Zullo Unanimously Endorsed By East Haven Republican Town Committee

Submitted by East Haven State Rep. Joe Zullo:

EAST HAVEN, CT —State Representative Joe Zullo (R, 99) was unanimously endorsed by the East Haven Republican Town Committee Wednesday to seek re-election in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

“Our community is my passion, and I wake up every day looking forward to the prospect of making a real difference in people’s lives. My sincere gratitude goes out to the entire East Haven Republican Town Committee, not only for its endorsement this evening, but for its sustained and unwavering support since I began my public service career. I humbly accept your nomination and promise to bring my unwavering and unbridled enthusiasm not only to the campaign trail this Fall, but back to Hartford in the 2025 legislative session should I have the privilege of being re-elected,” Zullo said.

Zullo’s nomination came by way of an enthusiastic speech and introduction by former Town Councilwoman and Board of Education member Samantha Parlato, and was seconded by committee member Joe Coss.

Reflecting on his work in-district, Zullo added, “Our community, and the wonderful people who make it unique, has always been a top priority for me. Here at home, I’ve committed to being accessible, to serving as a resource to answer residents’ questions, and to helping them with their unique, daily challenges. That commitment has also included partnering and collaborating with our schools, nonprofits, and those in the business community and working across the aisle with local leaders to tackle residents’ quality of life concerns. This community is my life and I leverage every opportunity and every interaction, every day, to help make our Town a better place to live, work, raise a family, and to retire in.”

Zullo noted, “And in Hartford, I’ve worked across the aisle and supported common sense solutions to help working families and small businesses to get ahead; to help our seniors live out their golden years with economic security and dignity; to create quality workforce housing and career opportunities for young workers; to assist students in escaping the heavy burdens of crippling student loan debt; to equip our children with the skills and tools they will need to succeed in the brave new world we see unfolding before us; and to preserve and expand the transparency and accountability of our State government.”

In accepting the town committee’s nomination, Zullo expressed an eagerness to hit the campaign trail and make his pitch to residents for another two years in Hartford. Zullo added, “This is not a job I take for granted. It is an earned privilege. However, I also know that not every resident has had an occasion to need my help and there are many, despite my deep roots in the community, I haven’t yet met. I am ready to hit the pavement, knock on doors, and make my calls to residents to ensure they know I’m as committed to this job today as I was the very first day I walked into the capitol.”

Zullo, who was elected in February of 2019, won re-election to his first full term in the 2020 election cycle, taking 58.5% of the vote by a margin of 6,775 to 4,795. He ran unopposed during the 2022 cycle, garnering 5,450 votes – and leading all vote-getters in the 99th assembly district. As the "ranking member" on the State's “Planning and Development Committee,” he has been a vigorous advocate for the preservation and expansion of local control of housing and zoning matters, a topic which has taken center stage for many residents in East Haven in recent years.

Zullo explained, “In our community, and in small communities across the State, residents have voiced legitimate concerns about development projects that are being enabled by a State affordable housing framework that empowers developers at the expense of residents. Unelected bureaucrats in Hartford who have no connection to or appreciation of our community should not be dictating our local zoning and housing policies. Those decisions are always best made by local stakeholders who know and understand their communities. To those residents across East Haven frustrated by dense housing proposals leveraging state law to circumvent local control, by the generational impacts of the proposed expansion of Tweed airport, and by the continued power grabs by the majority in Hartford for our local autonomy – I hear you! And I promise to always put our community’s best interests first and to continue fighting to preserve your say in the future and direction of this community.”

Zullo, who was born and raised in East Haven, is a partner with his father Alfred Zullo in the law firm of "Zullo, Zullo and Jacks, LLC," where he works as a legal advocate to a diverse group of clients. For five years, from 2019 through 2023, he was one of just 2.5% of attorneys under age 40 in Connecticut recognized as a “Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers.” He served as East Haven's town attorney from 2011 to 2019 and currently serves as an “ex officio “member of the Board of Directors of the Town's Chamber of Commerce, as the treasurer for the East Haven Fall Festival Committee, and as a member of the Town's Community Classic 5K Road Race Committee.

Zullo added, “My life is rooted in this community. It’s where I was born and raised. It’s where I began my career and enjoy working every single day. And it’s where my wife and I continue to build a life together. This job is as much about a passion for public service as it is about raw pride – I am proud to call East Haven my home and to have a chance, each day, to give back to the community that has meant so much to my family and I.”

Zullo concluded, "Once more, I want to express my sincerest thanks to the East Haven Republican Town Committee, and the people of East Haven, for the privilege to serve and for their sustained support. If re-elected, I’ll not only remain the strong voice East Haven needs and deserves in Hartford, but I’ll remain committed to being a trusted friend and leader that East Haven residents can count on here at home.”