State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour.
SEYMOUR — Unofficial results as of 9 p.m. from the campaign show incumbent Republican state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria won a third term in the state House of Representatives Tuesday.
As of Wednesday evening the secretary of the state’s unofficial results had the race at 8,942 for the incumbent and 5,796 CORRECTION 4,366 for the challenger.
(The Valley Indy incorrectly tabulated Bowen’s total Wednesday night and corrected Thursday morning)
Bowen conceded the race just before 9 p.m. saying, “The numbers show that we will not win our campaign to ‘Dare to Change Hartford.’ I congratulate Nicole on her victory, and on a clean, issues-focused campaign, and will cheer her on as she focuses on revitalizing the economy of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.”
Klarides-Ditria celebrated the win at Hot Tamales in Seymour surrounded by friends and family, including her sister, outgoing state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R‑Derby, her son, Cade, who just celebrated his 20th birthday, and husband, Steve Ditria. The crowd wore masks and practiced social distancing amid the celebration.
“I’m elated and I’m so grateful to the people of the 105th district who continue to think I’m doing a good job for them and are confident in my ability to lead for another two years,” said Klarides-Ditria upon learning the results of the election.
Themis Klarides said she could not be more proud of her little sister’s victory.
“It was the honor of my life to serve with my sister and best friend, and I look forward to all the great things she will accomplish this session,” she said.
As she embarks on her new term, Klarides-Ditria said getting local firefighters a long-overdue Valley Fire Training School in Beacon Falls remains a top priority. The fire school has been on life support for nearly two decades. The state approved $14 million in funding for the project some 15 years ago, and even purchased land to build the fire school on Lancaster Drive in Beacon Falls. However, Gov. Ned Lamont has declined to put the project on the agenda of the state bond commission, a step needed if the project is to ever move forward.
Klarides-Ditria also plans to focus her attention on “rebuilding the economy, reducing taxes, funding economic development in the Naugatuck Valley and supporting teachers and parents while preventing forced school regionalization.”
Bowen is serving his first term on the Seymour Board of Selectmen.
Towns covered: Beacon Falls, part of Derby, Seymour
Note: The Valley Indy initially reported Klarides-Ditria had received some 12,000 votes Tuesday evening. The unofficial numbers provided from the Seymour GOP had accidentally added Seymour’s totals twice. The numbers at the top of the story are the numbers that were provided to the Secretary of State’s Office.
