Former City Council member, Dr. Aram Ayalon (D-3), announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 26th Assembly District in a campaign statement.
An open seat election in the district will occur this year after current State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), announced his retirement after serving the district for 21 years. Another former Council member, Dave DeFronzo (D-AL), announced last week that he is seeking the seat.
If both candidates qualify for a primary, Democratic-registered voters will decide the Democratic nomination for the seat in an August 13th primary election. No Republican has filed a candidacy with the state yet.
“As a State Representative,” Ayalon said, “I will continue to champion increasing funding for education – especially higher education, since CCSU is a part of my district. I will also work to limit future home reevaluations and increase rent-to-own options.”
Ayalon’s campaign says that, in his six years each on the Board of Education and Council, his work has included, “advocating for education investment and affordable housing, to fighting unexplained water bills and neighborhood blight,” adding, “Dr. Ayalon delivered materially for residents, including reducing real estate taxes.”
Ayalon’s campaign also said that he, “pushed to reconstitute the Fair Rent Commission and ensure landlord accountability,” and for, “accountability and transparency,” including having, “fought against the 2022 city charter revision, which left most New Britain voters in the dark on the changes they were voting on.”
“I believe we must keep the public safe through slower traffic in city neighborhoods and increased highway safety,” Ayalon said, “and we must also keep our city resilient against the flooding, drought, and deforestation caused by climate change.”
Dr. Ayalon is a former professor of education at Central Connecticut State University where, his campaign said, he worked, “preparing many of the teachers now working in New Britain schools.”
