Retired GE Capital executive Nelson Gonzalez, a Republican, has announced that he will run for the 28th District State Senate seat to be vacated by long-time Republican lawmaker John McKinney who has announced he will be seeking the governor’s seat. The 28th District includes Newtown.
Gonzalez said his campaign will be self-funded.
Gonzalez is a native of Cuba who came to the United States as part of the “Pedro Pan” airlift that brought more than 14,000 Cuban children of political prisoners to the United States between 1960 and 1962. He and his sister lived with four different families in three different states over the course of five years before they were reunited with their parents who were granted political asylum.
In 1976, Gonzalez landed a job with GE Capital and moved up the corporate ranks such that two years ago he retired as chief risk officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa overseeing a $50 billion portfolio and 1,500 professionals. Gonzalez earned citizenship in 1979/80.
He said he is grateful to this country for allowing him so many great opportunities, and he wants to now “give back” for all that he received, and assure that his grandchildren’s generation has similar chances. But he is disenchanted with the state’s financial management that he fears could prevent future generations from enjoying such prosperity. After whining to his family about his concerns, they said, “Do something about it.”
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