New Haven Democrat Martin Looney has been chosen to be the Connecticut Senate President in the new session that begins in January.
Looney is one of several leaders of the upper chamber of the state General Assembly selected by their members on Thursday.
He has served as Connecticut Senate majority leader since 2003. He is expected to be officially elected president by the full Senate in January. Looney will replace Donald Williams of Brooklyn, who did not seek re-election.
Looney said he’s honored to have been selected to lead the body .
“I look forward to continuing to try to lead our caucus in a direction to engage in progressive government in Connecticut, to work closely with Governor Malloy and to cooperate with Republicans of good will on legislation for the benefit of the people of Connecticut,” he said.
Norwalk state Senator Bob Duff has been selected to be the new Senate Majority leader.
On the Republican side state Senator Len Fasano of North Haven has been tapped to be the new minority leader. He’s also looking forward to working across party lines over the next two years to improve the quality of life for everyone in Connecticut, he said.
Fasano replaces John McKinney of Fairfield, who did not run for re-election and waged an unsuccessful bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
State Senator Kevin Witkos of Canton has been chosen to be the Senate Republican leader pro tempore.
The new session of the General Assembly opens on Jan. 7.
