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Printed From Acorn-Online.com Darien Times
Ryan, a Republican whose seventh term as Darien and Rowayton’s state representative ends Jan. 2, told The Darien Times this week that he will not run again. “I don’t know if anyone has believed me all these years that I have been saying that this is not ‘my district’ or ‘my seat’ in the General Assembly, but I have always viewed this as a public service job, where the mission is to try and do the best we can for our constituents,” Ryan told The Times on Tuesday. “My good friend Chris Shays is absolutely correct when he says the public wants elected officials to be Americans first, and Republicans or Democrats second. I never have any problem being as Republican as necessary when it is appropriate, but I can only continue to hope that more elected officials would heed the words of Harry S. Truman that “it is amazing what can be accomplished when you don’t care who gets the credit.” The Democrats have not said if they plan to run someone for the seat, but previously the town Democrat chairman had said they would not challenge Ryan this year. Things may change, as news was just getting out Wednesday that Ryan was not running. Ryan would not say who would run in his place, and hinted that an announcement could come as early as this weekend. Larry Cafero (R-Norwalk), the House minority leader, said that Ryan will be missed by his fellow Republicans. “We are truly, on this side of the aisle, suffering a loss. John has been, for 14 years, a wonderful addition to our caucus,” Cafero said Wednesday. “He was one of those guys who came here on his first term and seemed like a veteran.” That was probably because Ryan knew his way around state government before being elected to serve it. “I knew the job going into it,” Ryan said during a Wednesday phone conversation between votes at the capitol. “I had been up here dozens of times. I didn’t have the two-year learning curve. It was very easy for me to drop into this.” Before serving as state representative, Ryan served on the Darien Representative Town Meeting from 1989 to 1994, was on the town Board of Ethics, including two years a chairman. He also served as corporation counsel for the city of Norwalk from 1981 to 1983. He was a delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business and from 1983-96 served on the Board of Directors and executive board of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce. At various times, he has served as the chamber’s vice president of governmental affairs, vice president of economic development and corporate secretary. U.S. Rep. Chris Shays described Ryan as one of his closest friends. “If I ever have a problem, he is my go-to person,” Shays told The Times on Wednesday. “He is smart, sensible and he knows what you have to do to deal with issues: whether personalities or an actual public policy issue that needs to be resolved.” Bob Ward, the previous minority leader and current state Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner said Ryan was an effective leader. And like other state officials The Times spoke with this week, Ward said that Ryan was fun to debate policy with. “He was one of the true fiscal conservatives in the General Assembly,” Ward said on Tuesday. “Land use and economic development were always strong points for John... And I remember him being an advocate for SafeRides and volunteer firefighters — and always an advocate for controlling state spending.” Said Ryan: “One of the biggest jobs the state representative for the 141st District has to do is keep the state of Connecticut from putting Post 53 or SafeRides out of business — because every year we are doing legislation on teen driving restrictions. And every year as we pass more transportation laws, we have to make sure that our kids can still drive the ambulances and do SafeRides.” Ryan is in his fourth term as part of the Republican leadership in the House. He is in his second year as ranking member on the Banks Committee. Ryan also serves on the General Law Committee (previously as its ranking member) and the Planning & Development Committee. Ryan also created a bill that limited protests at funerals of military personnel, an issue that arose during the Iraq War. He said it was a lot of work to get that passed — particularly as a member of the legislative minority. “I am sorry to see him go,” Lile Gibbons (R-Greenwich), said on Wednesday. “John has been a well-respected member of our Republican caucus and the House. When he isn’t being sardonic, he is very helpful. He is a good lawyer. He understands all the details... I think he’s going to miss the House as much as we are going to miss him.” Ryan also took office the same year as former Gov. John G. Rowland, who later resigned under a scandal. “It was a major constitutional crisis,” Ryan said. “It wasn’t fun for anybody. Unfortunately the state has had the notoriety of many of these things: two major city mayors, and legislators have been part of scandals. It is part, I believe, of the negative connotation of what people see in government. Most of us are there to do a good, fair job.” One negative side for southern Fairfield County legislators is the commute to Hartford, which is about 90 minutes each way. Rep. Livvy Floren (R-Greenwich) is part of the 90-minute commuter club at the capitol. “It makes me feel terrible,” Floren said on Wednesday about Ryan’s leaving. “He is just such bright spirit. He is sharp as a tack. He takes his job seriously but never takes himself seriously.” “I’ll miss seeing him all decked out in his tailored suit and cowboy boots.” And why does a Catholic prep-school kid — who graduated from Notre Dame University and got his law degree from Boston College — wear