Dan Debicella
Dan Debicella | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 24, 1974 Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician |
| Known for | Former Connecticut State Senator for the 21st district; Republican candidate for Connecticut's 4th congressional district in 2010 and 2014 |
Dan Debicella (born October 24, 1974) is a former businessman and State Senator who represented Connecticut's 21st district in the State Senate of Connecticut. He was the Republican contender for the state's Fourth Congressional District in both 2010 and 2014.
Early life, education, and business career
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Debicella grew up in Shelton, where he continues to live. His father served as an officer with the Bridgeport Police Department, while his mother held a secretarial position within the federal judiciary. After graduating from Shelton High School in 1992, Debicella earned a finance degree magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He further obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School, finishing among the top 5% of his class.
In his professional career, Debicella has been employed as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., served as Director of Strategy at PepsiCo, and held executive roles at Bridgewater Associates. Additionally, he participates on several boards for community organizations.
Early political career
Debicella spent seven years on Shelton’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation, including four years as its chairman. He acted as Fairfield County's regional chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign and managed election efforts for State Senator Doc Gunther.
Elections
Following the retirement of longtime legislator Doc Gunther, Debicella campaigned for the 21st district seat in the Connecticut State Senate in 2006. He defeated Democratic opponent Christopher Jones with 52% to 48%. In 2008, he secured re-election by defeating Democrat Janice Andersen, earning 54% of the vote compared to her 46%.
Tenure
During his tenure in the State Senate, Debicella held the position of Deputy Minority Leader and represented eastern Fairfield County, including parts of Monroe, Seymour, Stratford, and his hometown, Shelton.
He co-sponsored legislation that offered tax incentives to businesses generating ten or more new jobs. Working alongside Republican Governor Jodi Rell, he backed a budget that raised state education funding by 10 to 20 percent without increasing taxes.
Committee assignments
- Appropriations Committee
- Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
- Public Health Committee
- Regulation Review Committee
2010
Debicella stepped down from his state senate seat to pursue election to represent Connecticut's 4th congressional district in 2010. On May 21, he earned the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party and went on to win the August primary with 61%, defeating Robert Merkle and Rick Torres.
The general election against incumbent Democrat Jim Himes was intensely contested, appearing on CNN’s list of Top 100 Most Competitive Races and Politico’s Daily 10. On November 2, Debicella was narrowly defeated with a vote share of 47% to Himes' 53%. He performed strongly in affluent communities such as Darien (67%), Shelton (65%), and New Canaan (65%), but lost ground in urban areas like Stamford (39%) and Bridgeport (16%).
2014
In September 2013, Debicella declared his intention to run again in the newly reconfigured 4th district, setting up a rematch with Himes.