Lawrence F. Cafero

Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. (born January 8, 1958 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) represents Norwalk, Connecticut and is the Republican House Leader in the Connecticut General Assembly.

He was first elected to the 142nd District in 1992, and is now serving in his eighth term in the Connecticut House of Representatives. After serving as Deputy Leader for 10 years, Larry was chosen in 2006 to lead his caucus as House Republican Leader.

As leader of the assembly, Cafero helps set the legislative agenda and formulates Republican positions on pending legislation. In addition to his leadership role in the House, Larry has served as a member of the General Assembly’s Appropriations, Judiciary, Legislative Management, and Labor and Public Employees Committees. He also represents the Connecticut General Assembly on the Labor and Workforce Development Committee of the National Council of State Legislatures.

A recognized leader in the field of education, Cafero was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Educational Improvement Panel to develop legislative responses to the Sheff v. O’Neill school desegregation decision. He also served as the Ranking Republican House member of the Education Committee and as a member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.

In the 2006 Legislative session Cafero sponsored legislation to ensure refills for prescription narcotics do not fall into the wrong hands (HB 5681), a constitutional amendment ensuring adequate funding of the Teacher Retirement system (HJ 4), and to provide financial assistance to nursingstudents to help end the nursing shortage (HB 5200) among others. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he has authored legislation toughening the state’s drunk driving laws and stiffening the penalty against those who use "date-rape" drugs to commit sexual assaults.

In addition to his leadership responsibilities at the State Capitol, Cafero remains active on the local level, as an expulsion officer for the Norwalk Public School system, and a member of both the St. Ann’s Club and the Exchange Club. He is a former board member of the Side-by-Side Community Charter School and a former member and Chairman of the Norwalk Board of Education.

Personal life

Cafero graduated from Norwalk High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and earned his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law. He is a partner with the law firm of Brown, Rudnick, of Hartford.

He lives in Norwalk where he grew up with his wife and their three children.

External links

* [http://www.housegop.ct.gov/members/cafero.asp Connecticut House Republicans: Lawrence Cafero]