Biography

In November 1998, the citizens of the 27th Assembly District elected Sandy Nafis to serve as their State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly. Since that time, Sandy has dedicated herself to serving the people of Newington and the State of Connecticut with integrity, hard work, common sense, and commitment.

Currently, Sandy serves as Deputy Majority Leader and serves as a member of the Screening Committee.  She is also a member of the Appropriations, Education and General Law Committees.  Sandy has been an active participant of the Results Based Accountability subcommittee of Appropriations for the past two terms, and she currently serves as a leadership liaison to the recently established Commission to Enhance Agency Outcomes.  Previously she served for six years as Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, overseeing over $3.8 billion of the State's $14.4 billion budget.

Some highlights of Sandy's legislative accomplishments in the Connecticut General Assembly include the following:

• Responded to over 1,600 constituent concerns and requests for assistance
• Increased education cost sharing dollars to the town by $5.7 million
• Fought to sustain library support through preservation of the Connecticut Education Network and the  ICONN digital library sesrvices.  
• Secured over $1.2 million for the Newington Town Center redevelopment project through Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants, providing a much needed face-lift to our historic downtown
• Led and successfully passed legislation to protect volunteerism for our volunteer and career firefighters throughout the state
• Worked with Senator Doyle to acquire $500,000 for Clem Lemire field
• Mediated the successful passage of the development of guidelines to coordinate services and programs to address the physical, mental, social and emotional needs of students
• Introduced and passed legislation to provide for education of restaurant personnel regarding signs of choking and responsive actions.
• Acquired $350,000 towards purchase of development rights for Eddy Farm
• Provided $200,000 for reconstruction of Newington High School track
• Worked with Senator Ciotto to obtain $50,000 for lights for Clem Lemire field and $50,000 for improvement to our community center.
• Successfully fought for restoration of special education funding
• Fought for legislation that would provide for better reporting of hospital acquired infections
• Worked for the successful inclusion of our Veteran's Hospital in the State's Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, thus bringing an additional $250,000+ per year to our community to replace lost tax dollars when the program is fully phased in.
• Obtained for Our Children's Place playground at Millpond Park over $160,000 dollars secured to provide a safe and accessible play area for our children
• Worked with Senator Ciotto to arrange for the free land conveyance of the old I-291 corridor property from the State of Connecticut to the Town of Newington – over 71 acres of open space preservation lands
• Further acquired an open space grant for $490,000 for the Town to purchase the ridge line of Cedar Mountain, preserving this area for future generations
• Helped acquire over $300,000 for technology wiring in order to upgrade and install improved telecommunications equipment in school systems
• Secured funding through the Small Cities Block Grant program to assist in the renovations of our premier Senior & Disabled Center
• Advocated for and successfully implemented numerous consumer-friendly legislative initiatives as a member of the General Law committee, including the no-call list, which allows our citizens to get relief from unwanted telephone solicitors; identify theft protections such as making it illegal to send email with intent of soliciting confidential information; protecting telephone and credit card information; the gift card law, which prohibited fees from being charged to gift certificates; the spam bill, which requires a phone number or e-mail address be placed on e-mail ads so a consumer may unsubscribe to the sender; and the wine bill, which allows patrons to take home wine purchased by the bottle in a restaurant that has not been consumed.

Legislative Awards and Recognitions

• Early Childhood Alliance Award 2009
• Connecticut State Firefighters Association 2008
• 2008 Legislator of the Year, Connecticut Fire Department Instructor's Association
• 2008 Fellowship Award, South End Ladies Democratic Club of Greater Hartford
• Task Force 51 Firefighter Appreciation Award 2008
• Southfield Children's Center 2008 Recognition Award
• 2007 Connecticut Library Association Appreciation Award
• Council of Small Towns 2007 Town Crier/Legislator of the Year
• 2006 North Central Mental Health Region – Annual Award to Legislator
• American Council of Engineering Companies 2003 Legislator of the Year
• Connecticut After School Alliance 2003 Certificate of Appreciation
• Connecticut Library Association's 2002 Library Champion Recognition Award
• Newington High School Internship Program Recognition, 2002, 2003, 2004
• UCONN Advocates 21st Century
• UCONN Undergraduate Student Government Commendation 2003
• Newington Knights "D" Squad 2002 Appreciation
• Connecticut Physical Therapists Patient's Advocate Award 2001
• Southfield Children's Center Appreciation Recognition
• Connecticut Youth Services Association's 1999 Youth Advocate Award
• Connecticut State Library Board's Certificate of Recognition, 3/99 and 3/02

A 1976 graduate of Stone School of Business, Sandy also serves as Vice President and Director of Finance and Benefits for the firm of Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. (FHI), a transportation and environmental planning firm.  Sandy has worked at FHI since 1987, and her responsibilities include management and coordination of all financial, human resource, and administrative functions for the 30-employee company.  Prior to her employment at FHI, Sandy worked for an international engineering firm from 1977 to 1986, including three years spent at the corporate office in Washington, D.C.

Sandy has been married since June 1980 to Alan Nafis, and they have two sons, Michael and Danny.  She is fortunate to have such a wonderfully supportive family who are willing to share her with the citizens of our community and our state.  In their spare time, the Nafis family enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and simply "chilling" by the pool.  Time spent together as a family is precious.

