Danbury Republican State Delegation
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Our Team.
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Proudly Led by Danbury’s First All-Women Republican Committee
Candidate for the GUBERNATORIAL RACE
My name is Ryan Fazio
Born and raised in Connecticut, Ryan Fazio has built his career around fighting for affordability, accountability, and opportunity for Connecticut families. A graduate of Greenwich Public Schools and Northwestern University with a degree in economics, Ryan returned home to work in the private sector across the energy, agriculture, and shipping industries before entering public service. Ryan was first elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 2021 and was re-elected in 2022 and 2024, representing the 36th District, including Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan.
Current State Senator
In the Senate, he has become a leading voice on energy affordability, tax relief, government accountability, and bipartisan reform. He currently serves as the Ranking Republican on both the Energy & Technology Committee and the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee. Throughout his time in office, Ryan has focused on delivering practical solutions that lower costs for residents and strengthen Connecticut’s economy. His campaign for Governor is centered on restoring affordability, supporting working families, improving public safety, and creating a state where people can afford to stay, work, and build their future.
Candidate for State Senate 24th District
My name is Melissa Lindsey
Former Mayor of New Fairfield
Melissa Lindsey is a lifelong resident of New Fairfield and a dedicated member of the community she hopes to represent. She and her husband have been raising their three children—Makayla, Samantha, and Liam—while remaining actively involved in local schools, youth sports, and community activities. Melissa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Western Connecticut State University. She has spent more than 20 years as a successful businesswoman and office manager, helping to operate her family’s small business in Danbury. Through this work, she developed strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills that she brings to every role she serves in.
In addition to her work in business, Melissa is a former First Selectman of her Town and has been involved in education within the Danbury Public Schools system. She has served in several roles, including substitute teacher, math and reading interventionist, and athletic coach. She holds a passion for supporting students and families in the local community.
Melissa has also been a dedicated volunteer in youth athletics. As the coordinator of the New Fairfield Youth Field Hockey program, she expanded the program to include players from third through fifth grade, more than doubling participation and creating new opportunities for young athletes to learn teamwork, discipline, and confidence.
Melissa believes the current state government has lost sight of its fundamental responsibility: representing the will of the people with transparency and accountability. She is running to represent Connecticut's 24th Senate District to help restore common sense, strengthen local communities, and ensure that the voices of residents are heard in Hartford.
Priorities: Melissa's top issues include the cost of living, public safety, constitutional freedoms, and common-sense legislation.
Candidate for the 138th District
My name is Irving Fox
Irving was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City, and the University at Buffalo with degrees in Business Administration and Political Science in 1992.
Irving has been a resident of Danbury for 32 years, moving to the city in 1994. Irving has over 30 years of experience in financial management, and is currently a Senior Finance Manager at Cyient, Inc. in East Hartford, CT. He has previously held senior financial management positions at Prudential Financial, AXA-Equitable, Cigna, MetLife, and Pitney Bowes.
Irving has a long history of public service in Danbury. Irving is currently a member of the Danbury Republican Town Committee. Irving has served on the Danbury City Council as a Councilman representing the First Ward from 2013 to 2025. He served on the Danbury Board of Education from 2006-2011, serving as Vice-Chair in 2008-2009 and Chair in 2010-2011, has previously served on the Governor’s Task Force on the future of the state technical high schools in 2011-2012, and the Danbury Republican Town Committee from 2012-2013.
Irving has also volunteered with several community organizations. He currently serves as the Vice President of Track and Cross Country for Hat City Youth Sports, having founded the Danbury Hatters HCYS Track & XC Club in 2019. He also serves as the Chair of Youth Athletics for USA Track and Field (USATF) Connecticut Association since 2021. Irving won the Dan O’Grady Award for his service to the youth track and field community in 2019. Irving has previously served as a board member for the King St School, Broadview Middle School, and Danbury High School PTO’s, as Treasurer for the United Jewish Center, as a board member for Danbury Children First, the Greater Danbury Association of USBC (Bowling), and the Danbury Youth Track and Field Association, and has served as a volunteer coach for Danbury Youth Baseball and Danbury Youth Soccer. Irving is also a member of the Danbury Elks Lodge #120. Irving is the proud father of 4, Ryan, Bradley, Adam, and Valerie, all of whom were born in the Danbury area and are proud graduates of the Danbury Public Schools.Priorities: Stronger Economy, Reliable Transportation, Robust Educational System
Candidate for the 2nd District
My name is Deborah (Debbie) Rizzo
Debbie is a 45 year resident of District 2. She is a loving mother of 3: Kristi, Shari and Michael Jr, 2 son-in-laws: Justin and Bruce, and Mimi to 5 beautiful grandkids: Jack, Fred, Dean, Brooke, and Blake. Debbie and her ex-husband Mike have and continue to raise them all with the Rizzo Family motto: Faith, Family, and Business/Community.
