Hartford, Ct. – Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Nick Balletto released the following statement on the news that Speaker Brendan Sharkey will not seek re-election.

“Brendan Sharkey is a dedicated public servant who has not shied away from making the tough choices necessary to keep Connecticut moving forward. I am particularly proud that – facing a difficult fiscal situation – Speaker Sharkey, along with Governor Malloy and legislative leaders, passed a budget that puts our state on a path toward long-term stability. Through it all, he has put his constituents first, fighting for regionalism and other issues important to Hamden. I want to thank Speaker Sharkey for his service to our state. I look forward to continuing to work with the Speaker and future House Democratic Caucus leaders to make sure we re-elect Democratic majorities in the House.”