and the municipal elections would come a year later.

Guglielmo thanked his family for supporting "the sandbox" he chose to "play in" but also sang the praises for residents of the district for being "common sense" people.

Champagne said his would maintain that common sense approach when it came to taxation.

Guglielmo said he took pride in "constituent communication" in his career, because constituents "know how things really work." He cited as an example a conversation about potholes being filled loosely.

"I looked at my white car after driving through the area in question and it was full of the stuff," he said. "That constituent was absolutely right and I will be contacting the (state) DOT."

Champagne said he will carry on with a movement for crumbling foundation relief Guglielmo started 16 years ago. He called it a "disaster" and said Vernon alone loses about $500,000 in assessments each year to deteriorating foundations caused by a bad batch of concrete from a Stafford quarry.

Champagne was a popular police officer in Vernon for 22 years who earned two college degrees while on the job. Guglielmo said Champagne would be a natural to succeed him on the Public Safety Committee and would bring "experience to the Senate we don't have now."

State Rep. Tim Ackert said Champagne is someone "we will not have to train" because of his municipal and law enforcement experience.

Champagne said, "Tony leaves big shoes to fill."

"I come from a working class family," said Champagne, a Vernon native. "I don't see myself as a politician but as a public servant and that's the approach I will take."

The 35th District is made up of Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Pomfret, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, Woodstock.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel