The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Chris Beyus running for 65th District state House seat
TORRINGTON — Chris Beyus is a hometown guy. He’s lived in Torrington all his life, and wants nothing more than to improve the quality of life for residents. To further that goal, he’s running for the 65th District state House of Representatives seat held by Democrat Michelle Cook.
Beyus, 24, is chairman of the city’s Republican Town Committee and the youngest chairman in the state. It’s a fact of which he’s quite proud. He’s also a member of the Torrington Board of Finance, where he says he’s learned a great deal about the town and residents’ concerns, including about rising taxes.
“I’ve been able to help keep tax increases (down) as a member of the Board of Finance,” he said “In my first two budget cycles, I stood against tax increases and keeping the mill rate down. I saw seniors, living on fixed incomes, who were worried about their bills and keeping their homes. I want to help those people.”
The state’s budget deficit is a big concern for Beyus. In June, CTMirror reported that the pandemic has left the state with a $500 million deficit that could force Gov. Ned Lamont to dip into the state’s $2.5 billion rainy day fund. And on Sept. 1, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo projected on his department’s website that the deficit was at $2.1 billion.
“While we can recognize the challenges we face, with a looming state budget deficit, we’re not going to get anywhere if we keep spending money,” he said. “It’s not always about raising taxes. Let’s reform some of our agencies. There was a pay increase for state employees, and meanwhile, the average family isn’t getting a raise right now. It’s important for people to succeed, but with the pandemic, it’s also important for families to be able to put food on the table.”
Beyus this week learned he had received the Independent Party of Connecticut’s endorsement. “That means a lot to me,” he said. “I have received the Republican Party’s endorsement, and now the Independent Party. I don’t always take a party line — I want to work with everyone.”
Beyus, a 2014 graduate of Oliver Wolcott Tech, is taking legal studies courses at Post University. His mother, Joanne, owns and operates Alfredo’s Deli in Torrington, while his father, Ken, is the facilities manager for Torrington Downtown Partners. He has an older brother, Jeff, and a younger sister, Kayla. Beyus works in
sales for The Office Works in Plainville, selling equipment and software. He hopes to complete his studies in October 2021.
The candidate knows the value of volunteerism, he said. “When I worked at Sullivan Honda, we did food drives for FISH with the employees, and it was a good feeling to do that,” he said. “I’ve spent most of my life volunteering in the community, one way or another.
“Being on the finance board has been the biggest honor of my life so far,” he said. “It was a way to elevate me to another level, to get down to the nitty-gritty of the city’s finances and learn about it. It’s a difficult job, but it’s a way to take on new challenges.”
He’s running for the 65th District seat, he said, because it’s time for new ideas in the state legislature.
“With this pandemic, it’s going to take new ideas to make changes,” he said. “We need new leaders and a new direction to move our state forward. We’ve been falling
“Being on the finance board has been the biggest honor of my life so far. It was a way to elevate me to another level, to get down to the nitty-gritty of the city’s finances and learn about it. It’s a difficult job, but it’s a way to take on new challenges.” Chris Beyus, Chairman of the city’s Republican Town Committee who is running for 65th District state House seat
down economically in Connecticut, and if we bring new people to the table, we can decide how we want our state to move ahead, to do business, to work and to live here.”
“As the chairman of the town committee, it’s also my job to get more people involved, young people,” he said. “I like to look toward the future.”
In recent months, Connecticut has witnessed an increase in New York residents moving into the state and purchasing homes. According to data from the United States Postal Service, nearly 10,000 New York residents requested change of address to Connecticut between March and early June this year, compared to about 1,200 requests filed during that time in 2019, the New Haven Register reported in June.
Beyus sees the influx of new residents as an opportunity. “If we’re smart, we’ll seize on that opportunity,” he said. “We’ll show why Connecticut is a better place to open a business. We’ll show them that Connecticut is willing to welcome them with open arms.
“As a grandson of Italian immigrants, I think that’s important,” he said. “Integrate people who have moved here. Welcome them, make them part of our society here in the state and find opportunities for them, their children and their businesses, and make them part of our economy. They should see it’s beneficial for them to stay here and enjoy all the things Connecticut has to offer.”
He has seen the pandemic’s impact on his hometown, and wants to help bring it back. “Prepandemic, Torrington was filling stores and restaurants again. Now there’s a short recession, and it’s showing an impact. But it’s how we move forward that counts,” Beyus said. “Let’s find ways to get new people in our community to stay here, whether it’s opening a coffee shop and getting to know the local people, or sponsoring a sports team in town. That sense of community can make such a difference.”
Beyus believes both parties have to work together once Election Day is over. “I have been partisan at times, but as I get closer to November, I realize it’s not all about politics. They have to be part of it, but we should use this election as a chance to put young people in Hartford who are here for the long run, to see the state doing better. People are tired of the same old, same old.”
Learn more about Beyus at facebook.com/BeyusforTorrington.