State legislators from both chambers elected their leadership late Thursday, with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy calling for “bipartisan, productive collaboration.”
Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (Norwalk) were unanimously re-elected by their caucus for the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January.
Sen. Len Fasano (North Haven) was re-elected state Senate Republican leader, while Sen. Kevin Witkos (Canton), will continue as Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore.
In the House, Republicans re-elected Rep. Themis Klarides (Orange) as minority leader, while Democrats elected Rep. Joe Aresimowicz (Berlin) to replace outgoing Speaker of the House Brendan J. Sharkey (Hamden). Aresimowicz’s deputy will be Rep. Matthew Ritter (Hartford), who will hold the title of majority leader.
Malloy congratulated the new and re-elected leaders.
“Throughout my experience here, we’ve come together across party lines time and again on many important issues, and I am confident that this bipartisan, productive collaboration will continue,” he said. “We must remember that public service is about giving back to our communities and ensuring the results of our cooperative work makes our state and our neighborhoods a better place.”
