CT Patch Candidate Profile: Ryan Fazio For State Senator
GREENWICH, CT — Election Day on Nov. 5 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Greenwich.
Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the state and town.
The 36th State Senate District covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.
Candidate's Name
Ryan Fazio
What office are you seeking?
State Senate
Campaign website
What city or town do you live in?
Party affiliation
I grew up in Greenwich and graduated from the public schools, including Western Middle School and Greenwich High. I went to college at Northwestern University where I studied economics.
I've spent four years working for a small investing firm that invests in small and medium-sized businesses and helps them grow. I previously worked as a commodities trader for 8 years with a focus on renewable energy.
Mom, Madeline. Dad, Michael. Brothers, Michael and Christian. Sister, Anastasia. Stepmom, Magda..
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No.
Previous public office, appointive or elective
State Senator, 2021-present. Greenwich RTM, 2019-2021. Greenwich Energy Efficiency Committee, 2020-2022.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am running for re-election because this community is my home. I was raised here, I love it, and want to protect it and make the state better for everyone. I believe if we bring people together across the aisle, we can solve the challenges facing our state. We can cut taxes for all families and cap property taxes. We can cut our sky-high energy bills and end the "public benefits" tax. We can protect local control of zoning so we put our community's interests before developer interests. And we can protect public safety by empowering our police to take illegal guns off the street and reduce rising car thefts. There is possibility for a brighter future.
What do you believe is the No. 1 issue facing Connecticut, and how do you plan to address it?
Cost of living, cost of living, and cost of living. Connecticut's taxes and electric bills are far too high. We need to cut income taxes across the board while extending the state's spending cap. We should cap property taxes, as other states have successfully done. We must cut those sky-high electric bills by eliminating the "public benefits" tax from our bill. And we should cut health care costs by rolling back excess red tape like Certificate of Need laws. I have proposed comprehensive legislation to achieve all of these ends and am working to build bipartisan consensus on all of them. Our taxes and energy bills do not need to be so costly, and we need a change in policy to make our state affordable for all.
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?
Road deaths have skyrocketed since the passage of anti-police policies in 2020 that eliminated the ability of police to enforce our laws and allowed dangerous behavior to proliferate without consequence. Because of restrictive policing policies, we now see much more dangerous driving, car thefts, shootings and other serious crime. We simply need to allow our police to enforce the laws on the books which are sufficient. I am proud to have the endorsement of the Stamford Police Association and Fraternal Order of Police because I will allow our law enforcement to do their job and keep out highways and roads safe. The large majorities for one party in the state legislature is not currently serving public safety.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I support eliminating the "public benefits" tax from your electric bill; my opponent would preserve it so that you pay more. I support local control of zoning; my opponent helped eliminate the right of towns to change their charter regarding zoning in 2023 as deputy chief of staff. While my opponent and I both support strong gun safety laws in the state, only I support policing policies to enforce them and only I was endorsed by our police to keep us safe. We both support keeping abortion legal in the state. I have a successful record of working across the aisle, while my opponent does not have any bipartisan successes.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have a very strong record of working across the aisle to pass positive policies. I wrote and passed six new laws in just two years to protect our district and improve our state. I wrote and passed a major reform to strengthen oversight of the utilities in 2023 (SB7). I wrote and passed a major expansion of birth control access for women in 2023 (SB6768, sec. 3). And I passed one of the only victories for local control of zoning in years in 2024 (SB333). All of those laws were of consequence, and I passed them despite being in the minority party. I can do even more with a more balanced legislature and a new term.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Representing my home district is the honor of a lifetime. I love the job and am proud of my record of bipartisan leadership. While I am frustrated by the constant negativity and deceptiveness of my opponent in this campaign, I have focused on my record, on the issues, and on a substantive vision for the future of our state. Most importantly, I am more eager than ever to run for another term to serve the district that I love and protect it for the future.
