MONROE, CT — State Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, won his party’s endorsement to run in a special election for Connecticut’s 21st Senatorial District seat during a Republican convention held at Testo’s restaurant Thursday night. Perillo, who was unchallenged, received the delegates’ unanimous support.
The vacancy was created when longtime legislator and former senate minority leader, Kevin Kelly resigned. Gov. Ned Lamont will reportedly nominate Kelly for a Superior Court judgeship, though that is not official at this time.
The 21st Senatorial District represents Shelton and parts of Seymour, Monroe and Stratford. The special election will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
“When you’re in the Senate, you have an opportunity to execute more just by the fact that there are fewer senators,” Perillo said of his decision to run for the vacancy. “And the skills and experience I developed over the last 17 years will serve me well in representing the four towns of the 21st District.”
Kelly served as its senator for 14 years.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “I love what I did and we accomplished a lot. I think my record shows that and I always valued the trust and faith the constituents had in me.”
Kelly said he saw his service as both a privilege and a responsibility to ensure his constituents’ voices were heard in Hartford.
‘Jason wins’
Chris Pia, of Stratford, was going to run for the 21st District seat himself, before deciding to throw his support to Perillo, who been representing the 113th House District in Shelton since 2007.
“This seat has been represented by a Republican since 1967, going back to Doc Gunther, Dan Debicella and now our most recent good friend and colleague Kevin Kelly,” Pia said to fellow delegates seated around tables in Testo’s banquet room. “We want to continue to lead by example in this district and in Hartford, and by nominating Jason Perillo, we’re gonna continue to do that.”
Pia touted Perillo as someone who “works tirelessly” for his district, as well as his background of public service, including experience as a Shelton alderman, vice chairman of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, and as a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
A lifelong Shelton resident, Perillo has served as chief of Shelton’s Echo Hose Ambulance. He lives in the city with his wife, Becky, and their daughter, Lydia.
“He has led and Jason wins, and that’s why Jason is gonna get the nomination tonight to go to the Senate and continue to lead and win for us,” Pia said. “Jason has dedicated his life to the city of Shelton and its people and this is evident by the number of boards and commissions and not-for-profits that he continues to advise and work for.”
Elizabeth Edgerton, one of the Monroe delegates, seconded the nomination. She recalled meeting Perillo when she was chair of the Monroe Republican Town Committee.
“He’s a fierce advocate for all of us. You can’t ask for a better guy,” Edgerton said. “He’s got big shoes to fill with Kevin leaving and going on to bigger and better things. So many thanks Kevin, for all of your support over the years.”
“Jason embodies a lot of what Monroe loves: fiscal responsibility, public safety, the strength of small businesses,” she said. “The minute I heard his hat was in the ring, my support automatically went to him, because I knew with the short window that we have, he’d hit the ground running and win the seat.”
While accepting the nomination, Perillo described party members in the room as tenacious, ferocious and willing to do anything it takes to win.
“There’s a reason why we held this seat for almost 60 years,” he said. “It’s because of that. It’s now our obligation to make sure we hold it for another 60 — and that starts tonight. Let’s get to work. Thank you, everybody.”
Monroe RTC Chairman Ryan Condon, who served as a delegate, was happy with the decision to endorse Perillo.
“Jason has strongly supported his district as a state representative and he will be an amazing asset to the town of Monroe,” Condon said. “We’re happy to have him team up with Tony Scott in Hartford,” he added of Monroe’s state representative.
In addition to Edgerton and Condon, Monroe’s delegates included Peggy Villani, Jonathan Formichella and Deborah Heim. Monroe First Selectman Terry Rooney was among the elected officials who attended the convention.
In the video below, Kelly says a few words, while reflecting on his 14 years as senator:
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