Basic Information
Full Name: Thomas Patrick O’Dea, Jr.
Office Sought: State Representative, 125th District
Contact Information (Email, Phone, Website): thomaspodeajr@gmail.com; 203-247-9298;
General Questions
Top Three Priorities if Elected
My top three issues local control of education and development; lowering the cost of living and running a business in Connecticut, and making our roads and municipalities more safe.
Local control of our education and development is the number one priority of mine and, based on my discussions with constituents, their top priority as well. For Stamford, I would add school choice to my priorities. Darien and New Canaan are two of the top School Districts in Connecticut and The Stamford Charter School for Excellence is one of the top schools. We need to assist The Stamford Charter School for Excellence in expanding and replicating their success and the success of the Darien and New Canaan School Districts throughout Connecticut. Regarding development, I have successfully passed legislation improving the affordable housing statute and will continue to work to improve it so that we have more affordable housing in the district as the current affordable housing statute has failed us.
As for lowering the cost of living and running a business in Connecticut, we need to maintain the fiscal guardrails that the Republicans got implemented in the 2017 budget and were just recently extended. In addition, for about 2% of the budget, we can make Connecticut one of the best states in which to retire and thus keep our seniors here (along with their money and volunteer work) and immediately increase home values. For businesses, we need to stop making it harder for them to start and grow. For example, paid leave without any notice for small businesses is unfair and needs to be addressed.
Finally, the Police Accountability Bill and the legalization of recreational marijuana have absolutely made our roads and municipalities less safe. We need to reinstate consent searches and allow for an immediate appeal before trial of denials of qualified immunity, so we again encourage proactive policing.
Professional, Volunteer, or Public Service Experience
As a practicing trial attorney for over three decades with experience throughout the state representing municipalities, businesses and individuals, I have seen first-hand the difference between good and bad legislation and I’m able to anticipate the practical implications so that they can be amended before passage. As the Deputy Leader who runs the floor for the House Republicans, I see each bill before debate and have the respect of my colleagues across the aisle to get many bills amended by agreement.
From 1995 to 2004, I was a member of the Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POST), which is responsible for overseeing all training and certification of municipal police officers in Connecticut. From 1997 to 2004, I served by appointment of the governor as a Victim Compensation Commissioner within the state’s judicial branch, responsible for adjudicating claims brought by victims of crimes. In 2004, I was appointed to the Judicial Selection Commission, including time as chair. The Judicial Selection Commission is responsible for recommending the appointment and reappointment of state court judges. I was a member of the New Canaan’s Town Council from 2005 until January, 2013 when I became a State Representative.
While on New Canaan’s Town Council I was one of the main proponents of connecting schools and parks by sidewalks, buying Irwin to avoid massive development, establishing outdoor dining over a decade before COVID and purchasing the theater. I have been active in coaching youth football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse and an attorney advisor/board member of youth Football, Voices of 9/11, and Staying Put.
Policy Questions
Local Control: How do you propose to protect your district’s control over zoning decisions?
As stated above, I was the author of an amendment that got New Canaan it’s second moratorium and encouraged municipalities to build more housing when possible. Another legislative proposal I have filed, and will file again, in order to improve the affordable housing statute, is to give municipalities the right of first refusal on any 8-30g proposal but then require the town to build 80% of the proposed affordable units somewhere in town within 5 years or pay an annual fine of 10% of the purchase price until the units are complete with half going into a state affordable housing fund and half going to the builder from whom the town bought the property.
I have driven around New Canaan with the former Housing Chair, the Majority Leader and the Governor to review our affordable housing, my proposed legislation and possible locations of additional housing.
What is your approach to balancing affordable housing needs with preserving the town’s character?
My proposed legislation set forth above will guarantee more affordable housing in locations selected by the town as opposed to builders. The current legislation has completely failed New Canaan and Darien. New Canaan has not seen a single privately built affordable unit in decades.
Utilities: What steps have you taken/will you take to address rising costs of electricity, natural gas, and water?
We need to get energy policy initiatives out of our electrical bill and back into the general fund and we need a more balanced approach to our energy generation. The natural gas expansion program was ended prematurely so we need to get that back. Republicans have fought against policy initiatives in electric bills and we fought to have ARPA funds pay for the extended assistance program. The recent legislation we supported allowing the expansion of the Millstone nuclear plant will result in lower rates if we work with Millstone as a partner and not an adversary. We also need to investigate separating PURA from being under the umbrella of the executive branch and investigate going back from DEEP to the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Utility Control being separate agencies again like they were before 2011.
Please explain your stand on the current situation with Aquarion.
Because a short-staffed PURA rejected requested price increases, Eversource decided to sell Aquarion. My opinion once that decision was made was to get as many bidders as possible. There were apparently 3-5 bids for Aquarion that satisfied Eversource and PURA’s minimal requirements. Now it is up to Eversource with input from PURA and the Attorney General’s office to determine which bid to accept..
Economy: How will you address the economic challenges posed by inflation? What legislative measures will you support to ease the financial burden on households and businesses in your district?
For years I have proposed legislation to make Connecticut one of the best states to retire in by eliminating completely the tax on social security, estates, gifts and pensions. As stated above, that would keep retirees and their money in Connecticut and improve our real estate prices, all at a short-term cost of about 2% of the budget that would be gained back in multiples within a few years.
Supermajority: What does having a supermajority in the Connecticut legislature mean to you and to your district?
It would mean the end of compromise and collaboration on legislation, which would be very bad in Hartford and DC.
Bipartisanship: How would you describe the current political environment in Connecticut?
How would you describe the current political environment in Connecticut? Very good as 85-90% of the time we vote on a bipartisan basis. If the senate and house were closer in numbers, like they were in 2017 when we got the fiscal guardrails and balanced budget passed, it would be even better. If you asked my friends across the aisle who the most bipartisan representative is in Hartford, I am certain I would be in the top three for everyone. It is the reason I was selected as the Deputy Leader. I get along very well with the Governor, Senate Leadership, Speaker, and Majority Leader and we speak regularly on many issues…
If elected, how will you contribute to improving the tone of political discourse and foster cooperation among different political viewpoints?
I will continue to do what I have done which is be one of the most effective and respected legislators in Hartford, regardless of party affiliation.
Your View: What should we have asked that we did not?
What have you done in your town or district to earn election or re-election? I have spent all of my adult married life, over 25 years, volunteering in New Canaan and around the state as a coach, youth sports board member, non-profit board member (Staying Put, NCYF, Voices 9/11, NCRink Inc), appointed official (10 years on the Police Officers Standards and Training Council and as a Victims Compensation Commissioner), elected official of the Republican Town Committee and Town Council and volunteer for many organizations, including as a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, decades as an active member of Saint Aloysius Parish and recently as a member of CERT.
As your State Representative I have worked on a bipartisan basis at successfully bringing to New Canaan $2.2 million for the rink and movie theater along with millions in educational funds in addition to successfully revising the affordable housing statute for the first time in years. I am extremely proud of my reputation as a fair, hardworking and honorable legislator who puts his constituents and state ahead of my personal advancement. The first bill I got passed with my friend from across the aisle, Gerry Fox, got Narcan in the hands of first responders. That legislation has saved thousands of lives. I want to do more for my district and the state. I believe I’ve earned your vote. I have absolutely loved representing you in Hartford for the last 12 years and would like to do so again for another two years.
