Turco Squeezes By GOP Incumbent
NEWINGTON — Democrat Gary Turco edged out the incumbent Republican in the race for the 27th House District, winning by fewer than 100 votes.
Rep. Gary Byron, R-Newington, conceded the race Wednesday morning. The tally was 5,491 to 5,425, or a 66 vote difference, according to unofficial results from the secretary of the state's office. A difference of 55 or fewer would have triggered a recount. The district covers most of the town.
The final numbers were not available until about 3 a.m. Turco said at one point that Byron was ahead. But absentee ballots had yet to be tallied, and Turco said college students put him over the top. Higher education and student debt were big issues in the campaign, he said, and students decided “the Republican Party was not the party for them.”
He thanked Byron for “a tough-fought campaign.”
“Although we may have disagreed on the issues, his commitment to the community is inspiring and he deserves our thanks for his service,” Turco wrote in a message to supporters.
Byron, who has served in the legislature since 2014, could not be reached immediately for comment. He owns a DJ company that offers wedding and event services, according to his biography on the House Republicans website.
Turco, 37, moved to Connecticut to attend Sacred Heart University and settled in Newington in 2010. He served on the town plan and zoning commission from 2012 to 2013 before renting out his condo to travel for work. He moved back to town recently, saying he was inspired to get more involved by the political climate both in Connecticut and Washington, D.C.
Turco has said he wants to bring his experiences working in the private sector, government and with universities to Hartford. He most recently served as a volunteer teacher in Uganda and also has worked as a business development manager and director of public affairs for a Glastonbury-based communications firm.
Workforce development and strengthening the state's education system to serve Connecticut businesses are priorities, Turco said Wednesday. He also said he is committed to property tax relief within the next two years, after legislators get a handle on the looming state budget deficit.