This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/20/2022 11:00 PMEast Haven State Representative Joe Zullo (R-99) announced Jan. 20 that he has filed the official paperwork with the State Elections Enforcement Commission to seek re-election to the 99th Assembly District seat representing the majority of the Town of East Haven in the Nov. 8 election.
Zullo announced, “I continue to be humbled and grateful for the awesome responsibility of representing the people of East Haven in our state capitol. Since my election in 2019, I’ve fought the ‘tax and spend’ culture in our state capitol by opposing new sales taxes, new taxes on small businesses, and the majority’s proposals for tolls and for a new TCI gas tax. I’ve also fought to increase government accountability and transparency. I am seeking re-election so that I can continue fighting to reign in wasteful spending and reduce taxes so that families and small businesses can thrive and get ahead.”
Zullo, who was elected in a special election in February 2019, won re-election to his first full term in the 2020 election cycle, taking 58.5 percent of the vote by a tally of 6,775 to 4,795. When session reconvened in 2021, he was elevated by his caucus to serve as ranking member on the state’s Planning and Development Committee, where he has been an unwavering advocate for the preservation of local control of housing and zoning matters. Just two months ago, Zullo was recognized by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the state’s largest, non-partisan organization of municipal leaders, as one of its 2021 legislative champions and for his advocacy helping build stronger and more vibrant communities.
Zullo explained, “This past session, I worked with colleagues to introduce common sense initiatives to retool the State’s affordable housing laws to expand housing opportunities, to close loopholes exploited by developers, and to make our housing and zoning statutes fairer for communities like East Haven. At the same time, I opposed the majority’s aircraft zoning bill, which sought to take local control of housing and zoning matters out of the hands of informed, local stakeholders and to impose a one-size-fits-all, state-based approach to zoning.”
Zullo added, “This past session, I was also proud to work with State Senator Paul Cicarella (R-34), our mayor, and other local stakeholders to secure $2 million in state bond funding for the construction or renovation of town pool facilities. I am a strong, passionate advocate in our capitol for our community and I’m particularly proud of the bipartisan collaboration that helped get our bonding request over the finish line.”
Zullo, who was born and raised in East Haven, is a partner with his father Alfred Zullo in the law firm of Zullo, Zullo and Jacks, LLC, where he works as a legal advocate to a diverse group of clients. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, he was one of just 2.5% of attorneys under age 40 in Connecticut recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. He served as East Haven’s town attorney from 2011 to 2019 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the town’s Chamber of Commerce, as the treasurer for the East Haven Fall Festival Committee, and as a member of the Town’s Community Classic 5K Road Race Committee.
Zullo explained, “East Haven is my life. There’s no better way to say it. I’m proud to have been raised here, to have begun my career here, to be building a family here, and now to be representing my hometown in our state capitol. Public service is always something I’ve been passionate about and it’s a privilege to get to pursue that passion and help so many people along the way.”
In conjunction with his re-election announcement, Zullo’s campaign launched a full website at www.joezullo.com along with updated Facebook and Instagram accounts under the handle “@staterepzullo.” Zullo, in his announcement, also took time to thank his campaign team.
Zullo added, “I am so grateful for the talent trifecta that drives my campaign. My fiancée is not only a conscientious and dedicated treasurer, but she is unwavering in her support. It’s also humbling to have Town Councilwoman Samantha Parlato, who’s blazing her own trail as a public servant in East Haven, back as my deputy treasurer along with Board of Education newcomer Lynn Torello, who has agreed to serve as the campaign’s communications coordinator.”
Last session, in addition to opposing the governor’s budget, which Zullo said created a massive fiscal cliff by relying one-time federal infusions, Zullo also co-sponsored legislative initiatives: (1) creating a task force to reduce student loan debt; (2) expanding eligibility for property tax relief for senior citizens; (3) creating a working group to expand tax relief for veterans; and (4) creating a pilot program to expand resources to battle the opioid epidemic.
Zullo noted, “I am a fierce advocate for fiscal accountability in our capitol. However, I also recognize that being a good leader requires more than just addressing the state’s financial needs. Over the past year, I worked across the aisle to co-sponsor and support a number of initiatives that I felt would help improve the quality of life of residents in East Haven and across our state.”
According to Zullo, he will participate in the Citizen’s Election Program (CEP), a grant program facilitated by the State of Connecticut that allows candidates running for public office to obtain public funds to run their campaigns. The program, which was established to help clean up elections and level the playing field between incumbents and challengers, provides grants to candidates who collect certain qualifying contributions from in-district residents. In 2020, candidates who collected a minimum of 150 qualifying contributions between $5 and $270 from East Haven residents, and who collected at least $5,300 in total donations, were eligible to receive a grant of up to $30,575 to run their campaigns. The 2022 CEP grant figures have yet to be released.
Zullo added, “I am proud, once again, to be utilizing our state’s clean elections grant program. We have already begun collecting contributions and I am hopeful we will meet and exceed the donation thresholds in the coming days.”
Zullo concluded, “As we continue to grapple with COVID-19 and with soaring inflation, it’s more important than ever to have strong, passionate voices in our capitol with the courage to act decisively on issues like expanding government transparency, the state’s COVID-19 response, reducing taxes, and making our state a place where families and small businesses can actually get ahead. If re-elected, I’ll not only continue to be the strong voice East Haven needs in Hartford, but I’ll continue to be a compassionate, accessible, and responsible resource for our residents here in our community.”
For more information, visit www.joezullo.com
On Facebook: @staterepzullo
On Instagram: @staterepzullo
E-Mail: zullo2022@joezullo.com