General Assembly Black and Latino Caucus picks leadership team

HARTFORD - In a release, the Black and Latino Caucus of the Connecticut General Assembly - a group made up of members from the House of Representatives and Senate -   announced its 2014/2015 leadership team.

 

Rep. Bruce Morris, D-Norwalk, House deputy speaker, will lead the caucus as chairman, and Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden, House assistant majority leader, will serve as caucus vice-chairwoman, the release said. Rep. Minnie Gonzalez ,D-Hartford, will serve as treasurer, and Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, is secretary, the release said.

 

“The Black and Latino Caucus plays a very important role in shaping major policy initiatives, including education reform, and I am honored that my colleagues have chosen me to chair the caucus,” Morris said, also in the release. “We have a significant number of experienced lawmakers, and our caucus takes its job seriously as we advocate for all people of Connecticut.”

 

Santiago said, also in the release: “It is a great honor to be selected by my peers for this position. I look forward to supporting our new chairman, as well as the entire caucus, as we build upon our past accomplishments and service to our communities and state.”

Santiago also is vice-chairman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

"The caucus has many members who also serve in leadership positions in the House and Senate," the release said.

“I want to thank my colleagues for choosing me to be the caucus secretary,” said Lesser, who is House chairman of the Banks Committee, in the release. “I believe that this caucus is critical to addressing issues that affect hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents, particularly residents of our cities.”

 

“The need to truly represent all people of Connecticut is greater than ever and I am eager to help our caucus use its influence to make our state a better place to live,” said Gonzalez, who is the House chief majority whip, in the release.

 

Also in the release: 

 House members in leadership positions are:

Patricia Billie Miller (D-Stamford), deputy speaker;

Larry Butler (D-Waterbury), co-chair of Housing Committee;

Ernie Hewett (D-New London), assistant majority leader;

Juan Candelaria (D-New Haven), deputy majority leader;

Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford), deputy majority leader;

Ezequiel Santiago (D-Bridgeport), deputy majority whip;

Robert Sanchez (D-New Britain), assistant majority leader and vice-chairman of the Education Committee;

Charles Stallworth (D-Bridgeport), assistant majority whip and vice-chairman of the Banks Committee;

Toni Walker (D-New Haven), co-chair of the Appropriations Committee;

Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford), deputy majority leader.

 

Senate members in leadership positions are:

Eric D. Coleman (D-Bloomfield), deputy president pro tempore, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee and vice-chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee;

Gary Holder-Winfield (D-New Haven), assistant majority leader and co-chairman of the Housing Committee and Labor and Public Employees Committee;

Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), majority whip and co-chair of Human Services Committee.