CT Patch Candidate Profile: Seth Bronko For State Representative

NAUGATUCK, CT — Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024, is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Connecticut.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.

Seth Bronko, 35, a Republican, is running for state representative of the 70th House District.

What city or town do you live in?

Naugatuck.

Education

BS in Business Management-Entrepreneurship and a Minor in Communications from UConn.

Occupation

Real Estate Agent (3 years).

Family

Wife, Caitlin. Son, Jonathan (5). Daughter, Julianne (2 months).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Dad, Michael Bronko (Burgess-Naugatuck). Mom, Eileen Bronko (Zoning-Naugatuck). Brother, Adam Bronko (Treasurer-Naugatuck).

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Yes, one term as State Representative (2022-Present).

Why are you seeking this office?

I’ve served the residents of Naugatuck for two years and it has been the honor of my life to be their voice at the Capitol. But there is more work to be done, including reducing government spending, fully funding our local education system, cutting taxes, and most importantly, reducing our energy bills. I’m working on behalf of all residents. I always look forward to getting out in the community to find out what’s important to people, and what I can do to help. I’m born and raised in Naugatuck, my son is enrolled in school here and my family members work in the Borough, so it’s important to me that everyone in the Borough has the opportunity to thrive.

What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?

There’s one clear issue that I hear during my conversations with residents and businesses in Naugatuck – soaring energy prices. As a community, we shouldn’t have to choose between keeping the lights on, or keeping food on the table, so going forward, my top priority at the legislature will be passing legislation that reduces those costs for everyone in Connecticut. There are many options on the table, including eliminating the public benefits charges from our electric bills, capping Power Purchase Agreements, using remaining federal pandemic funds to pay down the moratorium debts, and finding ways to connect Connecticut to more sources of power, which will reduce prices. This issue transcends party affiliation and I’m more than willing to have the conversation so that we can fix this. Politics need to be put aside so we can get this done on behalf of the public.

There have been an alarming number of deaths on Connecticut's roadways. Is there anything from a legislative standpoint that can be done to address that?

Even one death is one too many and each legislative session is an opportunity to work toward doing something about it. Especially in 2023, there were so many wrong-way crashes on our roadways. I can’t imagine the pain experienced by the families who lost loved ones due to these collisions and as a member of the Transportation Committee, and as a father of two, I wanted to help be part of the solution. In 2023, I co-sponsored successful legislation that directed the installation of wrong-way detection systems at high-risk exit ramps, including Naugatuck's exit 25A on Route 8, to address increases in the amount of crashes we saw on our highways. That won’t solve the problem completely, and that’s why I recently joined our state police at Troop A to ride along during an evening shift. I wanted to see the issue firsthand and up close to gain a new perspective so we can continue the work next session.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Primarily, experience, a demonstrated dedication to my community and the willingness to work with everyone to improve the lives of the residents of Naugatuck. I’ve held the position for two years, and now with two legislative sessions under my belt, I know what it takes to get legislation across the finish line. I’ve established relationships on both sides of the aisle that have served our community well. It’s that type of bipartisan effort that led to multi-million dollar grants and funding in the past two years, including $3 million for development of the former Uniroyal site, $5.7 million revitalization of the Rubber Avenue corridor, and $1.7 million for DelGobbo Memorial Field. And there is much more work to be done as we continue to redevelop our downtown!

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have a wide breadth of experience in both the public and private sectors. As a business owner, public servant, and volunteer on many local boards and commissions, I am acutely aware of the needs of the community. I understand what it takes to work hard to provide for your family and I've experienced the burden of policy that makes it hard to thrive. Being able to draw from all these experiences in various capacities provides a perspective in my policy-making role as a legislator that is sensitive to the needs of all our residents.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Naugatuck is the only home I've known. Serving the community was instilled in me at a young age by my parents, and I am passionate about building the future for our children. I truly believe our best days as a Borough are ahead, and we can make that a reality by working together. I have loved being your State Representative the last two years, and it would be my honor to continue serving you in Hartford. That's why I would humbly ask for your support and your vote this election.