Greene to seek reelection

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Rematch taking shape in 105th District

Republican state Rep. Len Greene Jr. announced he’s running for reelection in the 105th House District, which covers all of Beacon Falls and Seymour and a portion of Ansonia. –CONTRIBUTED

SEYMOUR — Republican state Rep. Len Greene announced he’s running for reelection on Sunday setting up a rematch from two years ago for the right to represent 105th House District.

Greene told supporters, family, and friends who came out for the announcement that when he first ran two years he promised he would bring “common-sense principles,” such as “spend no more than you make” and “borrow only what you can afford to pay back,” back to state government.

“Common-sense principles that each of us uses in our everyday lives that seem to have been forgotten by those who run our state,” Greene said, according to a copy of his speech.

Greene said he’s worked hard to fulfill that promise over the past two years and has accomplished many successes by remaining dedicated to those principles. Greene listed among his accomplishments securing over $1.4 million in state assistance for communities in the district, including funding for the cleanup of the Housatonic Wire Factory site in Seymour, for new sewers on Chamberlain Road in Seymour, and the replacement of a dangerous bridge and the dilapidated retaining walls on Route 42 in Beacon Falls.

Aside from securing funds for the district, Greene said while in office he’s helped small businesses in the Valley take advantage of the “jobs” bill passed last October and opposed “reckless spending.”

Greene, who was born and raised in Beacon Falls and lives in Seymour, is in his first term in office. Two years ago, he defeated incumbent Democrat Theresa Conroy of Seymour by 109 votes.

Conroy, a lifelong Seymour resident, served one term as a state representative prior to losing to Greene in 2010. She currently serves on the Board of Selectmen in Seymour. Conroy has already announced her intention to run for office in the 105th District.

“The people of the 105th District deserve a representative who will work passionately to ensure that we are getting the much needed support that we deserve, be it economic development, quality education, affordable healthcare, security for our seniors or supporting our military and veterans. These are just a few of the areas that I had focused on as a representative and they continue to be important to me today,” Conroy told the Seymour Democratic Town Committee in March.

Greene said he’s running again because he feels there’s still work to be done.

“I’m very proud of the things I’ve fought for in such a short period of time, but I believe that there is still a great deal to do,” Greene said.

Greene added he wants to continue to fight reckless spending.

“We haven’t done enough to reduce the size of our state government, cut wasteful spending, and find efficiencies, so I will not support tax increases until I’m satisfied that we’ve done so. Tax increases should be the last resort, not the first,” he said.

Greene said by sticking to common-sense principles the legislature can address the issues facing Connecticut.

“I believe that I have remained dedicated to these principles, and I am here asking for your support today to ensure that the people of the 105th District have a representative who brings common sense to Hartford,” Greene said.