Familiar faces in race for 105th

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Theresa Conroy
Theresa Conroy

The race for the state’s 105th District features two candidates who are no strangers to politics.

Democratic incumbent state Rep. Theresa Conroy has received the endorsement from her party to seek re-election. Her challenger this year is Republican Nicole Klarides-Ditria, who earned her party’s endorsement earlier this year.

Conroy, 59, of Seymour, is seeking her third consecutive and fourth overall term as state representative for the district, which represents Beacon Falls, Derby and Seymour. She was first elected to the seat in 2008, then again in 2012 and 2014.

During her time away from the legislature, Conroy served on the Seymour Board of Selectmen from 2011 to 2013.

Conroy, who is a retired advanced practice registered nurse, said she is running again because she enjoys serving.

“I have a passion for serving the community,” Conroy said. “I still have a lot of work to do.”

Conroy said she has started to receive recognition for the work she has been doing on some of the larger issues facing the state, including bringing manufacturing into the state and fighting with the opioid and heroin epidemic.

If re-elected, she said, two of the biggest issues the state must work on are job growth and economic development.

Nicole Klarides-Ditria
Nicole Klarides-Ditria

Klarides-Ditria, 47, of Seymour, has served on Seymour’s Board of Selectmen since 2011 and has been the deputy first selectman for five years.

Klarides-Ditria, an athletic trainer at Lauralton Hall High School in Milford, also serves as the football trainer for Seymour High School. In addition, Klarides-Ditria said she is involved in the day-to-day operations of her family’s business, Klarides Family Associates.

Klarides-Ditria, who is the sister of House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, said she wants to bring “fiscal responsibility and common sense” back to state government. She also believes the state needs to stay out of the way of businesses, which she said are the “heart and soul of our economy.”

“My strong small family business background affords me the ability to have a hands on understanding of what businesses need and what we can do to help them. My five years in town government has taught me how government works and what we can do to make it more efficient,” Klarides-Ditria said.

The two will square off on Election Day, Nov. 8.