BETHEL - Representative Dan Carter (R) announced his candidacy for US Senate for Connecticut, a seat currently occupied by Senator Dick Blumenthal.

Flanked by friends and colleagues April 5, including state House Minority Leader Themis Karides and Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, Rep Carter spoke about the exodus of companies from the state, national security and health care, highlighting why these issues are serious and need a dedicated commitment to fix them.

"These are difficult times in which we live. We see companies flee from Connecticut, and our country. Our friends and neighbors are losing jobs, leaving many of them unable to ensure their children have the same opportunities that their parents worked so hard to give them. Meanwhile, our government seems deaf to our calls for help," he said.

Rep Carter said while Connecticut's "economy has been decimated," Sen Blumenthal's "legacy - from suing companies, like many other anti-business efforts - has helped bring our economy to its knees."

"While Islamic killers terrorize western allies, Dick talks about the perils of Astro turf; while real estate prices continue to crater, Dick talks about genetically altered salmon, and while Connecticut's mass transit system needs some of our tax dollar back to repair them, Dick Blumenthal is worried about legroom on jetliners," Rep Carter continued. "I will offer Connecticut a clear choice - a choice between our future and the sad sorry clichés of the past. We can no longer afford to have the political elite represent us."

A former major in the US Air Force, Rep Carter was elected to the Connecticut State Legislature in 2010 and represents the Second District, which includes several neighborhoods in western Newtown.

He is a 1989 graduate of Bowling Green State University and a 1995 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He currently lives in Bethel with his fiancé Jane. He has two children.