CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
State Reps. Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria in a 2019 photo.
DERBY — The press release Tuesday regarding the most influential politician in the Naugatuck Valley carried a jaw-dropping headline: “Klarides Announces She Will Not Run Again.”
“ … For Representative” was among the first responses from Valley social media.
The announcement from House Minority Rep. Themis Klarides (R‑Derby) saying she won’t run for re-election in November was greeted on local social media with surprise, well wishes — and with more than a few posts suggesting Klarides should run for governor.
Here were the first four comments on Valley Indy Facebook after the press release was shared:
“She needs to run for Governor,” Fran DeGennaro wrote.
“I hope she runs for governor!” (Donna Adanti Bellone)
“Please run for Governor!!! You have my vote and many others! Thank you Themis for making a difference!” (Jim Ferris)
“Please run for governor!! (with prayer emoji).” (Chris Cowell Sr.)
During a Zoom press conference with reporters Tuesday (embedded below), Klarides didn’t rule it out.
“I will say this for now. I am leader until November of this year. I am going to continue to be doing what we’ve been doing to try to get the state back on track in a safe and healthy way,” Klarides said, referring to the COVID-19 shutdowns.
“For what the future holds? I don’t think any of us really know for sure, but what I do know for certain is that my time in public service isn’t over,” she said.
Klarides was the first woman to lead the Republican caucus in Connecticut. She was first elected to represent Derby, Woodbridge and Orange in state government in 1998. She has served 11 terms.
In a statement from House Republicans the decision not to run for term 12 “was a combination of personal and professional considerations that led to her decision, one that she has agonized over for months.”
Klarides is an attorney. She is engaged to Greg Butler, an executive vice president and attorney with Eversource.
Klarides joked she doesn’t know when the ceremony will happen due to social distancing, but noted her engagement wasn’t a driving factor to no run for another term.
She indicated that despite being honored to serve her constituents, she wanted her life to be less crowded by politics, and less defined by politics.
“At a certain point, you say to yourself, I have another life to live … with your family, with your personal life, your other job, all fall by the wayside because this becomes your life,” she said.
Klarides said she does intend to move out of the Valley. She lives in Derby on the Orange line.
The Seymour native (and sister to state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria) said she is most proud of what she described as her support for taxpayer issues and most recently, to the implementation of highway tolls. Locally, her commitment to charities and non-profit organizations has been a priority, according to a statement.
The press release on her announcement listed three additional accomplishments:
- Passage in 2017 of the bipartisan budget after a 10-month impasse that did not raise taxes and put in place significant spending and borrowing caps that stabilized the state budget;
- Her longstanding commitment to women’s health issues and healthcare, including expanded insurance coverage of breast care treatment and awareness.
- Support for victims’ rights, including domestic violence, drunk driving and anti-voyeurism laws.
