Stephen Dargan: A Legacy of Bipartisanship

0:00Steven Dargan, a veteran Connecticut Democrat, passed away Wednesday at 71 after a long fight with cancer. He spent 26 years in the state legislature, mostly as co-chair of the Public Safety Committee for 22 years, handling everything from gambling laws to police matters. A self-described friend to law enforcement, he later joined the board of pardons and parole under two governors. After leaving the legislature, Dargan kept working full time on the parole board until his diagnosis hit. As a moderate, he built strong ties with Republicans too, earning respect across the aisle for his steady hand on big issues like gun control and gaming expansion. Colleagues are mourning a true capital fixture. Attorney General William Tongue called him a giant who made the state safer, especially after leading the charge on gun safety laws post Sandy Hogan, 2012. Congresswoman Rosa Deloro remembered their decades-long bond since both got elected in 1990, praising his big heart in dedication to public service.

1:03Even battling cancer, which caused double vision and sideline his driving, Dargan stayed a beat with his signature humor. He got treatment close to home in West Haven, picked up awards like Irishman of the year and cherished time with friends at Yukon Games. Calling hours run Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at West Haven Funeral Home with a mass Saturday at 10 a.m. in Orange. Hogan's legacy of bipartisanship and quiet impact will echo in Hartford for years. I'm Cory with The Story, and you've been listening to Hartford News today, AI-powered local news.