New Britain State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) has announced that he will not seek re-election this year, retiring after serving the city in the state House of Representatives for almost twenty-one years.
Rep. Tercyak, a Democrat, made the announcement at the New Britain Democratic Town Committee Thursday evening at City Hall.
The announcement was widely expected, and at least two candidates have already been vying for the Democratic nomination. Democrats David DeFronzo and Aram Ayalon, both former members of the New Britain City Council, appear to be preparing campaigns for the seat. No Republican candidates have campaign committees filed for the seat with the state yet.
A psychiatric nurse, Tercyak’s biography says that he,
was first involved in health care through volunteering at the Veterans’ Hospital in Newington. With degrees from UConn and Capital Community College, he became a registered nurse and almost 30-year career has cared for thousands of patients with psychiatric and substance abuse problems. Now, he does home care nursing.
He was, “Raised with a strong belief in the importance of activism and community service,” his biography goes on to say. Tercyak was a union organizer and executive board member of New England Health Care Workers Union, District 1199.
As a legislator, he was widely considered a dedicated progressive. He is Assistant Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and presently serves on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, the Energy and Technology committee and the Public Health Committee.
In a message endorsing Rep. Tercyak for re-election, District 1199 said, that, as a registered nurse, he, “spent three decades caring for thousands of patients with psychiatric disabilities and substance abuse problems. Peter later became an advocate for healthcare workers and patients, and has worked on campaigns to reform managed care, provide job security, and crack down on rising cost of prescription drugs.”
Tercyak’s biography discussed his extensive work in political organizing, saying that he, “worked on his father’s campaigns for the 26th House District, elections for the New Britain Board of Education, governor and many others.”
Peter Tercyak’s father, Rep. Anthony Tercyak was a much beloved teacher and New Britain state legislator. While a Republican, the elder Tercyak was considered to be more progressive than many Democratic legislators and frequently voted with Democratic members of the state House of Representatives on important issues.
When his father passed away in 2003, Peter Tercyak stepped forward to serve in the seat his father had held. In a three-way special election, Tercyak was elected.
Tercyak’s biography focuses on his New Britain roots, saying he, “was raised in New Britain from the age of two, graduating from Holy Cross and St. Thomas Aquinas. He also attended high school in Warsaw, Poland.”
Editor’s note: The cover image is by respected local photographer, Dr. Frank Gerratana.
