Groton — State Rep. Joe de la Cruz, D-Groton, is running unopposed for his third term representing the 41st House District that covers portions of Groton and New London.

De la Cruz, 49, a sheet metal worker by trade and vice president of Hillery Company, a metal fabricator in Groton, was elected in 2016 to his first term in the General Assembly, after serving on Groton's Town Council and Representative Town Meeting.

Alexander Antipas in July withdrew his name from nomination as the Republican candidate for the race.

De la Cruz, who grew up in New London and now lives in Groton, said top issues for his next term include helping Connecticut climb out of the financial hole from the COVID-19 pandemic and fixing the state budget without cutting needed services.

“We’re going to have to find efficiencies and cost savings, but you’re not going to be able to cheat a whole generation on quality education or cheat neighborhoods on protection because we have these issues,” he said. “We’ll have to figure it out. We’re still looking at sources of revenue that we may have to come up with, but we can’t go backwards.”

He said the state’s relationship with the federal government will be key as the state faces an economic downturn. But he’s also optimistic because Connecticut’s defense industry appears to be holding strong, and he wants to continue to support programs that train young people and provide companies, like Electric Boat, with skilled labor.

Infrastructure is another top priority. De la Cruz, a toll supporter, pointed out that his company sends a truck to New York City regularly and gets a $68 to $80 a day toll bill from New York. However, a competitor heading to Connecticut pays “zero dollars and zero cents” to use the state’s highways, which are supported by Connecticut tax dollars.

While people may think tolls sound like "just another tax," he said he continues to support tolls because he doesn't think there is any other form of raising revenue to close the state's infrastructure deficit.

Path to Hartford

De la Cruz said his prior experience in local politics served as an “apprenticeship” for his state role, and he would not change the experience for anything.

He first got involved in local politics when the recreational league he signed up his daughter for wasn’t keeping score at basketball games, and he felt it was important for the 12-year-olds’ development to know how to win and lose. He decided to run for the RTM, where he became chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee and got the policy changed.

“That’s really where I found you could change things if you don’t like them,” de la Cruz said.

After three terms on the RTM, he took a hiatus to focus on coaching and then ran for Town Council, where he served for three years before running for his first term as state representative in 2016.

De la Cruz, who grew up in public housing, said the highlight of his career was helping to pass the bill to raise the minimum wage and knowing that he was part of making a change that the people he represents asked for and that directly impacts many of them and their livelihoods.

De la Cruz, who started the addiction outreach group Community Speaks Out with his wife, Tammy, said that while the General Assembly has passed many bills in the fight against the opioid crisis, there is still a gap and he wants to continue that work. He said the state is “not quite winning that war yet,” and it shows with addiction and overdoses on the rise.

“I know we can make a difference with good legislation,” he said.

The self-described “consensus builder” said that even though he is running unopposed in this election, he feels he owes it to his constituents to go out and talk to them and hear their concerns.

He said that once he takes the time to make up his mind on an issue, he doesn’t waver. However, he said a recent vote on the police accountability bill was not easy for him.

De la Cruz spoke to community leaders, Black Lives Matter, his family and police before his vote. De la Cruz, who got a taste for what police go through every day through his work with Community Speaks Out, said he voted against the bill after hearing police felt the provision regarding qualified immunity was going to hinder the way police can do their job.

He also felt that removing that section would allow for bipartisan support of the bill and send a strong signal.

The night of the vote, de la Cruz said he was on the phone with police, community leaders and family members. He said he felt like he was “kicked in the stomach” knowing he was going to hurt some feelings with the vote, but he also knew that in the end he has to listen to the voice in his head telling him he is doing the right thing.

He wrote emails to the Democratic Town Committees in both communities to let them know why he voted the way he did. He said he knew that many people who put him into office wanted him to vote a certain way, but even the people who disagreed with him appreciated that he sent the heartfelt email and respected that he reached out to them and took the time to do his due diligence.

He said he supports the Black Lives Matter movement and has shown up at rallies to listen to the youths.

“To see these young kids so passionate is incredible to me, and it’s awesome at the same time,” he said.

De la Cruz said he’s running for his third term because he thinks there’s still work to be done in Hartford, and he’s fighting for the next generation.

“I’m trying to create the same opportunities for my grandson that I had, and the best place to do that from is in the position of being a lawmaker,” he said.

k.drelich@theday.com