Danbury Legislator Named Assistant Republican Leader In State House

NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Representative Richard A. Smith was appointed to the position of Assistant Republican Leader and received his committee assignments last week from House Republican Leader Themis Klarides.

Rep. Richard Smith, a Republican from the 108th District who represents Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman, was named Assistant Republican Leader in the State House.
Photo Credit: *Connecticut State House of Representatives*

Tom Renner

01/11/2017 4:00 a.m.

Rep. Smith, a Republican from the 108th District, is beginning his fourth term in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He has been tapped by Leader Klarides to serve as Assistant Republican Leader, giving him more influence in a House Republican Caucus that has grown to 72 members. Smith, a New Fairfield lawyer, represents the 108th General Assembly District communities of New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford and Danbury.

He was also named the Ranking Member of the General Law Committee, which oversees all matters relating to the Department of Consumer Protection, fair trade and sales practices, consumer protection, mobile homes and occupational licensing; and all matters relating to alcoholic beverages.

As Ranking Member, Smith is the top House Republican on the General Law Committee.

“I’m looking forward to this opportunity to use my experience in law to listen to people, strike a compromise, and resolve issues that affect families and businesses in Connecticut,'' said Smith, who is serving his fourth term in the State House.

In addition, he was also appointed to serve on the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, which has authority over matters relating to courts, judicial procedures, criminal law, probate courts, civil law, all nominations of members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and all matters relating to the Judicial Department.

Smith was also asked to serve on the General Assembly’s Labor and Public Employees Committee, which focuses on labor laws, occupational health and safety, labor unions and labor disputes; all matters relating to the Department of Labor; and all matters relating to conditions of employment of state and municipal employees.

“This is a historic session,” Smith said. “We have the narrowest margins between Republicans and Democrats in recent memory. Voters in the last election could not have made their point more clearly: they are extremely dissatisfied with state government and demand legislators work together to restore confidence in Connecticut’s economy.”

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