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Dan Debicella

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Dan Debicella
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 21st district
In office
2007–present
Preceded byGeorge "Doc" Gunther
ConstituencyShelton, Stratford (part), Monroe (part), Seymour (part)
Personal details
BornOctober 24, 1974
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died225x250px
Resting place225x250px
Political partyRepublican
SpousesAlexandra Galli-Debicella
ChildrenNone
Parent
  • 225x250px
ResidencesShelton, Connecticut
Websitehttp://www.debicella.com

Daniel Charles "Dan" Debicella (born October 24, 1974) is a Republican politician and businessman currently representing the 21st district in the Connecticut State Senate.

Personal life and background

Debicella was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Shelton, where he currently resides. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1992. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Debicella is currently an Assistant Vice President of Marketing at The Hartford Financial Services.[1] Previously, Debicella worked as Director of Strategy at PepsiCo, as an online business owner, and as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. He currently serves on the board of various community organizations.

Prior to being elected State Senator, Debicella served on Shelton’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation for seven years, four as its chairman. Debicella acted as the Fairfield County regional chair for Rudy Giuliani's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign.[2]

State Senator

Debicella was first elected in 2006 and subsequently re-elected in 2008. He succeeded George "Doc" Gunther, the longest-serving state legislator in Connecticut history, after working as his campaign manager for several elections.[3]

In the State Senate, Debicella holds the position of Deputy Minority Leader and sits on the Appropriations (ranking member), Higher Education (ranking member), Public Health (ranking member), and Regulations Review committees.[4]

Accomplishments

In 2007, Debicella co-authored a bill that provides tax credits for businesses that create at least 10 new jobs in a year. The bill was passed unanimously and signed into law by Governor Jodi Rell.[5] In committee, Debicella filibustered a controversial bill that would have allowed children of illegal immigrants who graduated from a Connecticut high school to apply for in-state tuition. The bill eventually passed through the General Assembly but was ultimately vetoed by Rell.[6]

In 2008, in response to Environmental Protection Agency plans for a waste deposit in Stratford, Debicella co-sponsored a bill that prohibited the depositing of more than 1,000 cubic yards of asbestos-laden soil near residential areas without approval from two-thirds of the municipality's legislative body.[7] He also proposed legislation that would have allowed individuals and families who receive a physical exam and all age-appropriate preventive tests to deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses from their state income tax, which did not pass through committee.[8] Debicella co-sponsored a bill that expanded Operation Fuel, a program that provides a $500 credit for Connecticut seniors 65 or older whose income is at or below the state median, to assist with their home heating costs.[9]

In 2009, Debicella is focusing on eliminating Connecticut’s budget deficit without tax increases by reducing spending through changing how the state provides social services.[10] Debicella has also reintroduced his proposed for tax credits to those who obtain all prescribed preventative tests.[11]

Voting record

Debicella has voted in the minority on several issues, even compared with members of his own party. Debicella was one of three State Senators to vote against requiring health care facilities to provide emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault. This vote, as well as a specific comment made by Debicella at a 2008 campaign debate,[12] were strongly criticized by opponent Janice Andersen and other Democrats, who held a rally to condemn Debicella's position as "insensitive to rape victims" and “criminal”. Debicella defended his position by explaining that he supports access to emergency contraception "for all women, and especially for rape victims", but opposes forcing Catholic hospitals, who would have been affected by the bill, to go against their religious beliefs. Debicella said Andersen was "using an emotional issue for political gain."[13] He was also one of two Senators to oppose a "clean contracting" bill designed to prevent preferential treatment and no-bid contracts.[14] In May 2009, Debicella was one of three State Senators to vote against a bill allowing municipalities to delay their property revaluation process until 2011.[15]

Debicella is generally opposed to health care mandates, claiming they raise costs for consumers. He has voted against mandating insurance companies to cover hearing aids for children, but in favor of requiring coverage of autism diagnosis and treatment.[16][17]

In 2008, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters gave Debicella a 58% rating on their annual scorecard[18] and the Connecticut AFL-CIO gave him a 29% rating.[19] He was endorsed in the 2008 election by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association[20] and the Family Institute of Connecticut.[21]

Electoral history

Connecticut State Senate Election, 2006: Senatorial District 21
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Debicella 16,476 52.2
Democratic Chris Jones 15,099 47.8
Majority 1,377
Turnout 31,575
Connecticut State Senate Election, 2008: Senatorial District 21
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Debicella 24,940 54.4
Democratic Janice Andersen 20,912 45.6
Majority 4,028
Turnout 45,852

References

  1. ^ http://www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/sen_info/debicella.aspx
  2. ^ http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=4943
  3. ^ http://debicella.com/bio.html
  4. ^ http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=68394
  5. ^ http://www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/press/debicella/2007/061507.html
  6. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/06/26/rell_vetoes_in_state_tuition_rates_for_illegal_immigrant_kids/
  7. ^ http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19677567&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9180&rfi=8
  8. ^ http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19393688&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9180&rfi=8
  9. ^ http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20204740&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9166&rfi=6
  10. ^ http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17999:debicella-lands-appropriations-seat&catid=186:local-news&Itemid=517
  11. ^ http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/01/health_care_ref_1.php
  12. ^ http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100021144&docId=l:876229709&start=13
  13. ^ Kovach, John (2008-10-31). "Andersen calls Debicella 'insensitive to rape victims'". Stratford Star. Retrieved 2008-11-19. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ http://www.ccm-ct.org/advocacy/2006-2007/092107.html
  15. ^ http://www.connpost.com/ci_12312254
  16. ^ http://www.connpost.com/ci_12378669
  17. ^ http://search.cga.state.ct.us/dtsearch_lpa.asp?cmd=getdoc&DocId=34777&Index=I%3a\zindex\2007
  18. ^ http://www.ctlcv.org/Scorecards/2008%20Scorecard.pdf
  19. ^ http://www.ctaflcio.org/2008%20political%20conv/2007-2008%20Scorecard.pdf
  20. ^ http://www.cbia.com/newsroom/pastreleases/2008%20Releases/2008%20endorsements/21-%20Debicella,%20Dan.pdf
  21. ^ http://www.ctfamily.org/2008_Endorsements.pdf
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