The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Deputy mayor throws hat in ring for 100th District
Robert Santangelo supports various issues, including responsible gun control
MIDDLETOWN — The city’s deputy mayor and 25-year Democratic Common Council member said Friday that he is filing papers to run for the state House in the 100th District, a post now held by Matt Lesser.
Robert Santangelo skipped the exploration stage and jumped right into the race because he’s entering a field of candidates who have already announced their intentions.
“I’m finally in a position where, if I do win, I can retire and become a state rep full time,” said Santangelo, a substance abuse counselor on the detox unit at Connecticut Valley Hospital. He’s worked the Merritt Hall men’s rehabilitation unit since 2001. He took a two-year hiatus while working at Veterans Affairs in Rocky Hill. He has also worked as a teacher.
The candidacy is something he’s considered in the past. However, his state job held him back, he said, adding his very strong background in mental health over his 33-year career in the field will be an asset.
Longtime state Rep. Joseph Serra, D-Middletown, is again running to retain his seat in the 33rd District.
The 9th District includes Cromwell, Newington, Rocky Hill and parts of Middletown and Wethersfield, a post now held by Sen. Paul Doyle, DWethersfield, who is leaving the seat to run for Connecticut Attorney General. The six-term state senator represents the southern suburbs of Hartford in the Senate, the towns of Cromwell, Middletown, Newington and Rocky Hill.
Lesser, who has served 10 years in Middletown, has launched an exploratory committee for a bid for the 9th seat. The Senate has an 18-18 split — with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.
“Over the last couple years, control of the state Senate has really been up in the air. Major issues for Middletown and the state live or die by one single vote.”
Lesser has been out garnering constituents’ support in all the 9th District towns and expects to make a decision whether to run over the next few weeks. Middletown has not had a state representative in the Senate since 1970s, he said.
Over his nine terms, Lesser has championed veterans’ health care, workers’ rights, aid medical leave, college affordability, retirement security for public school teachers, and fertility testing for young people with cancer.
He’s also working at the Capitol on legislation that would protect residents against overreach by the Trump Administration on health care, student debt and civil liberties, he said.
Santangelo credits Mayor Dan Drew for appointing him as deputy mayor five years ago.
“I was able to take my insight into different levels of politics. He’s encouraging me very much to do this,” Santangelo said. If elected, he would step down from the council in January. “It would give me a better opportunity and bigger chance of supporting Middletown.”
In a prepared statement, Drew said Santangelo has “contributed mightily” to the city’s success. “He has the character and commitment to the people of Middletown required to be a successful state representative.
“Bob says little, but his actions and record of successfully advancing the needs of the people of Middletown speaks for itself,” the release continued.
Santangelo, a Vietnam veteran, belongs to three city veterans’ organizations and has an extensive background in many areas that he said would be an asset to the House.
He’s also well-versed in transportation issues, gleaned during the 25 years he’s spent as a commissioner on Middletown’s Public Safety committee, which he now chairs.
Santangelo has also been a part of the city’s Emergency Operations Center for the last 12 years and sits on the Economic Development Commission. He’s been on the arts commission for four terms. “I’m a very true believer in how strong arts are representative of how strong the community is.”
He said he’d work to ensure Middletown isn’t overburdened by PILOT funding, and lower taxes, the deputy mayor said. “I think that’s everybody’s concern.”
He’s also firm on Second Amendment rights. “People own guns, and if they use them responsibly, life is OK,” Santangelo said. Also, with his background in the mental health field, he supports background checks.
“These are things that have to be paid attention to very closely.”
Several other Middlesex County politicians have declared their bids for state offices, including state Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam. Ziobron, a three-term Assembly member in the 34th District, is hoping to succeed state Sen. Art Linares, D-Westbrook, in the 33. Linares, now in his third term, announced he will seek the Republican nomination to succeed State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, who is not seeking a sixth term.
Four-term Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman, a Democrat, is set to run against U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who represents Connecticut.
Needleman, who founded the Essex-based Tower Laboratories manufacturing company 38 years ago, campaigned unsuccessfully on the Democratic ticket for the seat against Linares in 2016.
In East Haddam, Democrat Teresa Govert declared her run for the 34th District race, and is hoping to capture state Sen. Len Fasano’s post to represent Durham, Wallingford center, North Haven and East Haven.