State Senator Jonathan A. Harris

Jonathan A. Harris was elected state senator for the 5th District (serving Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington and West Hartford) in November 2004, and was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term in November 2006. Senator Harris was originally elected to complete the term of Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin Sullivan, who took over as lieutenant governor, and started serving a full term in January 2005.

Senator Harris is chairman of the Public Health Committee, vice chairman of the Planning and Development Committee, Ranking Member of the Regulations Review Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Prior to his election, Senator Harris served with distinction as the mayor of West Hartford. He was elected to the West Hartford Town Council in 2001 and was serving his second term as mayor when he was elected to the Senate. During his tenure as mayor, Senator Harris successfully led the effort to reinvent town government, reducing its size while still preserving the quality of education and town services and was a leader in the planning and development of the $150 million Blue Back Square project.

Senator Harris also served as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Reform & Smart Growth. He has experienced first hand how the over reliance on the regressive property tax has impacted our communities.

Senator Harris previously served as counsel to the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives. In 2000, he ran against a 20-year incumbent for the House of Representatives and lost by only 9 votes.

Senator Harris has a long record of community service in West Hartford, including serving as a board member with the Senior Jobs Bank, the Amercian School for the Deaf, the Noah Webster House, the Bridge and the Jewish Federation.

An attorney, Senator Harris grew up in West Hartford, graduating from Hall High School in 1982. He earned a B.A. from Brandeis University in 1986. After working for former Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly, Senator Harris earned a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1990.

In their spare time, Senator Harris, his wife Lucy and his stepson Spencer enjoy reading, listening to music and participating in local and school activities.