Bysiewicz and Hayes Visit Plainville to Support Rebecca Martinez for State Representative

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D) and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) visited Plainville on Saturday for the State Representative campaign kickoff of Plainville Board of Education member Rebecca Martinez (D).

Martinez, who has been Vice-Chair of the Plainville Board of Education, is running for election in the 22nd State Assembly district, taking on incumbent State Representative Francis Rexford Cooley (D-22). The two are in a rematch after Cooley narrowly won 5,046 to 4,993 in 2022.

The website of New Britain’s Queen Ann Nzinga’s Center says that Martinez is a nurse and has been a member of the State Board of Nursing, adding that she,

is known for her determination and ability to get things done. She is passionate about advocacy and the importance of community service. Her community service has included Plainville Early Learning Center Board, Plainville Family Fest Committee, Wheeler PTO Treasurer, Plainville Rotary Club, and medical for Plainville Colts Football.

Cooley’s biography says that he has been a Dean and instructor at Paier College of Art in Hamden, adding that he has authorized scholarly works on foreign policy, “Gravestone Studies and Material Culture”, the Fenimore Coopers and “a number of encyclopedia entries on a variety of topics.” He recently touted receiving a 100% rating from the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, a conservative big-business lobbying group.

The 22nd State Representative district, which now includes Plainville and neighborhoods in Farmington and Southington, formerly included the north west corner of New Britain until the 2022 redistricting.

Editor’s note: The cover photo is by local photographer, Dr. Frank Gerratana.

Editor’s note (8/4/2024): The article was corrected to refer to the previous election as in 2022.