Elections+Sept+23-Oct.+14+State+Senate+-+Suzio

By: Mevlana Hursid (editor), Kelly Reid, Theresa Cashore

Connecticut State Senator: Len Suzio

__** Background Information: **__

A senator is referred to "a member from the senate" (Dictionary.com). Len Suzio is in the process of starting his "first term" in the Senate, while representing the State of Connecticut ("About Len"). He is representing the towns of Cheshire, Middlefield, Middletown, and Meriden.

Senator Suzio is considered to be an active member in a variety of committees including: "The Legislature's Select Committee on Children and The Education and Appropriations Committee" ("About Len"). While serving for many committees, he is known as the founder and President of a bank called GeoDatavision. This company specializes "in the federal banking regulations" ("About Len"). Furthermore, Suzio has previously held the positions of a "Director, Executive Vice President, and Senior Loan Officer" for a American National Bank, which is located in the town of Hamden ("About Len"). Not only has Suzio obtained many important positions in the Banks, but he has also specialized in different national programs including: "The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and the Fair Lending Regulations" ("About Len"). He lives with his wife, Kate, and 5 kids. During the year of 1983, Senator Suzio was recognized as Connecticut's "Small Business Banker Advocate of the Year" from the Administration ("About Len"). Senator Suzio has experience in "Small Business finances at the U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearings" and recently spoke at different conferences, known as the "American Bankers' Association and America's Community Banker Annual Compliance" ("About Len").

As far as Senator Suzio's involvement in different communities, he has "served on the Meriden Board of Education for 14 years" ("About Len"). Also, for over 30 years Senator Suzio was the Vice President and director of the "High Hopes" Board, which is a place where homes are found for children that are suffering ("About Len").

Senator Suzio was also previously known as the "President of the Kiwanis Club" and served as a "director for the Chamber Orchestra of New England"("About Len"). Senator Suzio was involved in the Alumni program at the University of Pennsylvania were he held the President position in the state of Connecticut.

Senator Suzio attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his "degree in Economics and Finance from the Wharton School of Finance" ("About Len"). He believes in having a decrease in taxes with "limited government" involvement and believes in returning the idea of a "Brown Bag Budget" system ("About Len").

=__** Attempts to Win the 13th District **__= Representing Cheshire, Middlefield, Middletown, and Meriden, Suzio has been the state senator since February 22. 2011. He said the chances of a Republican winning to a, "100-yard dash that grants a Democrat a 60-yard head start." But, he was not willing to give up because he believed that he had important issues to settle, and that he could bring a lot to the table. Suzio did not participate in the state campaign spending program. Suzio was actually only elected in a special election in 20

 This year, Suzio's democratic opponent for the 13th district will be Dante Bartolomeo, she is the Common councilwoman of Meriden.11. This is because he had to replace Thomas Gaffey, who was convicted of a double billing scandal. He strongly supports limited government and no tax increases. This platform makes it hard for his to be elected in an area that is more democratic.

__** Suspending The Early Release Program: **__

Senator Len Suzio is signing a petition and is encouraging Governor Malloy to stop "The Early Release Program." This program "allows criminals who have committed violent crimes such as rape, arson, kidnapping, or sexual molestation of a child under 13 out of jail before their sentences are finished" (Sign My Petition To Suspend the Early Release Program). While signing the petition, Senator Suzio is also investigating a case of how this program affects "public saftey" and "how it is being administered" in different areas (Sign My Petition To Suspend the Early Release Program).

Senator Suzio, State Victim Advocate and Survivors of Homicide call for Suspension of Early Release Program media type="youtube" key="_vVpRZC-SHk?feature=player_profilepage" height="396" width="704" align="center"

//Votes Suzio felt would help economy and job growth://

__** "Tax Increases (SB 1239)": **__ Senator Suzio encouraged to limit goods that were available for businesses, in order to "create jobs by raising state income sales, and corporated taxes" ("Tax Increases (SB 1239)").This concluded with $1.9 billion dollar sales altogether, however the plan failed to notice the need to cut spending in the government.
 * "Verdict: Hurts economic recovery and job growth."
 * "Passed the House 83-67; passed the Senate 19-17. Took effect July 1, 2011."

__** "Paid Sick Leave (SB 913):" **__ Senator Suzio made Connecticut "the first state in the country to mandate paid sicck leave" ("Paid Sick Leave (SB 913)t"). This gave Connecticut's economy "a setback to recovery, imposing additional labor costs and administrative burdens" ("Paid Sick Leave (SB 913)t").
 * "Verdict: Hurts economic recovery and job growth."
 * "Passed the House 76-65; passed the Senate 18-17. Took effect January 1, 2012."

__** "Education Reform (SB 458): **__ "Senator Suzio also altered and added different programs in the public education issue in order to support children that are "at risk," "close the achievement gap, improve student performance, turn around failing schools, and ensure the state has the skilled workforce needed to compete in a global economy" ("Education Reform (SB 458)").
 * "Verdict: Helps economic recovery and job growth."
 * "Passed the House 149-0; passed the Senate 28-7. Took effect July 1, 2012."

__** Job Creation (HB 6801): **__ Supported an act that he believed supported innovation, and encouraged job creation and economic growth.
 * Passed the House 147-1; passed the Senate 34-1. Took effect October 27, 2011.

Suzio supported this law that required people to identify their highest donors in a campaign.
 * __Campaign Finance (HB5556):__**
 * Verdict: Hurts economic recovery and job growth.
 * Passed the House 94-54; passed the Senate 20-15; vetoed by the Governor.

__** Vocabulary Words: **__ __Senator:__ "a member from the senate"

__"High Hopes" Board:__ a place where homes are found for children that are suffering.

__"The Early Release Program":__ "allows criminals who have committed violent crimes such as rape, arson, kidnapping, or sexual molestation of a child under 13 out of jail before their sentences are finished".

__** Section Review Questions: **__

1.) Who is the Connecticut State Senator for the 13th district?

2.) Explain some national programs that Senator Suzio is involved in?

3.) Who was the founder of the GeoDatavision bank and what does this bank specialize in?

4.) Explain the Senator Suzio's plan of "Suspending The Early Release Program".

5.) Explain why the "Educational Reform (SB- 458) was important to society.

__** Current Articles: **__

"Education Reform (SB 458)." //Education Reform (SB 458)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . "Paid Sick Leave (SB 913)t." //Paid Sick Leave (SB 913)t//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . "Tax Increases (SB 1239)." //Tax Increases (SB 1239)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. .

Works Cited "Committees." //About Len//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. . N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . N.d. Photograph. //Ct5thdistrict.registercitizen.com//. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. . N.d. Photograph. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. . "Senator." //Dictionary.com//. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . "Speak out on This Issue." //Sign My Petition To Suspend the Early Release Program//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/specialelection2011/article_6fc3682a-2bd2-11e0-8dfb-001cc4c03286.html