Just when you thought this would be a sleepy election cycle, along comes City Councilman Marcus Brown’s challenge of State Rep. Jack Hennessy and, as a rejoinder, former State Rep. and two-time mayoral contender Chris Caruso’s support of the veteran legislator, serving as his treasurer.
Elected in 2004, Hennessy is the Bridgeport delegation’s longest-serving elected official representing the 127th State House District in the heart of the North End and now a small piece of the West Side as a result of redistricting.
Though Caruso’s announced role is as treasurer, the irrepressible Big Wave is no stranger to advising and managing candidates in the nuts and bolts of campaigning.
News release from Hennessy:
Jack Hennessy announced today that he is seeking re-election to the State House of Representatives for Bridgeport’s 127th Assembly District. “It has been the honor of my life to serve the Constituents of my District and the People of Bridgeport. I stand ready to continue the fight for them,” said Hennessy.
As a result of last yea’’s redistricting, the 127th District will now include parts of the West Side along with new areas of the North End. “I look forward to meeting my new constituents and engaging them and my current constituents on issues that focus on improving their quality of life,” said Representative Hennessy.
A new voter in the District, former State Representative and House Chair of the Government, Administration and Elections Committee, Chris Caruso will serve as Representative Hennessy’s Campaign Treasurer. “I served with Jack in the State House. I know first-hand that he keeps his word and most importantly, since his first day in elected office, he’s maintained his sacred commitment to serve his Constituents and the People of Bridgeport with integrity and honor. Sadly, in a city that is infested with rampant political corruption, he fought successfully for legislation that is now law to revoke the pensions of convicted public officials and employees. For me, it’s a no-brainer that I fully endorse Jack’s candidacy,” Caruso said.
An advocate of the environment, Representative Hennessy earned a 100% rating from the CT League of Conservation Voters. He has fought for the protection of the state’s urban forests such as the Veterans Memorial Park in Bridgeport’s North End and sponsored and passed Connecticut’s Environmental Justice Bill to protect urban communities against environmental injustice and racism. At the time of its passage, the legislation was the first of its kind in the United States.
In his role as House Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Representative Hennessy introduced and passed legislation to recognize the military credentials of returning Veterans. The experiences, training and knowledge gained by Veterans during their active duty can now be transferred as qualifications for civilian jobs and careers in Connecticut. Hennessy, a Vietnam Era Veteran enlisted and served in the elite First Ranger Battalion of the United States Army. In his role as House Chair, he was recognized repeatedly by the federal government for his progressive work on behalf of America’s Veterans and active duty men and women of the military.
Through his leadership and with the support of his colleagues, Representative Hennessy secured over $5,000,000 in state bonding for the Bridgeport Ox-Brook, Rooster River and Island Brook Flood Control Projects that includes funding to build an earthen dam in Elton Rogers Park in the Lake Forest area of the City. These dollars will help to eradicate the flooding experienced by his North End constituents and homeowners throughout the City.
“If fortunate enough to be re-elected, I will continue to use my leadership, experience and political relationships cultivated at the Capitol to serve the working families of the 127th District.” Hennessy stated, “My 100% rating by the AFL-CIO and the CT Education Association will continue to serve the people of Bridgeport well.”
Representative Hennessy and his wife Lindy reside in the North End of Bridgeport and are the parents of three grown children. Jack is a retired employee of FedEx and a graduate of Boston College. In addition to serving as House Chair of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, he served two terms as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and currently serves as an Assistant Majority Leader and member of the powerful Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, the Environment Committee and the Planning and Development Committee.
