It’s nomination season, and an election year!
With a handful of seats available in our state and municipal elections, the Stratford Republican Town Committee is hopeful to gain a seat in the House of Representatives with the nomination of Troy Gargiulo, 42, for State Representative. Troy hopes to unseat 120th District Representative Kaitlyn Shake, a Democrat, who unseated Republican Laura Dancho in the 2024 election.
In my recent interview with Troy, he shared his reasons for running, and more about what winning the seat would mean for him. A dad, and husband, Troy said, “I am an honest and hardworking man who cares about my town and family.” These are two characteristics Troy will bring Hartford, if elected to the House of Representatives, joining a team of 150+ individuals. He went on to say, “I’m a family man. I’m always outside hanging out with my family, whether that be playing basketball, making s’mores, coaching my kid’s soccer team, or headed out on an adventure.” But what does it take to be part of Connecticut’s General Assembly?
There are basic requirements which need to be met in order to serve in the state legislature. The person running needs to be 18 years old or above, a resident and registered voter of the district in which they are running, and cannot be disqualified from holding office due to a legal or electoral violation. In addition to the aforementioned requirements, candidates should have an understanding of election laws, and collecting signatures. For Troy, he would need to collect 5% of the registered Republican voters in Stratford to be added to the November ballot.
Once on the ballot, Troy wants to focus his efforts on affordability, education, and government. He goes on to say, “Making it more affordable to live here for things such as groceries, energy, etc. We need to do more to fund our schools appropriately (state versus local), and limit overbuilding and overcrowding of neighborhoods.” Once elected, this would be the first elected office Troy holds. He shared, “I follow our local level very closely to keep updated on what’s going on. I’m a blue collar worker having worked in the HVAC (Heating / Cooling) field for 25 years. I like to figure things out and don’t give up until something is fixed,” said Troy.
Making the choice to run for elected office is not for the faint of heart. Troy said, “I decided to run because I thought that more could be done for the residents of Stratford. Instead of just complaining, I decided to step up and do something.” For him, some of the things he loves about Stratford are the things that make Stratford Stratford: strong community, good neighbors, and, “Everyone is so welcoming and friendly, you can get into a conversation anywhere, which is awesome. I also love the charm of Paradise Green, the Center and more. The small shops and restaurants are amazing as well. You can’t forget the option of being able to head to the beach or woods for hiking,” Troy said.
Troy will be running against Rep. Kaitlyn Shake, a Democrat, who has held the position since 2025, and recently won the support of the Democratic Town Committee, which was announced in a post on Facebook.
State Senator Jason Perillo was unanimously nominated by 21st District Republican delegates and made the announcement on his Instagram. With his sights set on winning this November, Perillo stated in a recent press release following the nomination, “I am deeply honored to receive this nomination and grateful for the trust placed in me by both the delegates and the voters of the 21st District,” said Perillo. “I will continue to work tirelessly in Hartford to represent the interests of all residents in Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, and Stratford.” Since winning in the special election in 2025, Perillo has served on: Human Services and Children’s Committees; the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee; and on the Judiciary Committee.
