FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:  Rick Joslyn

(203) 858-4999

 

 

GAIL LAVIELLE NOMINATED BY 143RD DISTRICT REPUBLICANS

TO RUN FOR REELECTION AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE

 

WILTON, May 22, 2018 – At the Republican convention held on May 16 at the Comstock Community Center in Wilton, State Representative Gail Lavielle (R-Wilton) received the delegates’ unanimous endorsement as their candidate to represent the 143rd Assembly district, which comprises most of Wilton, the eastern section of Norwalk, and the western part of Westport.

 

Currently serving her fourth term in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Lavielle is an Assistant Minority Leader and the House Ranking Member of the General Assembly’s Education Committee, one of the legislature’s largest joint standing committees. She is also a member of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee and the Transportation Committee, as well as the House Republican Screening Committee.

 

“Gail brings world-class intellect and smarts to her position, without any detachment or entitlement,” said Wilton RTC Chairman Bill Lalor, who chaired the nominating convention. “She calls out nonsense when it happens, knows the seriousness of the problems facing her district and the rest of Connecticut, and asks the right questions, even when no one else wants to, and demands answers. We’ve seen Gail persist, persist, persist in getting results on behalf of all her constituents. She brings substance to the job, and advocates with the gusto and passion of a neighbor or friend. With Gail, we are represented by someone of great humanity and good faith, who sees her constituents not as Ds or Rs or unaffiliated voters, but as friends and neighbors. And in the final analysis I think this is because Gail cares about her constituents and her district and wants to do what is right. We need more of this. We need Gail back in Hartford, and I am proud to be here supporting her this evening.”

 

Hella McSweeney of Wilton nominated Lavielle, and Michael Calise of Westport seconded the nomination.

 

Accepting the nomination, Lavielle said, “I am honored and deeply grateful for the support I have received from all three communities that I have the privilege to represent. Today our beautiful state faces many challenges, but I believe we can overcome them if everyone works together to put the best interests of our state before politics. We must talk a little less, listen to each other a lot more, think always clearly, and act decisively to do what is right to end Connecticut’s fiscal crisis and move our state forward. This means reducing the tax pressure on people and small businesses. It means growing our tax base by making the state friendlier to businesses so that they come here, stay here, and create jobs. It means controlling borrowing and spending, while exercising responsible stewardship of residents’ tax dollars, strategically and transparently dedicating them to essentials like education, infrastructure, and critical services for the truly needy. It means restoring fiscal predictability for our towns and cities. Connecticut has enormous potential, and I am committed to making sure that people of all ages can count on a future here that is full of opportunity. I thank you for putting your trust in me once again.”

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Representative Gail Lavielle was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2010. Before her appointment in 2015 as Education Committee Ranking Member, she served as Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee. She is a member of the School Construction Priority Project List Review Committee, and has served on the legislature’s Education Mandate Relief Task Force and in the Language Acquisition and Education Equity Workgroup. During her time in the state House, the League of Conservation Voters has named her an Environmental Champion six times, and the Early Childhood Alliance has named her a Children’s Champion three times. She has also received the “Woman of the Year” award from the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County, the “Humanitarian Award” from STAR, Inc., and the “Parent & Child Hero Award” from CT Parent Power.

 

Lavielle’s background combines business and public service experience. She worked for more than 25 years in finance, marketing, and communication, holding executive leadership positions with Fortune 500 corporations. Locally, she has served on the Wilton Board of Finance and the Wilton Energy Commission. She holds an MA in French from Yale, a BA in English from Cornell, and an MBA in finance from UConn, and is the author of a book on opera. She and her husband Jean-Pierre live in Wilton.

 

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