The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
State senator endorsed by party for reelection
ESSEX — State Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, was unanimously endorsed for re-election last week to the 33rd District by Democratic delegates.
“The need for strong, effective leadership in the state Senate has never been more important than now, due to the crisis created by COVID-19,” Needleman said in a prepared statement.
He is the first selectman of Essex and founder and CEO of Connecticut-based Tower Laboratories.
“In my time at the General Assembly, I’ve worked in a bipartisan manner to tackle our most difficult challenges. More now than ever, I believe that inclusive, nonpartisan dialogue is what’s needed to solve tough problems. This ‘makes-sense’ perspective characterizes my approach to representing our district in the state Senate,” he said in the press release.
“That’s why I’m anxious to continue my service at the Capitol to help our state recover from this once-in-acentury crisis. Doing so requires knowledge of town operating procedures, experience in managing local resources and skill in business planning,” he added.
Needleman is deputy president pro tempore, Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, vice chairman of the Planning & Development Committee, and is a member of the Commerce, Finance
Revenue & Bonding, and Transportation Committees.
Needleman said he was “instrumental” to the passage of a bill bringing wind energy generation to Connecticut, legislation which enables up to 40 percent of future energy needs to come from carbon-free renewable energy and creates a new industry for Connecticut,” the release added.
It could add as much as $2 billion to the state’s economy, bringing with it thousands of skilled, good-paying jobs, he said.
“That’s why I’m anxious to continue my service at the Capitol to help our state recover from this once-in-acentury crisis. Doing so requires knowledge of town operating procedures, experience in managing local resources and skill in business planning,” the release said.
Other successes benefiting the 33rd District supported by Needleman include: allowing first responders, police officers, and firefighters to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, his support helped ensure passage of a bill raising the age of access for tobacco products from 18 to 21, protecting youths from addiction, according to the release.
Needleman also sponsored and enacted legislation holding energy companies accountable for prompt responses to power outages. By utilizing his
“makes-sense,” nonpartisan approach, he formulated policy solutions to protect rivers and lakes from invasive species, the release concludes.
First elected to the Senate
seat in 2018, Needleman represents the towns of Colchester, Chester, Clinton, Essex, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Westbrook and Portland.