Senate President Williams Announces that He will Not Seek Re-Election

HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 26 -- Connecticut Senate Democrats issued the following news release:

Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) announced today that he will not seek re-election this fall. Senator Williams was first elected to serve the 29th Senate District in a special election in January 1993. In July 2004, he was elected by his fellow senators to serve as President Pro Tempore, the highest-ranking legislator in the Connecticut General Assembly.

"After serving 10 years as President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, I look forward to pursuing other challenges at the end of this term," said Senator Williams. "It has been a great privilege and honor to serve the people of our state and my constituents in the great northeastern corner of Connecticut. The progress we have made when facing difficult challenges, particularly in the past four years with the help of Governor Malloy, has been substantial, and Connecticut is well positioned for new growth in the years ahead.

"There is much work that remains for this legislative session and for the rest of the year, and I look forward to making this a very productive session."

A partial list of his accomplishments:

* Senator Williams helped create the Jobs for the 21st Century legislation that stimulates job growth, research and development, and economic investment.

* A strong supporter of the UCONN 2000 and 21st Century projects, Senator Williams spearheaded the transformation of the campuses at the Connecticut State University system and the community colleges. Senator Williams helped create the Research and Development Technology Park at UCONN to help grow jobs in eastern Connecticut, and provide world-class research facilities. Senator Williams provided the critical seed money for the new town Storrs Town Center that mixes business and retail with housing across from the main UCONN campus.

* He has led bipartisan efforts to protect children and reduce gun violence. In response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Senator Williams joined with Democratic and Republican leaders in 2013 to draft and pass the nationally recognized Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety.

* In 2006, he won a major victory over the high-powered junk food companies with the passage of school nutrition legislation that includes a ban on the sale of soda and other unhealthy beverages in schools, provides funding for healthier food choices, and has helped make Connecticut a national leader in preventing childhood obesity.

* The Community Investment Act that Senator Williams drafted provides millions of dollars each year for farmland preservation, open space acquisition, historic preservation and affordable housing.

* Senator Williams helped draft a historic public finance campaign system in 2005 in order to reduce the influence of special interests in government.

* Senator Williams authored legislation creating the Office of the Child Advocate to help protect children in the custody of the state, the Office of the Victim Advocate to uphold the rights of victims of crime, and the Office of the Health Care Advocate to help residents cut through the red tape of health insurance.

* In 2012, Senator Williams led the successful effort to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without parole.

* He led the fight to clean up the "Sooty Six" power plants that polluted Connecticut's air and threatened residents with asthma and respiratory problems.

* In 2013, Senator Williams worked with citizen advocates to pass the nation's first GMO labeling law.

Senator Williams has worked as an attorney, journalist, educator, and prior to his election to the State Senate, served as first selectman of the town of Thompson. He graduated from Syracuse University and earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. Senator Williams is married to Laura Williams and has a daughter, Nina.

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