James Maroney.
Local Democrats gave the nod June 1 for state Sen. James Maroney to run for a second term in November as the candidate for the 14th Senate District, which includes Milford, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge.
Maroney received a unanimous vote of the delegates to the Democratic Party convention. The vote represents a major validation for the first-term senator, first elected to the seat in 2018. Maroney represented the district in two starkly different legislative sessions – the passage of several historic pieces of legislation in 2019, and a 2020 session cut short by the coronavirus epidemic.
“I have known James Maroney for a long time and can attest first-hand to his character, his competence, and his compassion for others,” said Jay Zammiello, a former Milford alderman. “His tireless effort to try and do what is right is an inspiration. A small business owner by day, he helps students and families prepare and plan for college and the future.”
“As a senator, James Maroney fights to keep grant money coming into our communities; he works directly with residents and businesses to keep them informed about critical pandemic news and fast-changing executive orders coming out of Hartford,” Milford Mayor Ben Blake said. “I’m so impressed by the depth and breadth of James’ knowledge regarding local, state and federal coronavirus relief programs – he’s a lifeline between many struggling constituent families and the help they depend upon.”
The coronavirus pandemic cut short the 2020 legislative session. Despite this, Senator Maroney continued to be a leading advocate for families in the district, helping secure protective equipment for health care and senior care workers, providing support to small businesses to apply for federal loan programs, and connecting families to services in their community.
During his first term, Maroney brought legislation forward that would vamp up the state’s use of Opportunity Zones in partnership with the federal government to increase incentives for business to come to Connecticut.
“If given the chance to represent my community again, I will continue my work on Opportunity Zones and ensure that we also provide a pathway for small business to take advantage of these zones,” Maroney said. “We must continue to bring forth legislation that will bring more commerce to Connecticut from both outside the state as well as inside.”