Jason Bartlett (politician)

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Rep. Jason Bartlett
Jason Bartlett (politician)
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
2007 – present
Preceded by Hank Bielawa
Political party Democratic
Residence Bethel, Connecticut

Jason Bartlett is an American businessman and politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the state's second district, which includes parts of Bethel, Danbury and Redding.

Bartlett was raised in Redding and graduated from Redding Public Schools, before earning a B.A. in political science from the University of Connecticut.[1]

He was elected a state representative in 2006, defeating Republican Phil Gallagher by 4,112 votes (54%) to 3,524 (46%).[2] He had previously run in 2002 and 2004, losing on both occasions to Republican Hank Bielawa. He lost by over 450 votes in 2002, but the 2004 result was exceptionally close - Biewala won by 87 votes, with just 50.4%.[3][4]

For over a decade, Bartlett has owned and operated his own mortgage company.[5] He is the owner of Connecticut First Capitol in Bethel as well as a restaurant in Hartford.[6] He raised two sons, the children of his deceased uncle and aunt. Now 21 and 19 years old and both attending community college in Connecticut, they came to live with him when they were 11 and 9 respectively.[5]

Bartlett is gay[7] and is one of six openly gay members of the Connecticut General Assembly, serving alongside Reps. Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven), Art Feltman (D-Hartford) and Beth Bye (D-West Hartford), as well as Sens. Andrew J. McDonald (D-Stamford) and Andrew M. Maynard (D-Stonington).

Although his district is 96% white, Bartlett is African American. He is also the country's only (and quite possibly its first) openly gay black state legislator.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rep. Jason Bartlett - official biography. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  2. ^ Connecticut Secretary of State: 2006 general election results. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  3. ^ Connecticut Secretary of State: 2004 general election results. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  4. ^ Connecticut Secretary of State: 2002 general election results. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  5. ^ a b NBJC Exclusive: The Coming Out of Jason Bartlett (2008-02-19). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  6. ^ "Bartlett wins in third bid", Bethel Beacon, 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2008-02-19. 
  7. ^ "Bartlett announces publicly he's gay", Danbury News-Times, 2008-02-19. Retrieved on 2008-02-19. 
  8. ^ "Bartlett Becomes First Out Black State Lawmaker", The Advocate, 2008-02-19. Retrieved on 2008-02-19. 

[edit] External link


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