Greg Howard will be the Republican challenger of State Rep. Kate Rotella, D-Mystic, after Shaun Mastroianni announced his withdrawal from the race for the 43rd District State Representative seat last week. 

“After Representative Rotella protested outside our Stonington Police Department and having voted twice against our Police choosing politics and votes over the people of Stonington, I have decided to step aside and allow a uniquely qualified candidate run for the house seat,” Mastroianni said in a press release. “Greg Howard is highly regarded throughout our community and has been a leader not only in law enforcement but also in organizing youth football as a mentor and will serve our community with the same leadership and compassion he has exemplified in the past.”

Howard is a detective with the Stonington Police. Rotella is currently serving her first term as state rep.