cowboy boots? “Why did I know you were going to ask me this?” Ryan said. “Years and years ago, when I was in high school, it dawned on me that I have very narrow feet with high arches and it is tough to find a good pair of shoes... I found that you get a pair of boots in the right size, they fit better — and they last longer. I don’t even own any regular shoes other than a pair of Reeboks for the weekend. “Speaker Van Nostrand would yell at me 20 years ago about trying cases in Norwalk in a pinstripe suit and cowboy boots. It’s not for fashion, it was for comfort. I’ve never been on a horse in my life.” Ryan came into the General Assembly with big shoes to fill, taking a seat that belonged to the former Speaker of the House Ralph E. Van Nostrand, whose campaigns Ryan worked on. “If the speaker, God rest his soul, came back today, he probably wouldn’t recognize this place,” Ryan said of the General Assembly. “It is much more partisan now. It is much more full-time. The collegiality of it is different. And the amount of time, issues and bills has gone up every year.” Added Ryan: “We used to say, ‘Thank God this place is not like Washington.’ We don’t say that anymore... Everyone used to be much more friendly and worked on things in a bipartisan way. I think the ‘Washington effect’ was late in coming to Connecticut government. And as people have commented, that Washington effect has gone down to the town level too.” “I have obviously been at it for a while,” Ryan said on Tuesday. “I don’t believe in term limits but it is a good idea to have other people in these jobs from time to time. And I would not mind having a few years to practice law full time.” What about more public service for Ryan? “He certainly would be good advising anyone running for public office,” Shays said. “He would certainly be helpful giving anyone advice. Hopefully he’ll be very helpful to our next candidate.” What about Shays campaign this year? “There’s not a chance I’ll spare him,” the congressman said. “He has less of an excuse now that he has more free time.” More of Ryan’s free time will likely be spent with fiancé Elyse Gittleman and at the “full-time job” as an attorney with Darien firm Tibbets, Keating & Butler. “I am fortunate that I work with a great local law firm that has tolerated my crazy schedule,” Ryan said. “And I am fortunate to have the lovely Elyse.” But, he later said, if there is a nitch in the community that needs his help, “I might look into it.” • • • FIRST REPORTED Wednesday 6:33 p.m. Republican State Rep. John Ryan, who is finishing his 14th year as Darien and Rowayton’s representative in the General Assembly, will not seek an eighth term, he has told The Darien Times. “I don’t know if anyone has believed me all these years that I have been saying that this is not “my district” or “my seat” in the General Assembly, but I have always viewed this as a public service job, where the mission is to try and do the best we can for our constituents,” Ryan told The Times on Tuesday. “My good friend Chris Shays is absolutely correct when he says the public wants elected officials to be Americans first, and Republicans or Democrats second. I never have any problem being as Republican as necessary when it is appropriate, but I can only continue to hope that more elected officials would heed the words of Harry S. Truman that “it is amazing what can be accomplished when you don’t care who gets the credit.” Before serving as state representative, Ryan served on the Darien Representative Town Meeting from 1989 to 1994, was on the town Board of ethics, including two years a chairman. He also served as corporation counsel for the city of Norwalk from 1981 to 1983. He was a delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business and from 1983-96 served on the Board of Directors and executive board of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce. At various times, he has served as the chamber’s vice president of governmental affairs, vice president of economic development and corporate secretary. Larry Cafero (R-Norwalk), the House minority leader, said that Ryan will be missed by his fellow Republicans. “We are truly, on this side of the aisle, suffering a loss. John has been, for 14 years, a wonderful addition to our caucus,” Cafero said Wednesday. “He was one of those guys who came here on his first term and seemed like a veteran.” That was probably because Ryan knew his way around state government before being elected to serve it. “I knew the job going into it,” Ryan said during a Wednesday phone conversation between votes at the capitol. “I had been up here dozens of times. I didn’t have the two-year learning curve. It was very easy for me to drop into this.” Said Ryan: “One of the biggest jobs the state representative for the 141st District has to do is keep the state of Connecticut from putting Post 53 or SafeRides out of business — because every year we are doing legislation on teen driving restrictions. And every year as we pass more transpiration laws, we have to make sure that our kids can still drive the ambulances and do SafeRides.” Ryan is in his fourth term as part of the Republican leadership in the House. He is in his second year as ranking member on the Banks Committee. Ryan also serves on the General Law Committee (previously as its ranking member) and the Planning & Development Committee. Tomorrow’s Darien Times, will have much more on this story including an extended interview with Ryan and others. E-mail Darien Times editor Joshua Fisher at editor@darientimes.com. Subscribers to Darien Times E-mail Alerts heard about this story right after it happened. To subscribe, e-mail breakingnews@darientimes.com. Subject: Sign me up. © Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers |
