Dan Debicella

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Dan Debicella
Member of the Connecticut State Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 7, 2007 – January 5, 2011
Preceded byGeorge Gunther
Succeeded byKevin C. Kelly
ConstituencyShelton, Stratford (part), Monroe (part), Seymour (part)
Personal details
Born (1974-10-24) October 24, 1974 (age 49)
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAlexandra Galli
ResidenceShelton, Connecticut
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania (BS)
Harvard University (MBA)
Websitehttp://www.debicella.com

Dan Debicella (born October 24, 1974) is a former State Senator and businessman, who represented the 21st district in the

Connecticut State Senate. He was also the 2010 and 2014 Republican candidate for Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District
.

Early life, education, and business career

Debicella was born in

, graduating in the top 5% of his class.

In his business career, Debicella worked as a consultant at

McKinsey & Co., Director of Strategy at PepsiCo, and as an executive at Bridgewater Associates
. He continues to currently serves on the board of various community organizations.

Early political career

Debicella served on Shelton’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation for seven years, four as its chairman. Debicella acted as the

presidential campaign. He also worked for State Senator Doc Gunther
as his campaign manager for several elections.

Connecticut Senate

Elections

Debicella decided to run for the Connecticut State Senate's 21st district in 2006 after longest-serving state legislator in the state's history, Doc Gunther, decided to retire. He defeated Democratic nominee Christopher Jones, 52%-48%.[1][2] In 2008, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee Janice Andersen, 54%-46%.[3][4]

Tenure

In the State Senate, Debicella was a Deputy Minority Leader. He represented eastern Fairfield County in parts of the towns of Monroe, Seymour, Stratford, and the entire city of Shelton (which is also his hometown).

He co-authored legislation that gave tax credits to businesses that create 10 or more jobs. Working with Republican

Governor Jodi Rell, he supported a budget that increased state aid for education by 10-20% without raising taxes.[5]

Committee assignments

Congressional elections

2010

Debicella decided to retire from the state legislature to run for Connecticut's 4th congressional district in 2010. On May 21, 2010, he won the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party at its convention. On August 10, 2010, Debicella won the Republican three-candidate primary field with 61% of the vote, defeating Robert Merkle and Rick Torres.[7]

The general election between Debicella and incumbent Democrat

Real Clear Politics’ list of “toss up” races. On November 2, he lost to Himes 53%-47%. Debicella won the following areas: Darien (67%), his hometown of Shelton (65%), New Canaan (65%), Easton (58%), Monroe (58%), Greenwich (55%), Oxford (55%), Ridgefield (54%), Wilton (54%), and Trumbull (53%). He lost Fairfield (49%), Redding (48%), Weston (47%), Westport (44%), Norwalk (40%), Stamford (39%), and Bridgeport (16%).[8]

2014

In September 2013, Debicella decided to run a rematch in the newly redrawn 4th district.[9]

Electoral history

Connecticut State Senate Election, 2006: Senatorial District 21
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican
Dan Debicella 16,476 52
Democratic
Chris Jones 15,099 48
Majority 1,377
Turnout 31,575
Connecticut State Senate Election, 2008: Senatorial District 21
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican
Dan Debicella 24,940 54
Democratic
Janice Andersen 20,912 46
Majority 4,028
Turnout 45,852
U.S. House of Representatives Election, 2010
: District 4: Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican
Dan Debicella 16,153 61
Republican
Rob Merkle 6,912 24
Republican
Rick Torres 4,069 15
U.S. House of Representatives Election, 2010
: District 4: General
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican
Dan Debicella 102,030 47
Democratic
Jim Himes 115,351 53

References

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - CT State Senate 21 Race - Nov 07, 2006".
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2013-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - CT State Senate 21 Race - Nov 04, 2008".
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2013-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Debicella.com". Debicella.com. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  6. ^ "Dan Debicella".
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - CT- District 04 - R Primary Race - Aug 10, 2010".
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - CT - District 04 Race - Nov 02, 2010".
  9. ^ "Former State Sen. Dan Debicella, of Shelton, to Challenge Himes in 2014 Bid for Congress". 5 September 2013.

External links