Republican Mary Fay of West Hartford will challenge John Larson for the 1st District U.S. Congressional District seat.
By Ronni Newton
Resident Mary Fay, who is currently serving her second term on the West Hartford Town Council, became the Republican nominee Thursday night for the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging longtime Democratic incumbent John Larson.
Fay, nominated at the state Republican party’s first-ever virtual convention, garnered 59% of the 153 delegate votes.
“I’m extremely thrilled, honored and humbled to be able to represent all people in the 1st District of Connecticut in the United States Congress,” Fay said in a statement. “There is so much to be done to help the people in Connecticut finally emerge from 2 successive recessions. It is time to bring about a robust economy, bring back jobs, and improve education so that everyone gets an opportunity to succeed. We’ve got to grow and expand the middle class and provide rewards for hard-working people.”
State Sen. Joe Markley nominated Fay during the convention.
“I met Mary when she was campaigning for the State House,” Markley said in a statement. “I was immediately impressed. She’s smart, articulate, hard working, and has wide appeal. She is just what the 1st Congressional District needs.” Fay ran against Democrat Jillian Gilchrest for the 18th District State House seat in 2018.
Former West Hartford Republican Town Committee chair Dennis Swanton has supported Fay in her Town Council and State House elections. “I am so excited that Mary has embraced this opportunity,” he said in a statement. “She has the experience, drive, and executive experience to be a great statesman who gets things done.”
Fay most recently serviced as CEO/Executive Director of the Connecticut Retirement Security Authority. She spent the majority of the past three decades in financial services, leading retirement and healthcare businesses and has served as senior vice president of GE Capital, senior vice president and general manager of Sun Life Financial, and held senior executive positions at ING, AIG, and Hartford HealthCare. She is a graduate of Skidmore College and holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Fay is a past recipient of Hartford Business Journal’s “Outstanding Woman in Business” and has served on corporate and nonprofit boards.
Former state GOP chairman Chris Healy also voiced his support for Fay. “Mary is a true leader. She’s not afraid to take on tough challenges, and has proven herself in both the business world and political arena. I’m looking forward to this exciting run.”
Fay said the details of her campaign leadership and operations will be announced in the coming days.
“Now the planning and work begins,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and hearing from constituents. It’s time the 1st District has a representative who will go after the gridlock in Washington, and make sure Connecticut’s 1st District, as well as the entire state, benefits from federal government to reverse the declining trend of our once prosperous state.”
Fay can be reached at [email protected].
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