The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
O’Neill makes run for Esty seat
GOP candidate the latest to announce
HARTFORD — When Cheshire Republican state Rep. William Petit announced Wednesday he would not seek Elizabeth Esty’s Congressional seat, Ruby O’Neill saw an opening.
The retired psychology professor who has worked on several political campaigns declared Thursday that she will run as a Republican for the 5th District spot, counting on her Latino heritage to give her an edge in an area where Democrats have swept in the past.
“We have not had a balanced Congressional delegation in years,” said O’Neill, who has never
run for public office before.
O’Neill is the vice chairwoman of the Connecticut Commission on Equity and Opportunity and wife of state Rep. Arthur O’Neill, R-Southbury. House Republicans turned out in force Thursday afternoon to support her campaign when she announced on the steps of the Capitol. “She’s so smart and she’s so committed,” said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. “Run Ruby, run!”
O’Neill was born in Honduras and grew up Queens, N.Y., but has lived for 20 years in Connecticut.
She worked on the U.S. Senate campaign of 4th District GOP Congressman Chris Shays in 2012, the 5th District Congressional campaign of Republican Andrew Roraback in 2012 and the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Tom Foley in 2014. O’Neill has two masters degrees and a doctorate, she said, and formerly taught at Post University in Waterbury, as well as Naugatuck Community College.
“As a developmental psychologist, I understand the context within which people thrive and I understand the context within which people struggle,” she said. “The people of CD5 (Congressional District 5) — like other people across Connecticut — the people of CD5 are struggling.”
Petit, who survived a 2007 deadly home invasion, introduced O’Neill’s announcement. He was encouraged by GOP leaders to run, but cited “family considerations” and a “deepseated commitment to the people I now serve” as his reasons for staying in the state House.
O’Neill joins a list of three declared candidates hopeful for the seat: Manny Santos, a former mayor of Meridan, is running for the GOP nomination. Former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman and former Newtown Rabbi Shaul Marshall Praver are running as Democrats. O’Neill does not have a staff yet, nor has she started fundraising, although the Republican convention is a mere two weeks ago. She acknowledged that “challenge,” but expressed confidence she had the work ethic to earn enough support.
Esty announced she would not seek a fourth term in early April after a hailstorm of criticism over her handling of an office abuse scandal.