Senator-elect Formica Tapped for Major Committee Posts
December 19, 2014Will resign as 1st Selectman in East Lyme per charter
Hartford, CT – Senator-elect Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) has been named to three major committee posts within the General Assembly. The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Len Fasano (R-North Haven) recently announced the new assignments for the Senate Republican Caucus tapping Senator elect Formica to the Appropriations, Energy & Technology and Public Safety committees.
“I am honored to be chosen for these very important assignments,” remarked Formica. “In my capacity as an elected leader in the community for the past 7 years I bring an important skill set to the legislature. It is important to have an understanding of how municipal government works and to have good relationships with local leaders in the district.”
Senator elect Formica is currently the first selectman of East Lyme and will be resigning on January 7th the same day he will be sworn in as a state senator in Hartford. The East Lyme town charter dictates that elected officials only hold one office at a time.
“Deputy First Selectman Mark Nickerson has been transitioning into the position for several months. Mark is extremely dedicated and has been Deputy 1st Selectman for 5 years,” added Formica.
Nickerson will be appointed by the Board Selectman and then sworn into office. It is expected he will hold the top position in East Lyme for the remainder of the term [ten months] until Nickerson decides whether to campaign for another term.
On the Appropriations Committee, Senator elect Formica will be responsible for helping to oversee the budgets of state agencies and matters relating to state employees’ salaries, benefits and retirement, teachers’ retirement and veterans’ pensions and collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards for all state employees.
Senator elect Formica said, “With next year’s budget deficit already projected to hit more than $1 billion, legislators will have to begin important conversations and find serious solutions. It is incumbent upon us to do so.”
“Our Republican senators will bring fresh ideas to the table to address the many challenges our state faces and to better Connecticut not only for today, but also for our future. We look forward to a very productive legislative term,” said Senator Fasano.
Senator elect Formica will also sit on the Energy & Technology and Public Safety Committees. Energy & Technology deals with the Department of Public Utility Control and energy planning activities. High on the priority list this session will be the issue of rising electricity rates and new storm water regulations. On the Public Safety side of things committee members are charged with matters relating to homeland security, state organized task force on crime, municipal police training, fire marshals, the fire safety code and the state building code, civil preparedness and legalized gambling, and military and veterans’ affairs, except veterans’ pensions.
The 2015 Legislative session begins January 7th.