When Democrat Mary Mushinsky was first elected to the state legislature in 1980, Jimmy Carter was serving as president.
After 46 years, Mushinsky announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection for another two-year term. She will be stepping down as the longest-serving current member of the state House of Representatives, and she is tied for the longest-serving legislator with Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney of New Haven, who was also elected in 1980.
“It’s been a great privilege and a great pleasure to work with you all and serve my hometown all these years,” Mushinsky said on the House floor in an announcement that surprised some at the state Capitol in Hartford. “I will work as hard as ever for my constituents right through to the last day of my term.”
The longtime Wallingford Democrat serves today as an assistant Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore overseeing the chamber at times during debates. She was first elected as an environmental activist, and she served for six years as co-chairwoman of the environment committee. To this day, Mushinsky, 74, is known among her colleagues for her environmental expertise, along with her knowledge of the bottle-deposit law and insight from casting thousands of votes through the decades.
Noting that she won 23 elections and three primaries, Mushinsky said that “some of them [were] very, very difficult.”
In her brief speech, she thanked the House Speakers whom she worked under for more than four decades. She has served under six governors — William O’Neill, Lowell P. Weicker, John G. Rowland, M. Jodi Rell, Dannel P. Malloy, and Ned Lamont — and 10 House Speakers.
“I have the greatest respect and love for this institution,” Mushinsky said.
Citing her busy schedule, Mushinsky said she is looking forward to the next stage of her life.
“I don’t really have a life right now, and it would be nice if I had one,” she said. “I hope to spend more time assisting my family members, traveling, caring for our local rivers — that’s my other job — and enjoying the great outdoors.”
She added, “It’s been a real joy. Thank you, everyone.”
At the end of her remarks, Mushinsky received an extended standing ovation from her colleagues in the House.
House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford noted that there will be more time at the end of the legislative session for longer speeches about Mushinsky’s career, along with other retiring members. Ritter noted that he was touched by Mushinsky’s remarks.
“That was a very special moment,” Ritter said.
Christopher Keating can be reached at [email protected]