Leone is Sworn Into Senate at State Capitol

, the longtime Democratic assemblyman in the 27th State Senate district, was sworn into his new office Friday in a ceremony at the Connecticut State Capitol.

Secretary of State Denise Merrill administered the oath to Leone at 4 p.m. in the Senate chamber. 

An hour earlier, the Stamford resident submitted his resignation from the 148th Assembly district seat, which he had held since 2003.

“I am honored to have been chosen by the people of Stamford and Darien to represent their interests here in Hartford,” Leone said in a statement. “Our state faces a number of tough problems, including a substantial budget deficit and a pressing need to grow jobs and get our economy back on track. I am eager to get to work.”

The 27th district represents the southern portions of Darien and Stamford. 

Leone, 47, defeated Republican  in a special election to fill the seat, which was left vacant to serve as Gov. Dannel Malloy's general counsel.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Leone works as a program manager for the Bridgeport-based non-profit WorkPlace Inc., which provides unemployed veterans free training in green technology. He previously served as an alternate on the Stamford Zoning Board of Appeals.