State Senator Thomas J. Herlihy was elected to represent the Eighth District in November 1998 and is serving his fourth term. He formerly served as a State Representative to Simsbury’s 16th District after being elected to the post in November 1996.

The Eighth Senatorial District is one of the largest Senate districts in the state, covering parts of Litchfield and Hartford counties. It includes the communities of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington.

Senator Herlihy has been appointed Deputy Minority Leader and is the ranking Republican Senator for the General Assembly’s Education Committee, the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee and the General Assembly’s Select Committee on Children. Senator Herlihy also serves as a member of the General Assembly’s Finance Committee.

In 1997 Senator Herlihy, while serving as a State Representative was nominated by Speaker of the House Tom Ritter and was chosen by Darden Graduate School at the University of Virginia to participate in a program for Emerging Political Leaders. Senator Herlihy was also honored by the Connecticut State Firefighters Association with an Award of Appreciation for his efforts to purchase thermal imaging equipment for fire departments throughout Connecticut during the 2000 Session.

Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Senator Herlihy was active in local government in Simsbury. He was elected to the Board of Finance in 1991 and served as its chairman in 1996. Senator Herlihy also served on the Insurance and Pensions Advisory Committee from 1990 to 1996 and was a member of the Board of Selectmen from 1987 to 1990.

Senator Herlihy has been a member of the Simsbury Republican Town Committee since 1984. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Farmington Valley YMCA since 1995 and is a member of the Simsbury Rotary Club and Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.

Born November 29, 1956, in Queens, New York, Senator Herlihy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Senator Herlihy taught third-grade at Squadron Line School in Simsbury from 1978-80 and was employed at The Travelers Insurance Company from 1980-83. He is now owner of T.J. Herlihy Insurance, a business that he founded in 1983.

Senator Herlihy resides in Simsbury and is the father of three children