Chris Shays Announces Candidacy for the US Senate

The 2012 election is not yet on everyone’s radar screen, but the stakes are terribly high. The spending sprees and the enormous resulting federal and state budget deficits are a drag on growth and a shameful legacy to our children and grandchildren. It is time for all Republicans who care what happens in Washington and Hartford to get involved in supporting candidates who favor limited government. This affects all positions, from State Representative to President.

Our Town Committee seeks energetic Republicans willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work necessary to support our candidates. Our members contribute in various ways, whether through publicity, planning and conducting events, fund-raising, recruitment of candidates, and so on. Electing candidates who favor limited government is a team effort, and we welcome others who wish to help in the cause.

If you are interested, or would like to meet the RTC Committee members, we invite anyone who might be interested in getting more involved to attend one of our monthly meetings (see our meeting schedule) or contact our Vacancy Chair, David Lewson .

Ward Mazzucco, Chairman Ward Mazzucco, Chairman

Chris Hocker

Christopher Hocker is an18 year resident of Redding who has contributed an enormous amount of time and energy on its behalf. He is currently a member of the Region 9 Board of Education, which oversees the operation of Joel Barlow High School. He has been an active member of the Redding-Easton Boys & Girls Club, serving in the capacities of both President and Treasurer. In fact, it was during Chris’s Presidency that the Club began and completed the building of its new facility on Cross Highway. He’s also served as Vice Chairman of the town’s Athletic Fields Committee and is a member of the Redding Republican Town Committee.

Professionally, Chris is an executive in the electric power industry. Earlier in his career, he ran his own marketing and advertising company. He and his wife Deb Haws, a real estate agent, have raised two children in Redding. Chris holds a BA degree from Stanford University.

As the First Selectmen of Redding, I have joined with First Selectmen of  Ridgefield, Wilton and Weston to write a letter to the Public Utility Regulatory Authority requesting an immediate review and determination of corrective action for CL&P's unsatisfactory performance during the last two major storms to hit our area.

The letter concluded: "On behalf of our citizens, we express indignation at the way power restoration was handled in the two recent storms, and terror at the thought that this experience might be repeated soon during a winter storm when people would most certainly be put at risk by subfreezing temperatures. We do not have the capability to shelter our entire population, so CL&P must be forced to be better prepared to provide, maintain, and restore power. That is their business, and their responsibility. Please see to it that they do it…NOW."

We have requested time to be heard at their upcoming meeting and will hold a Press Conference to bring wider attention to the problems of CL&P's emergency management.

Click here to read the entire letter.

If you have any questions or suggestions on town matters, you can reach me at 938-2002 or email me at firstselectman@townofreddingct.org. As always, I look forward to hearing from our residents. It is the best part of my job.

Thanks, Natalie Ketcham, First Selectman

Tuesday - January 10: Redding Republicans Caucus- 8PM at Town Hall

Monday - February 6: Town Committee Meeting - 7:30PM at Town Hall

Monday - March 5: Town Committee Meeting - 7:30PM at Town Hall