Penny Bacchiochi

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Penny Bacchiochi

Connecticut State Representative from the 52nd District
In office 2003 – present
Constituency	Stafford, Somers, and Union

Born
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Widow
Children	Two sons
Residence	Somers, Connecticut

Penny Bacchiochi is an American Republican politician, currently serving as a state representative in Connecticut. As representative of the 52nd House District, she serves the rural northeastern towns of Stafford, Somers, and Union, each of which are located in Tolland County.

1 Personal background
2 Role at legislature
3 Political stances
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Personal background

Raised in Stafford, Bacchiochi graduated from Stafford High School in 1979 and later received degress from Becker Junior College, where she majored in social work, and the University of Connecticut, where she majored in public relations and marketing. She also completed some graduate-level work in education at Saint Joseph College.

Aside from being a state representative, Bacchiochi has worked in the housing field for more than 25 years. She owns a real estate and property management company based in Stafford.

Before becoming a state legislator, Bacchiochi served on several town committees in Stafford, including the Planning and Zoning Committee.

She is the daughter of Allen Bacchiochi, first selectman of Stafford, and has two young sons.

[edit] Role at legislature

Bacchiochi is the House's ranking member, or leader of the Republican delegation, on the Connecticut General Assembly's Planning and Development Committee. She is also the ranking member of the Internship Committee, which she previously chaired. In addition, she is a member of the Public Safety and Security Committee.

She previously served on the Select Committee for Housing and the Commerce Committee.

[edit] Political stances

A moderate, Bacchiochi is noted for being one of the more liberal members of her caucus. She is best known in Connecticut for her stance on medical marijuana. The primary supporter of pro-medical marijuana legalization in Connecticut, Bacchiochi has worked closely with groups like the Drug Policy Alliance and the Marijuana Policy Project to push legislation through the system. She reintroduced legislation to approve medical marijuana in the 2007 session, after previously introducing such legislation in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Bacchiochi has also been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America and The Wish List for her pro-choice stance on reproductive rights.

Regarding more conservative stances, Bacchiochi is a member of the National Rifle Association and previously served as chair of the Somers Republican Town Committee. She is opposed to same-sex marriage and voted against the state contracting reform legislation put forth by Democrats.