Anthony DiLizia

Anthony DiLizia was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He served in the U.S. Army from 2014 to 2020.[1] He earned a high school diploma from East Lyme High School and a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University. DiLizia has also studied at the Yale School of Management. His career experience includes working as an executive director.[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Anthony DiLizia is a Glastonbury Town Councilor, U.S. Army veteran, nonprofit healthcare executive, and Democratic candidate for State Representative in Connecticut’s 31st Assembly District.

His life and career have been grounded in service. He served in the United States Army in military intelligence and behavioral health, and today serves as the executive director of a healthcare nonprofit that provides care, access, and advocacy for vulnerable communities across the greater Hartford region and Connecticut. He is also completing his final year in the Yale Executive MBA program.

In Glastonbury, Anthony has served on the Democratic Town Committee, as an Economic Development Commissioner, and now as a Town Councilor. He is running to bring experienced, accessible, and values-driven leadership to Hartford, focused on affordability, strong public schools, healthcare access, reproductive freedom, civil rights, and protecting the people and systems Connecticut communities rely on every day.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Experience matters. Anthony DiLizia has served his country in the U.S. Army, led a healthcare nonprofit, served on Glastonbury’s Economic Development Commission, and now represents residents on the Town Council. He is running to bring prepared, accessible, and effective leadership to Hartford on day one.Connecticut must protect the people and systems our communities rely on. Anthony will fight to strengthen funding for public schools, nonprofits, healthcare access, food security, senior services, veterans, and working families, while making sure Glastonbury has a strong voice in the legislature.Affordability and fairness must go hand in hand. Anthony supports closing tax loopholes and holding corporations and the ultra-wealthy accountable, while defending reproductive freedom, sexual health services, civil rights, and marginalized communities facing attacks from the federal level.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about policies that make people’s lives more stable, affordable, and secure.

That includes strengthening public education, expanding access to affordable and affirming healthcare, supporting nonprofits and essential services, protecting reproductive freedom and sexual health services, and ensuring seniors, veterans, working families, and marginalized communities have the support and protections they need.

I am also deeply committed to fairness in our economy. Connecticut should close tax loopholes and make sure corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, so we can invest in the schools, healthcare, housing, food security, and community systems residents rely on every day.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Anthony DiLizia is a proud, gay, United States Army Veteran running as a Democrat for Connecticut’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Anthony served his country for 6 years; first as an All-source Military Intelligence Analyst, and then as a Behavioral Health Specialist. He deployed to the Middle East in 2015 in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield, conducting aerial drone operations and intelligence development in Syria and Iraq. At the end of his 6 years of service, Anthony led a team in the Fort Hood, TX drive through COVID-19 testing site, helping facilitate the successful testing of Soldiers and civilian personnel.

Currently, Anthony is the Operations Director for Make Your Mark Customization, a merchandizing company which he oversees and coordinates business and corporate accounts.

Anthony is a social activist who cares deeply about helping his community and communities across the Country. He believes that the government needs substantial reform to tackle a corrupt political machine that places super-PACs, lobbyists, and special interests before the interests of real people.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am a strong advocate for term limits for Congress and substantial campaign finance reform.When it comes to the environment there is no compromise. We must act swiftly and aggressively to address the climate crisis and secure our species future.I believe that access to healthcare is a human right. No person should have to choose between seeking medical care or paying their mortgage.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about climate change and environmental activism, education reform and affordable college, and furthering the fight for social, racial, and LGBTQ+ equality and diverse representation across all levels of government.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Selfless service, Integrity, and courage to stand up for what’s right.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

As a United States Army Veteran, and candidate of a District with a naval base, Coast Guard Academy, and naval submarine contractor I would like to serve on the Armed Forces Committee. I believe that all Veterans in Congress should serve on that committee, as it takes real experiences and knowledge of our military system to truly understand how to best support our service members and Veterans.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I think that the length of terms is adequate as long as term limits are implemented.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am a strong supporter of Congressional Term Limits and have taken the U.S. Term Limits pledge. I believe that the longer a politician is in office, the more their interests get swayed by a corrupt campaign finance system that pumps money into the legislative process. We must not allow our elected officials to spend a lifetime in a Congress just to retire on a cushy congressional pension off of the backs of the tax-payers.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is necessary in certain instances. However, when it comes to things like social, racial, LGBTQ+ equality, environmental protection, education reform, and healthcare access the is NO compromise. Human rights should not be a debate.