Lauretano to challenge Rep. Willis

LAKEVILLE —Lakeville resident Kathy Lauretano announced Monday,Feb. 8, that she will seek the Republican Party nomination for state representative in the 64th District.  The election is this November.

The 64th district includes one third of Torrington and the towns of Goshen, Salisbury, Sharon and Cornwall. The Republican Town Committees will convene on May 11 in Goshen and decide if Lauretano will be their candidate.

At this point, no other Republicans are seeking the nomination, according to John  Morris, chairman of the Goshen Republican Town Committee and member of the Republican State Central Committee.

Lauretano must receive the votes of 50 percent of the delegates plus one to become the endorsed Republican candidate.

If another contender decides to seek the nomination, a primary will be required if one candidate gets 15 percent or more of the delegate votes; or if that candidate gets enough signatures on a petition.

If she receives the nomination, Lauretano will face incumbent Democrat Roberta Willis, also of Lakeville.

One of her goals, Lauretano said, is “to restore Connecticut’s formerly secure financial foundation.�

Other issues Lauretano would like to address include energy rates, legislative protection of private property rights against  eminent domain seizures and unfunded mandates by the state and federal governments being imposed on municipalities.

Lauretano has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and served 23 years as a Connecticut State Trooper until her retirement in 2006.  She is married to Mark Lauretano and has three adult children.