Biography

Rep. Butler has been representing the 72nd District in the Connecticut House of Representatives since 2007, following four terms as a Waterbury Alderman from 1997 to 2006. In the state legislature, he serves on the Housing Committee, which he previously co-chaired, and also serves on the Human Services, Finance, Revenue & Bonding and Legislative Management Committees. He has also been elected to serve as Vice Chairman in Region 1 of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Rep. Butler was appointed as Deputy Speaker of the House in 2019 and is the highest-ranking member from Waterbury in the House. He received many awards including the 2019 Rev. Thomas Mallory award from the local NAACP and the 2018 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the State Chapter of the NAACP, The Rivera Memorial 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award, The Greater Waterbury NAACP 2017 Community Service Award and recognitions for his service including the PHRN Legislative Award, the WOW NRZ Director’s Appreciation Award, and the Northeast Regional Mental Health Board Legislative Award in 2012. He also received the Waterbury Neighborhood Council’s “President’s Recognition Award” and the Connecticut United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. Prince Hall Affiliation Silver Eagle Award for “Sterling Service in the Uplift of Humanity” this year and the “Legislator of the Year” award by the Connecticut Community Development Association (CCDA) for 2010, recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the State Chapter of the NAACP in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, ”Legislator of the Year” award by McCall AME Church in 2008, was selected as 2002 “Black Mayor for a Day”, was presented with the Legislative Leadership Award by the Waterbury Chapter of the NAACP in May of 2000 and was inducted into the Pearl Street Basketball Hall of Fame in June of 2000.

In the past few years, Rep. Butler has served on the J&J scholarship Committee, on the Black Mayor for a Day Committee, as the Grace Baptist Church Worship Leader for Men’s Day, organized a Mock Congress for Granville Academy students, and participated on the BWSTOP advisory board addressing domestic violence.

Rep. Butler has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Waterbury Chapter of the American Red Cross and, as a volunteer on the Development Committee, and worked on fundraisers from 2000 to 2003 that generated tens of thousands of dollars for the Red Cross.

As a former member of the Bunker Hill Community Club and a current member of the Buck’s Hill Community Club, Rep. Butler has participated in Earth Day cleanups in those neighborhoods as well as the Crownbrook neighborhood. He also participated in Improvement Day in the WOW neighborhood in 2001, and other neighborhood cleanups in WOW both in 2015 and 2016.

Larry and his wife Jacqueline reside in Buck’s Hill. They have two children, Marc and Alexandria.

Personal:

Born and raised in Waterbury

Occupation: Computer Software Designer

Member of Grace Baptist Church

Son of the Late Wilkes & Melvia Pierce Butler

Education and School Involvement:

Attended Driggs, Wilby High School, Central Connecticut State University, and the Computer Processing Institute (CPI).

Played basketball at Driggs, Wilby, and CCSU.

Played football for Wilby and was Co-captain of the Track team.

Community Service/Accomplishments:

Participated in the Citywide Front Porch Program.

Participated in the BW Stop 2 mile walk to raise awareness of Domestic Violence.

Participated in the AIDS/HIV 2 mile walk.

Certificates of Appreciation from the Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc.

Connecticut Property Owners Alliance, Legislator of the Year Award.

National Congress of Black Women Community Service Award.

PHRN Legislative Leadership Award.

WOW NRZ Director's Appreciation Award.

2012 Legislative Leadership Award for the Keep the Promise Coalition.

Northeast Regional Mental Health Board Legislative Award.

The Waterbury Neighborhood Council's President's Recognition Award.

Connecticut United Supreme Council, Silver Eagle Award.

The Connecticut Community Development Association (CCDA), Legislator of the Year.

One of the 100 Most Influential Black in Connecticut by the State Chapter fo the NAACP.

Former member of the Waterbury Chapter of the American Red Cross Bd. of Directors.

As a volunteer on the Development committee worked on fundraisers that generated tens of thousands of dollars for the Red Cross which provides so much to support for the entire city of Waterbury.

As President of the Waterbury Black Democratic Club has led club to support many Democrat candidates get elected since 1995 as well as placing a record number

of Blacks on several city boards. Led club to become a NAACP Life Member.

Inducted into the Pearl Street Hall of Fame.

Selected as the “2002 Black Mayor for a Day” by the Afro-American Black Mayor for

a Day Committee.

Served as “Master of Ceremony” for the 1998 Grace Baptist Church Men’s Day program.

Participated in two forums to address police brutality. As one of the panel members

and a city Police Commissioner was able to provide information on how to avoid confrontations with police.

Participated in the Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministry Hunger walk for three years.

Also participated as a speaker at their non-violence candlelight vigil.

Current and active member of the Buck’s Hill Community Club board of directors.

Participated in the 1999 Earth Day cleanup of the Crownbrook Neighborhood.

Previously participated in the Earth Day clean up in Bunker Hill and participated in the Earth Day clean up in the Buck’s Hill Neighborhood for several years.

Participated in the 2001 neighborhood improvement day in the WOW neighborhood.

Former member of the Bunker Hill Neighborhood Association.

Served on the Executive Board of the NAACP (Waterbury branch) from the late 1970’s to the early 80’s. During which time working on many civil rights issues as well as voter registration and voter education. Was presented a Legislative Leadership Award by the NAACP in May of 2000. Became a “Paid Life Member” of the NAACP.

Served on the Board of West Grove Association (now Need Action Council) as a teen.

Accomplishments as Alderman:

Served on the Civil Service, Charter Revision, Inter-governmental, and Community Development sub-committees of the Board of Aldermen. Worked on issues from job descriptions, pay scales, and city worker complaints from the Civil Service Board, revisions to the City Charter, workshops on how the Community Development Block grant money would be used and the all-encompassing inter-governmental sub-committee which has an impact on various aspects of almost every city department.

As an Alderman sponsored a resolution to put an end to the Waterbury refuse workers working on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday after learning the city had allowed

it to happen on the 2001 observance of the holiday. Also saving overtime cost to city.

Worked with the NAACP and a sub-committee of the Board of Alderman to have North Elm St. dedicated in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Supported legislation to form the W.O.W. NRZ and Willow-Plaza NRZ. Also, supported legislation to form the ITZ Zone to bring new businesses downtown.

Supported the Good Jobs Partnership program to get a city ordinance, which would enable minorities to get training and earn meaningful jobs with a living wage. The support came in the form as an individual, president of the Waterbury Black Democratic Club, and in the form of an affirmative vote as a member of the Board of Aldermen.

Sponsored resolution which passed to restore school nurses to every city school.

Political Service/Accomplishments:

Elected Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee (2002)

Member of the Democratic Town Committee from 72nd district (2000-Present)

Waterbury delegate to the 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012 & 2014 State Democratic Conventions.

Elected to the Board of Aldermen (1997), (1999), (2003) & (2005)

Member of Democratic Town Committee from 73rd district (1998-1999)

Commissioner on the Waterbury Police Commission Board (1996-1997)

Connecticut Delegate to the (1996) Democratic National Convention

Served on the Executive Board of the NAACP (Waterbury branch)

Former member of the Connecticut Assoc. of Police Commissioners (PCAC)

Elected to seven terms as President of the Wtby. Black Democratic Club

Elected to the Democratic Town Committee in the 72nd district (1980)

First recipient of the NAACP(Wtby. branch) “Dr. James Lee Scholarship Award” (1972)

Previously served multiple terms as co-chair of the Housing Committee