Lamont schedules 1st of 2 special elections for legislators

HARTFORD, Conn. — A special election has been scheduled for Jan. 25 to fill the Connecticut House of Representatives seat vacated by Caroline Simmons, who resigned after being elected mayor of Stamford. Earlier this week, veteran Waterbury state Rep. Anthony “Tony” D’Amelio announced he will retire from the House of Representatives, effective at midnight on Dec. 31. The Republican, who has represented the 71st Assembly District for nearly 25 years, said he plans to focus more on his restaurant “Verdi” at the Western Hills Golf Course in Waterbury and spend more time with his family. “The past two years have been difficult for all of us, and like many small business owners, I’ve been forced to put in a lot more time personally in order to keep the doors open and fully staffed,” D’Amelio said in a statement. “It’s not right to commit to a job if you’re unable to give it the full attention it deserves,” he said of his position in the legislature, which he called an “incredibly humbling experience.”