Following another contentious budget debate, House Speaker Brendan Sharkey announced he will not seek a ninth term in the Connecticut legislature.Sharkey was elected speaker in January 2013 by his fellow lawmakers. The Hartford Courant reports Sharkey joins more than 20 members of the General Assembly who are not running for re-election this fall. Many have cited the budget battles and the state’s tough financial situation as reasons. House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz is said to be running for speaker.
In a statement, Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy says Sharkey, a Hamden Democrat, has been a tireless champion of saving taxpayer dollars through regional coordination of services.