State Sen. Art Linares One of First Latinos Ever Elected to Connecticut Senate

He's your state senator and he's already making news.

When State Sen. Art Linares took the oath of office last week, on the first day of the 2013 session of the Connecticut General Assembly, he made Connecticut history.

Not only was the Westbrook Republican one of the first Latinos elected to the  Senate, he's one of the youngest members of it.

Linares, 24, is Cuban-American and has received widespread media attention for winning office at such a young age. 

He represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. 

Linares ran against Westbrook resident Jim Crawford, a Democrat, in the November election.

Linares has been named Ranking Member of the Connecticut General Assembly's Banks Committee and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Children. He will also serve on the Commerce and Education Committees. 

In an interview with the Hartford Courant, Linares said he intends to focus on trying to find compromise between the two main parties.

"We need to find common ground and propose legislation that the public can benefit from," he told the newspaper.

The other Latino senator elected in November was Andres Ayala Jr., of Bridgeport.