West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor endorses Derek Slap for 5th Senate District seat

Jan. 07--West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said she "enthusiastically" endorses state Rep. Derek Slap's run for the soon-to-be vacant 5th Senate District seat over Deputy Mayor Beth Kerrigan, who has also indicated an interest in running.

Beth Bye, who currently holds the 5th Senate seat, was nominated by Gov.-elect Ned Lamont to lead the Office of Early Childhood. She will not be sworn in to the state Senate on Wednesday and a special election is expected to fill the vacant seat.

"Derek is a champion for West Hartford, and I have seen firsthand how hard he has worked to protect West Hartford's education funding," Cantor said in a written statement. "He is a coalition builder and a leader who has fought every day for progressive values such as pay equity, workers' rights, accountability for the MDC, job creation and a stronger [state] economy that works for everyone."

Elected in 2016, Slap recently championed legislation prohibiting employers from asking job candidates about their salary history during interviews. Proponents of the so-called "pay equity" legislation said asking about salary history maintains the existing pay gap between men and women. Slap also worked as the Senate chief of staff and in communications for the Senate from 2007 to 2014, he said.

"It's a huge vote of confidence from our mayor," Slap said of Cantor's endorsement. "Shari and I have worked very closely the last two years on different policy issues -- the budget, creating a consumer advocate for the MDC, pay equity."

Slap said Bye's vacancy leaves "big shoes to fill. People have high expectations -- and they should."

Cantor said that she thought Kerrigan and Democrat Janée Woods-Weber, who is also interested in the seat, were "good people" but "don't have the experience or depth of understanding of the Senate."

When asked about Cantor's endorsement of Slap, Kerrigan said: "I think that's her opinion, she's one voice. She has her opinion. ... Would I have loved her endorsement? Absolutely."

Kerrigan said she doesn't see any reason why Cantor's endorsement would impact the two working together on West Hartford's town council.

"It shouldn't, I hope it doesn't. I will continue to vote what I think is in the best interest of West Hartford," Kerrigan said. "My role is to serve the residents of West Hartford, that doesn't change for me."

Kerrigan, in her second term on the town council, moved to Connecticut in 1992 and set up an insurance business called NETPlus. In 2000, Travelers purchased the company. At one point, Kerrigan said she had 25 people working for her at her business. Kerrigan and her wife, Jody Mock, were the lead plaintiffs in the 2008 court case that led to the state's legalization of same-sex marriage.

"I'm running because I've always been someone that's done what's right, sometimes at great personal cost," Kerrigan said. "I co-founded a business, I created jobs. I am bold and I listen well. I'm not afraid to stand up for what is in the best interest of people."

Both Kerrigan and Slap said they have worked closely together and consider each other good friends.

"Derek and I are good friends, and I told him I don't want to stress our friendship," Kerrigan said. "My hope is everyone can rise above and continue doing what's best for the people."

Woods-Weber, an attorney from West Hartford who is the director of organizational culture at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Foundation, which focuses on equity in education by addressing racism and poverty, said last week she is also strongly considering the seat. She recently served on Lamont's tradition advisory panel looking at women's issues.

Others, like newly elected state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and 2016 Republican Party nominee Mark Merrit, who initially showed interest in running for the open seat, have since said they will not pursue a candidacy.

Mikaela Porter can be reached at mmporter@courant.com.

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