Debbie is currently an Industrial Real Estate Specialist for Linde, in Danbury. She previously served on the Bethel Board of Education, where she was Chairperson of both the Curriculum Subcommittee and Contract Negotiations Subcommittee, focusing on accountability, communication, and advocating for students, families, and teachers. Debbie is also a Notary Public for the State of Connecticut.
Deeply committed to community service, Debbie has supported numerous local organizations, including Regional Hospice of Western CT, Danbury Youth Services, Ability Beyond, DAYO: Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading, Bethel Baseball Association, Immaculate High School, The Center for Education and Empowerment and the American Red Cross.Debbie is a strong advocate for protecting women’s sports, defending the Second Amendment, supporting local businesses, and backing the brave men and women of law enforcement and fire departments at both the local, state, and national level. Her mission is to ensure that the voices of Bethel and Danbury residents are heard in Hartford.Priorities: Accountability, Lower Energy Costs, Safer Communities, Education and Parental Rights, and Affordability.
Candidate for the 110th District
My name is Anthony Rongetti
Anthony Rongetti is a lifelong Danbury resident, public works employee, former volunteer fire chief, and dedicated community advocate running to represent Connecticut’s 110th House District. With years of hands-on experience serving the city both on the job and through public service.
Anthony understands the everyday concerns facing working families, seniors, and local neighborhoods. His campaign is focused on bringing practical, common-sense leadership to Hartford while fighting for safer communities, lower taxes, and responsible government that works for the people of Danbury.
Throughout his career, Anthony has prioritized service, accountability, and public safety. As a member of Danbury’s Public Works Department and former chief of a volunteer fire department, he has worked directly on issues impacting residents every day, from infrastructure and road safety to emergency response and neighborhood quality of life. Anthony believes Connecticut needs leaders who understand the value of hard work, listen to their communities, and focus on real solutions instead of political division.Running for State Representative in the 110th District, Anthony is committed to protecting taxpayers, improving infrastructure, supporting law enforcement and first responders, and ensuring Danbury remains a strong, affordable place to live and raise a family.
Candidate for Congress
My name is Chris Shae
Chris Shays is a former United States Congressman who represented Connecticut's 4th Congressional District for over two decades. Known for his independent thinking, government accountability efforts, and commitment to public service, Shays built a reputation as a principled leader willing to put constituents ahead of politics. During his time in Congress, he served on key committees focused on government reform, financial services, homeland security, and national security.
Throughout his career, Shays has championed fiscal responsibility, transparency in government, and strong national defense while working across party lines to achieve results for Connecticut families.
Mission
To restore trust in government, strengthen the economy, secure our borders, support law enforcement, and ensure Connecticut families have a strong voice in Washington.
Christopher H. SHAYS, from Connecticut; born in Stamford, Fairfield County, Conn., October 18, 1945; graduated Darien High School, Darien, Conn., 1964; B.A., Principia College, Elsah, Ill., 1968; M.B.A., New York University, New York, N.Y., 1974; M.P.A., New York University, New York, N.Y., 1978; Peace Corps, 1968-1970; executive aide to Trumbull, Conn., first selectman Larry Heimann, 1971-1972; member of the Connecticut state house of representatives, 1975-1987; elected as a Republican to the One Hundredth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Stewart B. McKinney and reelected to the ten succeeding Congresses (August 18, 1987-January 3, 2009); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Eleventh Congress in 2008; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate in 2012.
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
My name is Matthew Corey
Matthew Corey is a businessman, entrepreneur, and Navy veteran who has spent his career creating jobs and advocating for common-sense solutions. His experience in both military service and business has shaped his commitment to fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and economic growth.
Corey believes Connecticut's future depends on strong leadership that prioritizes taxpayers, supports small businesses, and protects the freedoms that residents value.
Mission
To help build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Connecticut through responsible government, economic opportunity, and a commitment to serving working families.
Corey enlisted in the Navy after high school and served five years, including deployment to Lebanon during the Beirut conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and the Teamsters before founding Advanced Services International, a high-rise window-cleaning firm. He later opened McKinnon’s Irish Pub in Hartford and currently operates The One Wood Pub at the East Hartford Golf Course. His business background and working-class experience form a central part of his political identity. Corey’s 2024 campaign highlighted inflation, energy costs, and international instability. He framed his challenge to Murphy as a fight for affordability and accountability for Connecticut’s middle class, aligning with national Republican messaging while emphasizing his local business roots.
