Len Suzio Explained

Party:	Republican
State Senate:	Connecticut State
District:	13th
Term Start:	January 4, 2017
Term End:	January 9, 2019
Predecessor:	Danté Bartolomeo
Successor:	Mary Abrams
Term Start1:	February 25, 2011
Term End1:	January 4, 2013
Predecessor1:	Thomas Gaffey
Successor1:	Danté Bartolomeo
Birth Date:	4 January 1948
Birth Place:	Meriden, Connecticut, U.S.
Spouse:	Kathryn
Children:	5
Alma Mater:	University of Pennsylvania (BS)

Leonard F. Suzio Jr. (born January 4, 1948) is an American politician from Connecticut. A Republican, he represented the 13th district in the Connecticut State Senate from 2017 to 2019, previously serving from 2011 to 2013.

Personal life

Suzio attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.^[1] Shortly after graduation, he married Kathryn. Suzio was active in the Connecticut Victim Advocate Advisory Committee, founded the consultancy firm GeoDataVision, and served on the Meriden Board of Education from 1995 to 2009.^[2]

Political career

Suzio contested his first state legislative election in 2010, losing to incumbent state senator Thomas Gaffey.^[3] After Gaffey resigned after being charged with larceny, Suzio contested the subsequent special election for his seat.^[4] He defeated Democrat Thomas Bruenn in the special election, and took office on February 28, 2011.^{[5] [6]} His election made him the first Republican to be elected from the 13th district since 1972.^[7]

Suzio unsuccessfully ran for a full term in the 2012 election, losing to Democrat Danté Bartolomeo.^[8] He challenged Bartolomeo for a rematch in the 2014 election, but lost.^{[9] [10]}

Suzio launched another campaign for the seat in 2016.^{[11] [12]} In what was described as an upset victory by the New Haven Register, Suzio defeated Bartolomeo to reclaim his seat.^[13]

In May 2018, Suzio announced that he would run for a second consecutive term.^[14] He lost his 2018 re-election bid to Democrat Mary Daugherty Abrams.^[15]

External links

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Notes and References

1. Web site: Len Suzio.
2. News: Day . Cassandra . Republican Len Suzio hopes to unseat Sen. Danté Bartolomeo in 13th District . August 3, 2018 . New Haven Register . October 13, 2016.
3. Web site: Our Campaigns - CT State Senate 13 Race - Nov 02, 2010.
4. News: Mahony . Edmund H. . Lender . Jon . January 5, 2011 . State Sen. Thomas Gaffey Charged With Larceny, Says He Will Resign . August 3, 2018 . Hartford Courant.
5. News: Turmelle . Luther . January 27, 2011 . Controversy erupts over alleged gay question in 13th Senate District poll . August 3, 2018 . New Haven Register.
6. News: Pazniokas . Mark . February 28, 2011 . Tom Scott, a 90s tax protester, notches a win in Meriden . Connecticut Mirror.
7. News: Fenster . Jordan . October 15, 2012 . Connecticut Republicans set sights on key districts in state Senate race . August 3, 2018 . Oneida Daily Register.
8. News: Kauffman . Matthew . Marteka . Peter . November 7, 2012 . Both Parties Win Some, Lose Some in General Assembly Races . August 3, 2018 . Hartford Courant.
9. News: Beals . Shawn R. . November 5, 2014 . Incumbents Fare Well In Middletown Elections . August 3, 2018 . Hartford Courant.
10. News: De la Torre . Vanessa . November 5, 2014 . Democrats Keep Majority In State Senate . 2024-09-20 . Hartford Courant.
11. News: Blair . Russell . Voter Mailing List Request Sparks Debate . August 3, 2018 . Hartford Courant . August 12, 2016.
12. News: Connecticut 13th District State Senate Results: Len Suzio Leads . August 3, 2018 . New York Times . Associated Press . November 8, 2016.
13. Web site: Day . Cassandra . 2016-11-08 . Len Suzio reclaims 13th Senate District seat from Dante Bartolomeo . 2024-09-20 . New Haven Register.
14. News: Savino . Mike . Race for 13th Senate District features Meriden candidates . August 3, 2018 . Record Journal . May 18, 2018.
15. Web site: Stannard . Ed . November 7, 2018 . Abrams beats Suzio in 13th Senate District . July 28, 2020 . New Haven Register.