OVERALL PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Connecticut State Legislature, 1998 to present

• Deputy Majority Leader (2009-present)
• Legislative Screening Committee (2009-present)
• Legislative Management Committee (2009-present)
• Assistant Majority Leader (2007-2008)
• Appropriations Committee (1998-2004, 2007-present)
  Vice Chair (2002-2004); Subcommittee Chair (2000-2004)
• Education Committee (1998-2004, 2007-present)
• Executive and Legislative Nominations, Vice Chair (2007-present)
• General Law Committee (1998-2000, 2002-2006)
• Government Administration and Elections Committee (2004-2006)
• Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee (2004-present)
• Internship Committee, Chairperson/Ranking Member (2000-2002)

Newington Town Council, 12/1992 to 11/1997

• Deputy Mayor (1995-1997)
• Citizen's Committee on Positive Youth Development (1995-1997)
• School Fire Code Building Committee (1995-1997)
• Education Subcommittee on Insurance and Other Issues (1995-1997)
• Information Technology Committee (1992-1995)
• Audit Committee (1993-1995)
• Balf Town Committee (1992-1995)
• Town Manager Evaluation Committee (1993-1995)
• Interagency Youth Collaborative (1992-1993)
• Local Diversity Committee (1994-1995)
• Regional Forum for Area 10 - Sheff vs. O'Neill (1994-1995)
• Employee Appreciation Committee (1993)

     Council Liaison for:

• Library Board (1992-1997)
• Board of Education (1992-1997)
• Environmental Quality Commission (1995-1997)
• Conservation Commission (1995-1997)
• Parks and Recreation Board (1992-1995)
• Commission on Aging and Disabled (1992-1995)
• Newington Teacher Association contract negotiations (1993)

Community Service Experience
A grass-roots volunteer, Sandy's sense of community has spanned numerous volunteer activities over the years.

• Connecticut Technical High School Foundation Board (2005 to Present)
• Kiwanis Club of Newington (2005 to Present)
• UConn Health Center Women's Health Community Advisory Council (2003-2005)
• Strategic Planning Committee, Newington Board of Education (1995 to Present)
• Strategic Planning Committee, Lucy Robbins Welles Library (1999-2000)
• Friends of Library Goods and Services Auction Co-chairperson (1999)
• Accreditation Committee, Elizabeth Green School (1996-1997)
• Newington 125th Anniversary Steering Committee (1993-1996)
• Junior Woman's Club of Newington (1997 to 2007)
  • President (1990-1991) and Co-President (1997-1998);
  • 2nd Vice President/Membership Chairperson (1989-1990;
  • Secretary (1988-1989)
  • Ways and Means Chairperson (1988-1989)
  • Parliamentarian (1991-1992);
  • Chairperson of Education and Health Committees (1991-1992)
  • Co-Chairperson of Health/International/Public Affairs/Education Committees (1992-1993)
  • Co-Chairperson of Home Life Committee (1994-1995)

As a member of Junior Woman's Club, organized and/or participated in numerous community service projects involving many Town departments, including Human Services, Senior and Disabled Center, Parks and Recreation, Education, and Lucy Robbins Welles Library. Many additional service activities involved other community and regional organizations. Current and/or past project involvements include:

Middle School Dances
Morning with the Easter Bunny
Crafts for Giving
Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons
Three Miles for Newington Smiles
Human Services holiday baskets
Human Services food pantry
Human Services clothes closet
Human Services Special Needs
Share Your Heritage Night
Special Wishes
Peters Retreat Aids Shelter
Preschoolers Alive and Well
Churchill Annex Playground Project
Bone Marrow Donor Program
New Citizen Swearing in Ceremony
Great American Read Aloud
Newington High Graduation Party
Older American's Month
Memorial Day Parade (marching/float)
Quilts for Aids Babies
Newington Disability Awareness Day
Hartford Regional Center Support
Kids' Fair
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Newington Foster Families
Parks and Rec Extravaganza
Immaculate Conception Homeless Meals
St. Agnes Home for Unwed Teens
Town-wide Dog Show
Earth Day Town-wide cleanups
Arbor Day tree plantings
Emergency Form Program
Town-wide Spelling Bee
Bus Driver Appreciation
Cookies for Teachers
Books for the Homebound
Jefferson House Bingo
Mediplex Story Hour
Reverse Trick or Treat
DCYS Independent Living Group Support
Red Cross Babysitting Course
Prudence Crandall Women's Shelter
Interval House Women's Shelter
Project Rainbow for troops overseas
Cookies for Veterans
Buckle Up Babe Program
Buckle Bear Program
Preschool Vision Screening

• Elizabeth Green School:
  • PTA Member - 1989 to 1998
  • Media Volunteer - 1991 to 1998
  • Coordinating Room Parent - 1989/1990; 1992/1993; 1994/1995
  • Membership Co-Chairperson - 1993/1994
  • Playground Chairperson -1992/1993
  • Hospitality Co-Chairperson - 1991/1992
• Martin Kellogg Middle School:
  • PAC Member - 1994-2002
  • Media Volunteer - 1995-1996
  • Coordinating Room Parent Volunteer - 1994-1996
• Newington High School Parent Advisory Council - 1998
• Pack 347 Cub Scouts:
  • Co-Den Leader - 1991/1992
  • Assistant Den Leader - 1992/1993
• Newington Democratic Town Committee - 1992