The race for the 8th District seat in the state House of Representatives is taking shape.
This week, State Rep. Tim Ackert, a Republican who resides in Coventry, announced that he is seeking another term.
Democrat John Murphy, also a Coventry resident, had already declared his intentions to run for office.
The district includes some of the southern portion of Vernon.
Ackert said he will focus on the state’s economy, jobs, and taxes.
Ackert said he worked to pass the bi-partisan Jobs Bill, sponsored legislation to eliminate the wholesale gas tax, and worked "to protect retirement funds from taxation."
He is a former trustee for the 12 Connecticut community colleges.
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Murphy has lived in Coventry for 30 years and is a third generation union electrician, labor organizer, and a progressive political activist.
For the last eleven years, John has been the organizing director of Connecticut Citizen Action Group, a "progressive advocacy group focusing on open government, clean elections, health care reform, fair taxation and the environment."
Within the state, Murphy's platform included publicly funded elections, open primaries, health care reform and environmental issues.
On the national scene, CCAG has supported health care reform and opposed Social Security privatization.
Murphy said he has worked on a variety of "local issues campaigns," including working with the group Smart Growth for Vernon "in its efforts to stop Wal-Mart from building at I-84 Exit 67."
In addition to his work with CCAG, Murphy serves as assistant business manager and organizer for the IBEW Local 1228, which represents photographers, technicians, engineers, and on-air personalities in the television industry in five New England states.
Murphy said he is taking a leave of absence from CCAG so he can "devote his full energies to meeting voters in person."
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