It won't be long before we start to see announcements about the re-election plans of local legislators, and everyone expects some spirited challenges to emerge in almost every local district in Northwest Connecticut.

The national political climate and victories such as Scott Brown claiming Ted Kennedy's old U.S. Senate seat in liberal Massachusetts have emboldened Republicans from national races right down to the state House.

In a year when even Rep. Roberta Willis (D-Salisbury) faces a Republican challenger who has announced and gotten organized early, expect no one to take re-election for granted. Willis ran unopposed two years ago and trounced the competition four years ago.

That could mean the Connecticut Republican Party putting some significant resources into a challenge to freshman state Rep. Annie Hornish (D-Granby). She upset a longtime conservative Republican incumbent by the narrowest of margins in 2008, and she is one of the House's most liberal members.

Similarly, Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) is wrapping up her first term after unseating Republican Anne Ruwet in a House district that has been very close every election cycle going back almost a decade.

Cook's views may be out of step with some in the district, but has helped solidify her position with hard work. She is the local legislator you're most likely to see at every public forum, reception and involved in every neighborhood issue in her district.

Democrats' top local target could be freshman state Rep. John Rigby (R-Colebrook), who might not have been elected to the Legislature at all if it weren't for an explosive sex abuse controversy involving former Democratic Rep. George Wilber that broke a few weeks before the election in 2008.

We might see a rematch between Rigby and Norfolk attorney William Riiska, who did pretty well with a write-in campaign two years ago despite not being listed on the ballot.

The hottest topic at last night's Litchfield County Board of Realtors and local Home Builders Association meeting with area legislators wasn't directly related to real estate or home building.

It came in a lengthy and sometimes-spirited question-and-answer period in which longtime master of ceremonies for the event, local Realtor TJ Zappulla, pointed out that funding for crucial programs such as a $220,000 tuberculosis screening program has been eliminated while Connecticut's new system of public financing for political campaigns will be giving up to $2.5 million to each candidate for governor this year who qualifies.

Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen) said he was kind of taken aback to receive a check for $85,000 to spend on his campaign. He ended up returning almost half of it to the taxpayers.

Rep. John Rigby (R-Colebrook) was most critical of public financing, saying that the $60 million used for the program should be returned to taxpayers, and that it was ridiculous to be spending taxpayer money on political campaigns when people are losing their homes.

Public financing was defended by the three Democrats in the room, Rep. Annie Hornish (D-Granby), Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) and Rep. Roberta Willis (D-Salisbury).

Willis said that public financing was first introduced in response to the many political scandals that led to Connecticut becoming known as a corrupt state.

Hornish and Cook suggested that the system could be tweaked, i.e., establishing lower spending thresholds and encouraging more candidates such as Roraback to return money, rather than scrapped altogether.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a bill last week that formalizes what was already decided by the Connecticut Supreme Court - that gays and lesbians have the right to marry in this state.

Over intense opposition from some religious groups, the bill passed the Senate 28-7 and passed the House 100-44.

A number of local lawmakers were among those casting a dissenting vote.

“No” votes were cast by Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-Canton), Rep. William Hamzy (R-Plymouth), Rep. Craig Miner (R-Litchfield), Rep. John Piscopo (R-Thomaston) and Rep. John Rigby (R-Colebrook).

Voting “yes” were Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen), Rep. Annie Hornish (D-Granby), Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) and Rep. Roberta Willis (D-Salisbury).

Newly sworn-in State Representative Maryanne “Annie” Hornish (D-Granby) officially took office January 7 at the State Capitol as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly.

“I am honored that the residents of my community have put their faith in me to represent them in these challenging times,” said Hornish. “It’s now time to get to work on the issues facing our state and our towns.”
Hornish represents the 62nd House District, which includes the towns of Barkhamsted, East Granby, Granby and New Hartford. She was named to the Legislature’s Commerce, Education and Environment Committees by Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden).
The Commerce Committee’s main mission is to encourage business growth and oversee matters related to the Department of Community and Economic Development. In addition to education issues, the Education Committee’s jurisdiction includes the arts, libraries and museums. The Environment Committee’s focus includes conservation, pollution control, state parks and forests, water resources and agriculture.
“Rep. Hornish brings experience and energy on a variety of issues ranging from business to the environment to the Capitol,” said Speaker Donovan. “As we face the challenging times ahead, I know the towns Rep. Hornish serves will be well represented.”
Hornish has a Bachelor of Science in Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, a Certification in Cytotechnology from UConn Health Center, and Masters of Business Administration from Western New England College. She currently works as a cytotechnologist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., and is involved in a variety of humane education and animal rights advocacy efforts.

After his brief and remarkable-but-ultimately-unsuccessful write-in bid for the District 63 state representative seat abruptly vacated by state Rep. George Wilber two weeks before the election, attorney William Riiska quickly and quietly has settled back into his volunteer leadership role in working on legislative issues for the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
And one of the Chamber's first tasks this fall is going to be bringing a large freshman class of first-time Northwest Connecticut legislators up to speed on the issues important to the local business community.
Taking Wilber's seat is Republican newcomer John Rigby.
Upsetting incumbent state Rep. Anne Ruwet (R-65th District) was Democratic newcomer Michelle Cook.
Upsetting longtime incumbent state Rep. Richard Ferrari (R-62nd District) was Democratic newcomer Annie Hornish.
And the Chamber and others locally who have important issues before the Legislature also are trying to get to know Republican Kevin Witkos, who has served several terms in the House, representing Canton, but will now represent a portion of the Torrington area after winning the 8th District seat in the state Senate.

From Register Citizen Staff Writer David Hutter ...
NEW HARTFORD — Annie Hornish, Democratic candidate in the 62nd state house district, said she has met many voters at each of the polling places in New Hartford, Barkhamsted, Granby, and East Granby today. She said she is confident about her prospect of winning the seat.
"I’ve been jumping around the polling places since 6 a.m.," Hornish said. "I’ve spoken to a lot of voters. I think the biggest reason I am getting votes stems from my plans for the environment. ... I am optimistic I’ll have a victory."
She said she was currently driving from New Hartford to Granby today at 5:47 p.m. She will be meeting up with her many volunteers at her house in Granby once the polls close at 8 p.m. She said she has many volunteers who are making get-out-the-vote phone calls and campaigning at the polls.

A dispatch from Register Citizen Staff Writer David Hutter ...
GRANBY — State Rep. Richard Ferrari, R-62, voiced optimism about his prospects of defeating Democratic candidate Annie Hornish in the race for the seat that covers New Hartford, Barkhamsted, Granby, and East Granby. The Republican incumbent has been greeting voters at Barkhamsted Town Hall and Granby High School for a majority of the day since the polls opened at 6 a.m.
"I didn’t go to New Hartford Town Hall because there were not any Republicans there," he said. "I am actually feeling very good about my chances. We’ve been outside meeting people all day. I am pretty confident I’ll take all four towns. I think she (Annie Hornish) would need to win Granby in order to win the election."