William Riiska of Norfolk steps into race for seat in 63rd District

Incumbent John Rigby is in Afghanistan

The race for the 63rd District seat in the state House of Representatives took a sudden sharp turn last week. Republican first-term incumbent John Rigby has left the country for at least a month to pursue a job in Afghanistan, while Democrat William O. Riiska of Norfolk, is now taking steps to qualify for state campaign funding.

Rigby’s campaign also took a blow when it was announced, on Sept. 2, that his Colebrook house was under foreclosure. The following day, the state representative’s campaign office released a statement saying Rigby had taken a job with an unnamed aerospace firm in Afghanistan, in an apparent effort to raise the funds to save his home.

In an e-mail to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper last week, Rigby said his financial situation has been affected negatively by a poor state economy and that he will not return to his job as a loan officer.

The 63rd District includes the towns of Falls Village, North Canaan, Norfolk, Winchester, Colebrook, Hartland and part of Barkhamsted.

Riiska, a real estate attorney with an office in Lakeville, is the son of the late Winsted Mayor William T. Riiska. He spoke to The Journal Monday.

Riiska said he needs to collect 150 individual donations from 63rd District constituents, totaling at least $5,000, to qualify for $26,000 in state funding, which he said he will use for signs and mailers.

Riiska acknowledged that being a state legislator brings a relatively small paycheck — approximately $28,000 per year, although the Legislature is only in session in Hartford for a few months each year — and that legislators have some tough work ahead.

“I think whoever has this job has to be prepared to make some really difficult — and in all likelihood, unpopular — decisions. I think I would be better placed to do that than Mr. Rigby, despite the fact that neither one of us would have any real seniority.�

As a state representative, Rigby has repeatedly called for lower taxes, particularly for businesses, when discussing Connecticut’s economy, and for cutting government spending. He serves on the House Energy and Technology and Human Services committees, along with the Finance, Review and General Bonding Committee and the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.

He has also been a cheerleader for the nursing program at Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted.

Rigby first ran for office in 2008, challenging longtime incumbent George Wilber for the seat. Wilber abruptly resigned from office and from the campaign just before the election, when information was leaked about a sexual relationship he allegedly had had with a minor three decades earlier.

There wasn’t enough time to get another Democrat on the ballot. Riiska agreed to be a write-in candidate but said he didn’t expect to win. He simply felt that the office should not be uncontested.

Despite having only one week to campaign — and even though his name did not appear on the ballot — Riiska ended up with 30 percent of the district vote.

This time, he expects to give Rigby a run for his money and claim the 63rd District seat for the Democrats.

But Riiska stressed that Connecticut’s problems aren’t going to be solved with partisan politics.

“If you had asked me to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans a few years ago I would have had a different answer than today,� he said. “I’ve watched how angry people are, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents.

“We’re facing a budget right now that’s so far out of whack that you just can’t spend money any more. I don’t think it has anything to do with party affiliation. What’s really necessary now is a heavy dose of pragmatism.�

If all goes as Riiska intends, a new Democratic administration will be able to work with a Democratic state Legislature to make tough decisions on the state budget.

“I think the first order of business will be to make sure the budget is balanced,� he said.

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