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February 21, 2021 / 2021 Power 50

2021 Power 50: 21. Vincent Candelora & Kevin Kelly

Photo | Yehyun Kim/CT Mirror Connecticut state Capitol.

Rep. Vincent J. Candelora and Sen. Kevin Kelly have each been promoted from deputy Republican positions to top brass in their respective House and Senate caucuses.

Vincent Candelora

Over the past decade, it’s not been unusual for the Connecticut GOP to be the minority party, but Candelora, and particularly Kelly, are staring down larger disadvantages than normal, and they also must legislate in a mostly remote environment due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the state for a bumpy ride over the past year.

Still, the two new leaders, successors to longtime Connecticut Republican stalwarts Themis Klarides and Len Fasano, have come out of the gate aggressively.

So far, they’ve opposed Gov. Ned Lamont’s recent extension of his pandemic emergency powers, criticizing lawmakers on the other side of the aisle for “balking,” and pressuring Democrats to reassert the legislative branch as co-equal to the governor’s office.

Kevin Kelly

Candelora has also pressed the fact that the public will be removed — at least physically — from the bill-making process this year as a reason for urging moderation from Democrats in their policy agenda this session.

How it shakes out remains to be seen, but despite a damaging November election that further shifted the Connecticut power balance to Democrats, Kelly and Candelora appear determined this year not to cede any more ground than they have to.

Outside the legislature, Candelora, who lives in North Branford, helps run two family-owned businesses — a manufacturing company and sportsplex.

Kelly is an elder law attorney and owner of Kevin Kelly & Associates PC, a law firm based in Stratford, where he also lives.

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