After 8,929 Consecutive Votes, Roraback Hangs Up Cleats in Hartford

Outgoing Sen. Andrew Roraback (center) is honored by his senate colleagues on the final day of the regular session. The Republican from Goshen has never missed a roll call vote during his 18 years in the General Assembly. The final tally shows that Roraback cast 8,929 votes consecutively during that span.

A senator’s streak remains intact.

In the Connecticut General Assembly’s special session June 12 at the State Capitol, outgoing Republican Sen. Andrew Roraback cast what will likely be his final votes as a legislator.

The votes Roraback cast have a unique significance.

The Republican from Goshen has never missed a roll call vote during his 18 years in the General Assembly. The final tally shows that Roraback cast 8,929 votes consecutively during that span.

He is the only one out of 187 legislators who can claim this record.

“I am pleased to have concluded my service in the Connecticut General Assembly with a perfect voting record,” Sen. Roraback said. “I know how hard the people I represent work to make ends meet and I have always tried to be a reflection of them in my service. The citizens of Litchfield County sent me to Hartford to do a job and that has been to be there to represent their interests to the best of my ability. You cannot represent your constituents unless you are present to vote on their behalf.”

Some Capitol observers have referred to Roraback as “the legislature’s Cal Ripken Jr.” — the Baltimore Orioles player who holds the record for most consecutive games played and was known as the Iron Man.

Last month, senators honored Roraback on the final day of the regular legislative session. Senate Minority Leader John McKinney presented Roraback with the American flag that flew over the Capitol that day, as well as a framed portrait of the Senate.

When honored by state senators on the occasion of his departure, colleagues praised Andrew’s work ethic, integrity and ability to solve problems by working with senators from both sides of the aisle in order to get things done.

Roraback is serving his sixth term in the state Senate representing the 30th District communities of Brookfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winchester. Prior to his election to the State Senate, Roraback served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1994 through 2000.

As the Senate Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Roraback has been at the forefront of opposition to Governor Malloy’s reliance on tax increases to try to balance the state budget. He has consistently fought to eliminate unnecessary government spending and to lower the tax burden, particularly on middle class workers and small businesses. Senator Roraback has also been the voice of fiscal responsibility on the State Bond Commission, consistently voting against borrowing to pay for non-essential “pet projects” such as the busway from New Britain to Hartford. Earlier this month, Roraback led the opposition to the proposed $300,000 grant to repair a building which houses the regional office of the Marxist newspaper, The People’s World.

Born in Torrington, Roraback attended public schools in Torrington and Litchfield. A graduate of The Hotchkiss School, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Yale University in 1983, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School in 1987. He returned to Torrington in 1988 to work with his father, brother and sister at the family law firm of Roraback and Roraback, which was founded in 1883 by his great-grandfather.