About Arthur
State Representative Arthur J. O’Neill’s experience and understanding of the unique history, traditions, and values of the towns of Southbury, Bridgewater, Roxbury, and Washington have made him an especially effective advocate for the citizens of the 69th Assembly District.
Representative O’Neill has a long record of service to the 69th District. He was first elected to the state House of Representatives in a 1988 special election. He was most recently re-elected on November 4, 2008.
Because he strives to maintain a close relationship with citizens, local elected officials, and community organizations throughout the 69th District, Representative O’Neill has always been able to quickly identify local issues, problems and concerns that can be addressed at the state level through grants or legislation.
Recent state grants for 69th District towns include:
- $445,000 for Roxbury for the renovation of Judds Bridge over the Shepaug River.
- $300,000 for Washington for the renovation of the town beach at Lake Waramaug, including the installation of new bathrooms, storage areas, a handicapped ramp and a boat garage.
- $220,000 for Regional District 15 to help finance construction of a new concession stand and restroom facilities at Pomperaug High School’s Edward Arum Athletic Field.
- $445,101 for the resurfacing of Route 67 in Southbury from Route 172 to Route 6.
- $98,000 to help the Southbury Land Trust Inc. purchase an easement for more than 18.5 acres of open space in Southbury.
In addition, Representative O’Neill has taken the lead on several issues of state and national significance, including the ‘Money Follows the Person Law,’ which he authored in response to a federal pilot program. The law enables people who need long-term health care to receive it at home rather than at nursing homes.
Representative O’Neill was re-appointed as the House Ranking Member (Republican Leader) on the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee for the 2009-2010 legislative sessions by House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk. He also was re-appointed to the Appropriations and Regulations Review committees. He is an Assistant House Republican Leader.
During his previous terms, Representative O’Neill served on the Finance, Revenue & Bonding, Legislative Management, Energy & Technology, and Government Administration & Elections committees.
He is a past Chairman of the Regulations Review Committee, and was the House Ranking Member on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee (2005-2007).
In February of 2001, Representative O’Neill was appointed to the Reapportionment Committee, the panel charged with reapportioning and redistricting congressional and state legislative districts.
When the committee was unable to reach agreement on how to implement the required elimination of one of the state’s congressional districts by the Constitutional deadline, a Reapportionment Commission was created in November 2001, to which Representative O’Neill was appointed by then-Governor John G. Rowland.
The commission completed its historic work of reducing the number of Congressional districts on December 21, 2001, just hours ahead of the deadline imposed by the state Supreme Court.
From 1993 until 2004, Representative O’Neill served as both member and chairman of the Connecticut Law Revision Commission. He was actively involved in several studies conducted by the Commission, including a comprehensive review of Connecticut’s drug laws. He was instrumental in the panel’s successful effort to repeal hundreds of obsolete laws in 2002 – the only year the General Assembly repealed more laws than it enacted.
In January of 2004, Representative O’Neill was chosen by former House Speaker Moira Lyons and House Minority Leader Robert Ward as the Republican co-chair of the bi-partisan Select Committee of Inquiry. The Committee investigated former Governor John G. Rowland’s acceptance of expensive gifts from state employees and contractors doing business with the state to determine whether his conduct warranted impeachment. The investigation was concluded when the former governor resigned rather testify before the Committee.
Representative O’Neill also chaired the Shepaug River Task Force, which was charged with studying the effects of the diversion of water on the Shepaug River and whether a 1921 contract between Waterbury and Washington was implemented properly.
In addition, Representative O’Neill served on the Task Force for Redistricting and chaired the Southbury Training School Task Force in 1993-94, which studied then-Governor Weicker’s proposal to close the Southbury Training School.
He served on the Southbury Charter Revision Commission in 1985 -86 and is a former secretary of the Pomperaug Valley Water Authority.
Representative O’Neill is a member of the East Hill Woods Corporation Board of Directors, a continuing care facility located in Southbury. He is a former member of the Tribury Jaycees and the Tribury Rotary Club.
He was a member of the Southbury Republican Town Committee from 1980-88, serving as chairman in 1987 and secretary from 1981-87.
Born April 27, 1952, Representative O’Neill is a graduate of Southbury public schools. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Connecticut and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University.
Representative O’Neill is a self-employed attorney in Southbury.
