State Representative Mary G. Fritz was first elected in November 1982 to represent the 90th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives. The 90th District includes Cheshire and Wallingford. She currently serves as Assistant Deputy Speaker. Rep. Fritz is a member of the Planning & Development Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Management Committee. Mary has also served as Deputy Speaker, Deputy Majority Leader, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Chair of the Internship Committee, Chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Public Health Committee. She is a past member of the Education Committee and the Select Committee on Workforce Development.
Representative Fritz earned her B.A. from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA, in 1959 and performed graduate work at Boston College, Trinity College and Fairfield University.
Prior to her election to the General Assembly, she served as a member of the Wallingford Board of Education, was a teacher and owner of a private nursery for nine years and was a Manager and Co-Owner of a custom furniture and gift store in Wallingford.
Representative Fritz has been a leading force in the General Assembly fighting for legislation affecting health care, job training, education, crime control, youth services, senior citizen care, and fair taxation.
She guided landmark Managed Care Reform legislation through the General Assembly and wrote the Comprehensive Job Training legislation that gives people skills and training to get a job and climb the economic ladder. Additionally, she co-chaired the Task Force on Medical Malpractice, which finally passed the legislature in 2005 after three years of work.
Through her legislative initiatives, Representative Fritz:
- Removed the statute of limitations on perjury in murder cases and other serious crimes.
- Established a GPS monitoring program for domestic violence offenders.
- Secured land for the North Farms Volunteer Fire Department.
- Created a special economic zone in Cheshire in the event the town loses a major defense plant.
- $42 million needed to complete the school renovation project.
- $1 million for Sheehan H.S. turf for field and track -- for community use.
- Passed legislation to force the plantings by Northeast Utilities in the rights of way of the 345 KV lines.
- Secured $1 million for the Wallingford Water Treatment Plant.
- Brought Spruce Glen Back To Wallingfor.
- Completed Many Road Construction Projects Eliminating Wallingford Bottlenecks.
- Saved The Agricultural Experiment Station.
- Protected Open Space By Protecting Agriculture.
- Sponsored Discharge Planning For One-Day Surgery for Medicare Clients.
- $35,000 for Driving Simulator at Gaylord.
- Established Credits for High School Graduation.
- Voted “No” – Income Tax.
- Saved Birth-To-Three Program.
- Secured $65,000—Elderly Health Screening.
- Supported 48-Hour Maternity Stay.
- Developed Anti-Crime Package.
- $1,000 Property Tax Exemption For Volunteer Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics And Ambulance Drivers.
- Established Advisory Council For Developmental Disabilities.
- Created License Plate for Veterans.
- Provided Insurance Coverage for Ostomy Supplies.
- Wrote/Passed Legislation To Implement Workforce Investment Act.
- Initiated Statewide Cell Phone Donation Project For Battered Women.
- Stopped Cuts In State Education Funding.
- Eagerly Supported Legislation That Provided School Accountability, School Readiness Programs, Magnet And Charter Schools, Technology Wiring For Schools, Increased ECS Funding, Tuition Freezes At Our State Universities and Colleges, Financial AidVocational-Technical Schools Included In School Construction Grants.
- Wrote Connecticut Job Training Legislation.
- Over $400,000 for Senior Centers in both towns.
- Wrote Civics Education Bill.
- Developed PILOT for Gaylord Hospital.
Representative Fritz is a former two-term President of the Connecticut Order of Women Legislators and was twice elected a Regional Director of the National Order of Women Legislators. She is also an Ex-officio Member of the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission.
Representative Fritz continues to be active in community service as a member of the following:
- Heritage Quilters.
- Cheshire Grange.
- Member of the Board of Governors for Mid-State Medical Center.
Representative Fritz has been recognized for her legislative and public service work having been honored with the following awards:
- 2009 Legislator of the Year: American Heart Association, because of her work on AED's
- Gamma Sigma National Service Sorority Volunteer of Distinction Award
- Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Award for Special Support of the Cheshire Community.
- Substance Abuse Coalition of Cheshire Award For Volunteerism & Commitment To Cheshire Residents On Behalf Of Alcohol/Other Drug Prevention Awareness.
- CT Police Chiefs Association Certificate of Appreciation For Outstanding Efforts To Improve Public Safety Through Legislative Initiatives.
- State Fireman’s Association Legislator Award.
- Wallingford Business & Professional Women’s Club Woman of the Year.
- Twice Named Connecticut State Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year
- New Haven County Farm Bureau Gold Star Award.
- Connecticut Friend of Floristry Award.
- Honorary State FFA Degree—National FFA Organization
- Cheshire Democratic Women's Club Civic Pride Award
Married to William Fritz, she has six children and fourteen delightful grandchildren.