The Plainville resident, who came in second last year in the Republican primary for U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s seat, will try again in 2012.
Justin Bernier sent out a press release and video announcing his run for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. He made a formal announcement at 3:30 p.m. on WTIC’s radio afternoon program “State and Church.”
Bernier, 35, will probably face a challenge from within his own party, but plans on using his energy and youthfulness to get his message of limited government, fiscal responsibility and free enterprise out to the 41-towns in the district. In the 2010 primary Bernier was successful in garnering support from 18 of the 41 towns, but former state Sen. Sam Caligiuri of Waterbury won the nomination.
Murphy has already announced he will be running for U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s vacated U.S. Senate seat that year making it an open seat.
The seat was held by Republicans for years before Murphy defeated former U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson back in 2006. But it’s a seat Republicans like Bernier are looking to reclaim.
Bernier, a veteran who was appointed to former Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, was also the only member of the Compensation Commission for Elected Officials and Judges to recommend a ten percent pay cut for state lawmakers.
