Perez set to challenge Case for state House

WINSTED — Longtime mayor Candy Perez has entered the race for the state representative seat in the 63rd District.

She is challenging incumbent Jay Case, RWinsted, who is seeking his fourth term in the November general election.

Perez was unanimously nominated by the Democratic Town Committee last week. It is her first entry into a state race, after serving as the mayor of Winsted for five nonconsecutive years starting in 2009. She has also served on the Board of Selectmen since 2002.

Perez retired in 2016 as the principal of Northwestern Regional School District No. 7.

“I had thought about (running), but I had a full-time job,” she said.

Perez grew up in Torrington and attended Torrington High School, and has lived in Winsted since 1993.

Case was unanimously nominated on May 15 by the Winsted Republican

Town Committee. He is a ranking member of the legislature’s Human Services Committee. He also serves on Appropriations and Environment committees.

“Candy was approached multiple times to run,” said Audrey Blondin, a member of Democratic State Central Committee. But, Blondin said, it wasn’t possible to be both a school principal and a legislator.

Case said one of the goals of his campaign includes a way to eliminate unfunded mandates and help pass a budget that works.

Perez said she will focus on economics and the effects of a “graying” population in northwest Connecticut. She also said she would work to bring highspeed internet service to the region.

Neither candidate has decided whether they will participate in the states’ Citizen’s Election Program, which, if they qualify, would provide a House of Representative candidate with $10,000 in campaign funds.

Winsted Mayor Candy Perez said she will run for the General Assembly seat held by incumbent Rep. Jay Case, R-Winsted.