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Revision as of 22:13, 9 December 2007 by 64.148.1.113 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Dan Debicella is a State Senator in Connecticut representing the 21st District, which includes Shelton, Stratford, Monroe, and Seymour.
Legislative Positions
Debicella is a fiscal conservative, but is moderate on social issues. His signature issue in his first term has been fighting to lower taxes and to create jobs through promoting economic growth. His official website describes his philosophy:
"Serving his first term as a State Senator, Dan is working to lower state taxes, reform local property taxes, create jobs through economic development, and protect our local environment. He believes strongly in a small, efficient government and that it is individual people and small business—not big government—that creates jobs and improves the quality of life for families in Connecticut. Dan also believes we need to increase our open space and outdoor recreational areas, and protect Long Island Sound for future generations."
Senator Debicella currently serves on the Appropriations, Environment, Commerce, and Higher Education committees (and serves as ranking member on Commerce and Higher Education).
Debicella had several notable accomplishments in his first year in office. He co-sponsored a jobs bill that gave tax credits to companies who create jobs in Connecticut, a bill to increase penalties for child molesters, and a bill to restrict eminent domain for private development. He also received accolades for stopping the dumping of contaminated soil in the Housatonic River in Shelton and for ensuring that Stratford had local control over any changes to Sikorsky Memorial Airport. He also helped eliminate the cap on Educational Cost Sharing that had cost Stratford over $50 million in educational funds over the past decade, and voted for a budget that did not increase taxes while providing more money for education for Stratford, Shelton, Monroe and Seymour.
In one of the more controversial bills in 2007, Debicella led the fight against giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition at Connecticut colleges. Despite Debicella's efforts, the bill passed the legislature. However, it was vetoed by Governor M. Jodi Rell and never became law.
Political Affiliations
Debicella has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President, and is serving as his campaign chairman for Fairfield County.
Biography
Debicella grew up in Shelton, moving there from Bridgeport when he was seven. His father, Cal, was a policeman in Bridgeport and his Mom, Maggie, is a secretary in the federal judicial system. Debicella and his three siblings went to Shelton public schools, and he graduated from Shelton High School in 1992. He was the first person in his family to attend college full-time, graduating magna cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 with a degree in Finance. Dan went on to get his MBA from Harvard Business School in Boston in 2000, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class.
Debicella is a businessman by training, and has worked in various fields including management consulting, running a small business, and working for a Fortune 500 company. He spent five years as a management consulting for McKinsey & Co., where he advised Fortune 500 companies on sales and marketing issues. Debicella also ran his own small Internet business, Textbooks Online, during the high tech boom of the late 1990’s. Currently, he is the Director of Strategy for Pepsi, where he helps develop long term marketing plans and product innovation.
Debicella served on Shelton’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation for seven years, the last four as its Chairman. While on the board, he lowered taxes in Shelton by over 8%. Debicella serves on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement for Western Connecticut, and on the Board of Incorporators of both the Shelton/Derby Boys & Girls Club and the Birmingham Group. He is a lifelong member of St. Lawrence Parish in Shelton.
Debicella was elected in 2006, replacing George "Doc" Gunther, who served in the State Senate for forty years (longest in Connecticut history). He is married to Alexandra Galli-Debicella, and currently has no children.
External links
Official Website: Connecticut Senate Republicans
Campaign Website: www.debicella.com
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