About Joe

State Senator Joe Markley represents the 16th Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Cheshire, Prospect, Southington, Wolcott and Waterbury.

Joe is a Southington native, descended through his mother, Priscilla Cowles, from a family which has resided in town continuously since the 1730s. Joe was educated in the Southington School System, graduating from Southington High School in 1974. He earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Amherst College, and a master’s degree in English from Columbia University.

Joe was elected to the State Senate in 1984 – the first town resident to sit in that chamber in over forty years. As a freshman legislator, Joe chaired the Human Services Committee and the Welfare Subcommittee of Appropriations. In those roles, he crafted and sponsored the legislation which created the first home care program for seniors.

When Lowell Weicker proposed the state income tax, Joe fought back. As cofounder of the Connecticut Taxpayers Committee, he organized the massive Axe the Tax rally that drew 65,000 citizens to the state capitol.

Joe returned to the Senate in 2010, where he successfully challenged the Skullduggery tax, raised awareness of the New Britain to Hartford Busway boondoggle, and developed legislation to help adolescents with drug abuse. As Dan Malloy’s most outspoken critic, he continues to fight for freedom and prosperity – opposing the largest tax increase in state history and advocating real cuts in runaway spending.

Joe has been employed as an English teacher at the college and secondary level, as executive director of state and national trade associations, and as campaign manager for congressional and statewide races. He is a tireless advocate of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and personal liberty.