Labriola earns 8th term

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David Labriola
David Labriola

NAUGATUCK — State Rep. David Labriola said he will continue finding common sense solutions to the state’s troubles in his eighth term representing the 131st District.

Labriola, a Republican, took more than 68 percent of the vote over his Democratic opponent Scott Flaherty, with an unofficial tally Tuesday night of 7,404 to 3,378 not including absentee ballots.

Labriola, 56, was first elected in 2002 and has held the seat in the 131st District, which covers Oxford and portions of Naugatuck and Southbury, since. Labriola, who lives in Oxford and works as a lawyer alongside his brother, Jerry Labriola, at the Naugatuck-based law firm Labriola and Labriola, serves as House Republican Whip.

Family, friends and supporters gathered at Santos Restaurant in Naugatuck to celebrate the veteran politician who supporters say cares about promoting the small business community and helping taxpayers.

Ed Carver, of Oxford, said he’s known Labriola for many years as someone who not only listens to problems but takes action, and as a business owner, that’s what resonates with Carver.

First-time voters went the distance to support their hometown representative.

UMass Amherst junior Eric Jensen, of Oxford, said he forgot to send in his absentee ballot or register in Massachusetts, so he drove home Tuesday to vote for Labriola.

Also voting in his first presidential election was 20-year-old Gateway Community College student Andrew Temple, son of Oxford First Selectman George Temple.

“David has always supported my father,” Andrew Temple said, “and we desperately need house Republicans in Connecticut to stop the rubber stamping of everything [Gov. Dannel] Malloy does.”

Labriola said balancing economic growth with open space preservation is a priority, and he feels honored and humbled to have again won the confidence of his constituents to go back to Hartford and be their voice.