About Rob



Senator Robert J. Kane, a long-time resident of Watertown, was first elected to represent the 32nd Senatorial District in a special election on January 15, 2008.

In addition to Watertown, his district includes the communities of Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, Southbury, Washington and Woodbury.

The Deputy Minority Leader Pro Tempore and Caucus Chairman, Sen. Kane serves as the lead Republican senator on the legislative panel which oversees state government spending.

Sen. Kane is the leading Republican Senator, or Ranking Member, of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee. Sen. Kane is also Ranking Member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, and he serves on the Public Health Committee.

Sen. Kane continues to advocate for the issues that are important to Connecticut, especially to the people living in the 32nd District.

He was a leader in the push to create the Waterbury-Oxford Airport Development Zone, which allows the state to harness the high level of general aviation traffic at Waterbury-Oxford Airport to spur economic growth. The tax incentives in the zone are attracting new businesses and quality jobs.

Sen. Kane also spearheaded legislation to create the “Connecticut Antiques Trail”. The trail aims to boost tourism in Woodbury and the greater Waterbury region, connecting antiques businesses for marketing purposes.

Sen. Kane is a proud father, a successful business owner and an active member of the community. He serves as a Corporator of Valley United Way, Inc. and serves as a member of Post University’s Master of Public Administration Advisory Council.

Sen. Kane is past chair of the Watertown Town Council and has served as chair of its Finance Subcommittee and founding chair of its Business Development Subcommittee. He is a former chair of the Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road Business Association, a past president of the Professional Network Organization (Profnet), and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce.

He is a former board member of United Way, of the Waterbury Association of Retarded Citizens, and of Regional Workforce Investment Board.

Sen. Kane is a past recipient of the Waterbury Regional Chamber Malcolm Baldrige Award for Volunteerism, and a past recipient of the Waterbury Regional Chamber Harold Webster Smith Small Business Award.

Sen. Kane received the 2016 Radiological Society of Connecticut Award for his leadership in advocating for preventive healthcare services for women and access to services by all patients.

Sen. Kane is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University and he earned an MBA from the University of New Haven in 2009. He continues to operate the business he founded, KarTele Cellular Phones in Waterbury.

He is the proud father of Aidan and Deana.