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A genuine two-party state legislative race may be shaping up on New Havens east side, as Republican John Cirello announced that he will seek his partys nomination to run for state representative from the 97th Assembly District.

Cirello (pictured) made the announcement Thursday morning on the 10th floor of 900 Chapel St. at the close of a regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerces Government Affairs Committee, on which he sits.

Click on the video to watch his announcement.

A Democrat, Robert Megna, has held the 97th District seat since 2000. Just as Democrats have held every New Haven state legislative seat since then, with nary a serious challenge, if any, from a Republican. The 97th District roughly covers the portion of the city east of the Quinnipiac River up to the North Haven and East Haven town lines.

It was unclear Thursday afternoon if Megna will seek reelection. He ducked calls from the Independent seeking an answer.

Cirello, a 44-year-old criminal defense attorney and civil litigator with a private practice on Temple Street, challenged Megna in 2006. Since then he has dived into civic commitments. Wednesday evening found him at a city schools science fair awards presentation; hes active in the PTO of his two kids school, Nathan Hale. Thursday morning found him at the Chamber committee, of which hes a member. This weekend hell again help organize an annual kids soapbox derby in Morris Cove. He has served on New Havens Civil Service Commission and moderated numerous elections. (Hes pictured overseeing a March 2012 recount.)

Cirello grew up in New Jersey, and came of age as a Reagan Republican. He said he has been frustrated with the national GOPs crazy rightward turn. He identified himself as a very moderate Republican. Hes pro-choice, pro-gay marriage. He voted for Barack Obama for president; he was always a John McCain fan, he said, before McCain started running for president and got crazy and appointed Sarah Palin as his running mate. He said he would seek to serve as a fiscal watchdog in Hartford, looking out for irresponsible spending. He plans to seek public financing for his campaign.

He said hes running on his bio as an active, engaged citizen: I have kids in the school system. I have a business in the city. Im on the Chamber of Commerce. My wife works at Yale. Hes also running because he believes New Haven needs representatives from two parties, he said. Whats democracy without a choice for everybody?

Republican Town Chairman Richter Elser backs Cirellos candidacy. Hopefully he can use some of the experience form the campaign he ran eight years ago to have a successful campaign this time around, Elser said of Cirello. Hes involved locally in the community. Hes interested in whats going on. I think hed be a good representative.

The 97th District was New Haven Republicans last redoubt: Republican Chris DePino held the seat until Megna knocked him out of it in the 2000 election, when Al Gore and Joe Lieberman topped the Democratic ticket. Megna (pictured at the Capitol) works as an insurance adjuster in his day job.

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Republican Seeks Megnas Seat