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05/22/2018 12:00 AMBarring a challenge from a petitioning candidate, Guilford’s representation in the General Assembly will remain unchanged for 2019-’21. North Branford Republican Vincent Candelora will return for a seventh term serving North Guilford’s 86th Assembly District and Guilford Democrat Sean Scanlon will win a third term representing the 98th District, which covers southern Guilford and the Stony Creek section of Branford.
At nominating conventions on May 16, the Guilford Democratic Town Committee formally nominated Scanlon and the Republican Town Committee nominated Candelora .
“Serving as Guilford and Branford’s state representative for the last 3 ½ years has been a tremendous honor and I am grateful to my party for nominating me for another term,” said Scanlon. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do for our community since taking office and, as was the case in 2016, I’ll be out on the campaign trail this summer and fall listening to the thoughts and concerns of my constituents regardless of whether I have an opponent or not.”
Scanlon was first elected in 2014, winning the seat after longtime Democratic representative Pat Widlitz chose not to run. Scanlon made the opioid crisis an early focus and he recently becoming chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. In mid-January of this year, Scanlon announced he would run for a third term as a state representative and later that same month hit the necessary fundraising totals to qualify for public financing.
While Republicans did not put up a candidate for the 98th district, Republicans did endorse incumbent in the 86th District Vincent Candelora, who is seeking another term in the House of Representatives.
“I am honored to have received the unanimous support from the Republican Party,” said Candelora. “For the last six terms, I have worked hard for the district and state, and I look forward to talking to constituents and hearing about their concerns this election cycle.”
When news broke that State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12) would not seek a third term as state senator, speculation gathered around who would run for his seat. For the Democratic ticket, many looked to Scanlon to make a run for the seat, but Scanlon announced in mid-March that he wants to run for his current seat and continue his work in the House.
“After much reflection, I have decided not to seek the 12th District State Senate seat,” he said previously in a statement. “I genuinely love being the state representative for my hometown and for Branford, but having just gotten married last fall and looking to start a family with my wife Meghan, it’s just not the time for me to run for State Senate and do that job the way I’ve done my current job—knocking every door, answering every email, returning every call, and going to every event.”