Candidate for Secretary of the State
My name is Peter Lumaj
Peter Lumaj is an attorney, small business owner, and immigrant who came to the United States seeking freedom and opportunity. Throughout his career, he has advocated for constitutional principles, election integrity, and transparent government. He has previously sought statewide office and remains committed to improving public confidence in Connecticut's electoral system. Lumaj's personal story reflects the American dream, and he believes government should remain accountable, accessible, and responsive to the people it serves. Lumaj grew up under Albania’s Communist dictatorship, where religious practice was banned. After being arrested for anti-government protests, he fled the country in 1989 and lived in refugee camps before arriving in the United States. Working as a porter while studying, he earned degrees in political science and law and was admitted to the D.C. Court of Appeals in 2008. His experience as a refugee shaped his political philosophy and commitment to personal liberty.
A self-described “true conservative,” Lumaj supports strong voter identification laws, opposes abortion, and is an advocate of the Second Amendment. He frequently invokes his background under communism to argue for protecting American freedoms from government overreach. He has publicly aligned himself with former President Donald Trump and describes prosperity and free enterprise as antidotes to socialism. As of 2024, Lumaj is again campaigning for Connecticut Secretary of the State, pledging to “restore confidence and integrity” in elections and modernize the office. His campaign has received endorsements from multiple Republican town committees and state legislators.
Candidate for Attorney General
My name is John Bolton
John Bolton is an attorney dedicated to upholding the rule of law, defending constitutional rights, and ensuring government accountability. With a legal background focused on advocacy and public service, Bolton believes the Attorney General's office should protect citizens, consumers, and taxpayers while enforcing laws fairly and consistently.
His campaign focuses on restoring confidence in the legal system, protecting public safety, and ensuring government agencies remain accountable to the people. His mission is to defend Connecticut residents, uphold the Constitution, fight corruption, and ensure equal justice under the law.Bolton remains a defining voice of American assertive nationalism in foreign affairs. Supporters credit him with uncompromising defense of U.S. interests, while critics view his approach as excessively hawkish and dismissive of diplomacy.
Appointed in 2005 through a recess appointment, Bolton’s tenure at the UN was marked by advocacy of U.S. unilateralism and confrontations with diplomats over reform and Iran sanctions. As Trump’s national security adviser, Bolton pushed for hard-line policies on Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, often clashing with the president’s preference for direct diplomacy. Bolton began his public career in the Reagan administration, holding posts in the Justice Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Under President George H. W. Bush, he served as assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs (1989–93). Known for skepticism toward multilateral institutions, he later became undersecretary of state for arms control under George W. Bush, where he advanced U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Candidate for State Treasurer
My name is Fred Wilms
Here's a polished website bio written in the third person:
Fred Wilms brings decades of experience in finance, business, and public service to his campaign for Connecticut State Treasurer. After earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Northwestern University, Fred began his career on Wall Street before building an extensive career in financial services. Today, he serves as a Senior Vice President at a leading Connecticut bank, where he has helped more than 700 small and mid-sized businesses manage risk, secure capital, and achieve sustainable growth.
A proven fiscal leader, Fred previously served two terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives, where he played a key role in developing and passing the first bipartisan budget agreement supported by Republicans in more than three decades. That budget strengthened Connecticut's financial foundation by implementing fiscal guardrails, respecting constitutional spending limits, growing the state's Rainy Day Fund, and advancing meaningful pension reform.
Throughout his legislative service, Fred focused on practical solutions and measurable results rather than political rhetoric.
Prior to serving in the General Assembly, Fred spent eight years as Chairman of Norwalk's Board of Estimate and Taxation, the city's chief fiscal authority. During one of the most challenging economic periods in modern history, he helped preserve Norwalk's AAA bond rating throughout the Great Recession while balancing budgets and maintaining fiscal discipline. His record demonstrates a deep understanding of responsible financial management and a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars. As State Treasurer, Fred Wilms is dedicated to bringing that same experience, accountability, and stewardship to Connecticut's multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio.
Candidate for Comptroller
My name is Jen Tooker
Jen Tooker is the former First Selectwoman of Westport and a longtime community leader with a record of responsible fiscal management and public service. She has worked to improve government efficiency, promote transparency, and ensure taxpayer resources are used effectively.
Her leadership experience at the municipal level has given her firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing taxpayers and local governments throughout Connecticut. Before entering public service, Tooker spent over two decades at Gen Re, a Berkshire Hathaway company, where she held leadership roles in property and marine reinsurance, marketing, and communications. Her international assignments in London and other global markets honed expertise in finance, risk management, and corporate operations
Mission
To bring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility to state government while ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed wisely and effectively.
Elected Second Selectwoman in 2017 and First Selectwoman in 2021, Tooker has led initiatives on public safety, downtown revitalization, flood mitigation, and affordable housing. She also championed the “Startup Westport” innovation hub and support for sister city Lyman, Ukraine, during wartime recovery efforts . Her tenure has been noted for collaborative management and emphasis on mental health and inclusion in the post-pandemic community context. Tooker lives in Westport with her husband, A. Morris “Mo” Tooker, an insurance executive, and their three children. The family’s deep ties to the town and commitment to service have been a hallmark of her political identity
Candidate for State Representative for the 108th District
My name is Pat Callahan
Patrick “Pat” Callahan is a Republican politician representing Connecticut’s 108th General Assembly District, which includes New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford, and part of Danbury.
