Logan unseats Crisco

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State Senator-elect George Logan, right, a Republican, shakes hands with Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti Tuesday night at his headquarters in Ansonia. Logan defeated state Sen. Joseph Crisco, a Democrat, in the 17th District. –LUKE MARSHALL
State Senator-elect George Logan, right, a Republican, shakes hands with Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti Tuesday night at his headquarters in Ansonia. Logan defeated state Sen. Joseph Crisco, a Democrat, in the 17th District. –LUKE MARSHALL

ANSONIA — There will be a new face representing the 17th Senatorial District.

Republican George Logan, a 47-year-old political newcomer, defeated longtime Democrat incumbent Joseph Crisco to win the Senate seat. Unofficial numbers provided by Logan’s campaign showed him winning the race 21,146 to 19,741.

Crisco, 82, of Woodbridge, was seeking his 13th term as senator for the district, which covers all or parts of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge.

Crisco did not concede at his headquarters in Ansonia as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night. He said was waiting for the same day registration votes to be counted, but the writing was on the wall. He declined further comment.

Logan, who is the director of environmental management and government relations for Aquarian Water Company, didn’t wait to give his acceptance speech, however.

“When you talk about a 12-term incumbent being unseated by a newcomer to the political scene it goes to show something,” Logan said. “Folks want the state to go in a new direction.”

Logan said it was his continued discussion of the issues that drew voters to him.

“[We had] very little name recognition. But we knew the issues in this state was one that needed to be addressed and the current leadership is not getting it done. We knew that we had a story to tell,” Logan said.

Logan told the crowd gathered at his headquarters in Ansonia that the victory showed how much voters needed a change.

“Folks in the district wanted a change. They wanted a change, they wanted some action, and we brought it to them,” Logan said. “We put in a great effort and good fight, but I spoke of the issues that were important to the people of the 17th District.”

Logan ran his campaign on promises to help close the state’s budget deficit, bring new jobs into the state, and reprioritize how the state spends its money. He thanked the people who ran his campaign, those who volunteered, and his mother.

“She put me on this path, on this journey, starting with education, starting with school, setting the foundation,” Logan said.