State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria
SEYMOUR – Republican state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria is seeking re-election in November to a fourth term in the 105th District.
Klarides-Ditria, 53, sister of former state GOP House Minority Leader/potential gubernatorial candidate Themis Klarides, said there’s more to be done.
“I am not done fighting for the Valley,” she said. “Our families and communities have entrusted me to be their voice for them in Hartford, and this is an honor I have not taken lightly. Every day, I wake up more motivated than the next to make our communities a better and safer place to live, work and retire.”
The 105th district covers Seymour, Beacon Falls and parts of Derby. Under a new redistricting plan, which occurs every 10 years, Klarides-Ditria lost a few streets in Derby south of Osborndale Park. She used to represent 1,385 Derby residents, and that number has since been reduced to 565 residents.
Democratic State Rep. Kara Rochelle, who represents the 104th District (which covers Ansonia and Derby), picked up streets in west Derby, including more residents on Hawthorne and Park avenues, along with Grove and Cedric avenues, Cedric Place, Styger Terrace, Talmadge Street, E and F streets and parts of Chatfield Street and Lakeview Terrace.
Klarides-Ditria, an athletic trainer at Lauralton Hall in Milford and small business owner (her family has owned the Klarides Village shopping center in Seymour for generations), said of particular concern is the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have a long way to go until we have recovered from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, and my focus is on helping people and businesses during these difficult times,” she said.
In light of the recent tragedy where a Connecticut teen hockey player died as a result of a neck injury, Klarides-Ditria is proposing a bill that would require all Connecticut student hockey players to wear protective neck guards
She said current CIAC rules require all student hockey players to wear neck guard protection, but that only applies to public schools, not private schools or youth hockey programs.
“Athletic trainers focus on trying to prevent and treat athletic injuries to keep players safe, but with this rule change the legislature has the potential to save lives,” she said.
Mom to son, Cade, a junior at his Aunt Themis’ alma mater, Trinity College in Hartford, and wife of Seymour Police Detective Steven Ditria, Klarides-Ditria cited some of her successes in Hartford, including:
*supported legislation to extend post-traumatic stress disorder coverage to police and firefighters
*advocated for funding to improve the Waterbury Branch Rail Line
*supported legislation that strengthen penalties for those who sell Fentanyl
*opposed Gov. Ned Lamont’s toll plan
*supported a plan requiring police officers to be trained using Narcan.
As co-chair of the Animal Caucus, Klarides-Ditria was successful in the passage of an animal shelter bill that strengthened regulations for inspection and registration for shelters.
She was also instrumental in legislation geared to keep student athletes safe including requiring schools to have emergency action plans when responding to serious and life-threatening sports-related injuries, as well as requiring coaches to undergo training and education regarding heat-related illness.
Locally, Klarides-Ditria will work to ensure the state “keeps its promise” on funding for a long-overdue fire training school in the Valley (which Gov. Ned Lamont consistently declines to move forward despite promising to do so), and to work with the state DOT to make safety improvements along Route 67 in Seymour.
Longtime friend and Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis is glad to have Klarides-Ditria in her corner.
“I have leaned on Nicole countless times for advice and help,” Drugonis said. “During this horrific pandemic, Nicole has been a leader, helping residents and our community when we needed it the most. When you ask Nicole for help she is there, from parades to bringing smiles to residents, to handing out test kits and masks to our residents. She has been a great friend not only to Seymour but also our surrounding Valley communities, ensuring the Valley is not forgotten about in Hartford.”
As of last week, a Democratic challenger for the 105th seat, had not come forward.