Pat Callahan has built a reputation for community involvement, principled leadership, and dedication to public service. He is committed to representing the interests of local residents and advocating for policies that strengthen families and communities.
Mission
Pat believes government should be responsive, transparent, and accountable. His priorities include public safety, economic opportunity, educational excellence, and preserving the quality of life that makes Connecticut communities strong.
First elected in 2020, he is known for his community involvement and nearly three decades of public service in criminal justice.
A New Fairfield resident for over 25 years, Callahan is married to Andrea Callahan, a New Fairfield native. They have three children and remain active in the local community through sports coaching and volunteerism. Pat Callahan entered state politics after years of civic engagement in New Fairfield. Following his successful 2020 campaign, he was reelected in 2022 after defeating Democratic challenger Jeff Ginsburg in the 108th District race, securing his second term in the Connecticut House of Representatives. His legislative focus has included environmental stewardship of Candlewood Lake, public safety, and fiscal responsibility aimed at reducing taxes and maintaining affordability for Connecticut residents.
Candidate for the 109th
My name is Ed Vachovetz
Ed Vachovetz is a lifelong Danbury resident, retired Assistant Chief of the Danbury Fire Department, small business owner, and community leader who has dedicated his career to serving and protecting the people of Danbury. With decades of leadership experience in public safety and local government, Ed understands the challenges facing families, neighborhoods, and businesses throughout the 109th District.
Throughout his career, Ed has earned a reputation for integrity, accountability, and putting people first. As a senior leader in the Danbury Fire Department, he managed emergency operations, worked closely with city agencies, and helped ensure the safety and well-being of residents. His experience solving real-world problems, managing budgets, and making critical decisions under pressure has prepared him to be an effective advocate for Danbury at the State Capitol.
Ed is running for State Representative because he believes the 109th District deserves a leader who understands the community, listens to residents, and focuses on practical solutions rather than partisan politics. He is committed to supporting public safety, protecting taxpayers, strengthening local businesses, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that Hartford works for the people of Danbury—not the other way around. With a lifetime of service to the city he calls home, Ed Vachovetz is prepared to bring experienced leadership, common-sense decision-making, and a strong voice for the residents of the 109th District.
Candidate for Probate Judge
My name is Christina DeFeo
Here's a professional candidate bio you can use for Christine DeFeo for Danbury Probate Judge:
Christine DeFeo is an experienced attorney, community advocate, and lifelong area resident dedicated to serving families throughout Greater Danbury with compassion, professionalism, and integrity. A graduate of Colgate University and Syracuse University College of Law, Christine has spent nearly two decades helping individuals and families navigate complex legal matters, including estate planning, probate administration, business law, and immigration matters. She is admitted to practice in both Connecticut and New York and has built her career around helping people through some of life's most important decisions.
As a practicing attorney and partner at Smith & DeFeo LLP, Christine understands the critical role Probate Court plays in the lives of local families. Her legal experience includes working with estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and family-related legal matters, providing her with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to serve effectively as Probate Judge. She has also operated her own law practice in Danbury and served as general counsel for a major Fairfield County insurance brokerage, bringing both legal expertise and sound judgment to every matter she handles.
Raised in the Danbury area and a graduate of New Fairfield High School, Christine has remained deeply involved in the community through local charities, youth sports, and civic organizations. She believes the Probate Court should be accessible, efficient, compassionate, and focused on serving families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. As Probate Judge, Christine DeFeo will bring professionalism, fairness, and a commitment to treating every individual with dignity and respect while ensuring the court serves the people of Danbury with excellence.
Candidate for Registrar of Voters
My name is Mary Ann Dorman
Mary Ann Dorman is a dedicated community leader and longtime Danbury resident committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in local, state, and federal elections. With a strong belief in civic engagement and public service, Mary Ann has spent years working within the community and supporting efforts that encourage voter participation, transparency, and confidence in the democratic process.
As Registrar of Voters, Mary Ann is committed to maintaining accurate voter rolls, ensuring fair and efficient elections, and providing residents with the information and resources they need to exercise their right to vote. She believes election administration should be transparent, nonpartisan in execution, and conducted with the highest level of professionalism and accountability.
Mary Ann's dedication to public service, attention to detail, and commitment to election integrity make her well-qualified to serve the residents of Danbury. She is focused on ensuring that every voter is treated fairly, every ballot is counted accurately, and every election is conducted with the trust and confidence the public deserves.
