Addo Bonetti
Addo E. Bonetti was an American politician and Marine who served in the Connecticut [House of Representatives] from the 175th and Connecticut's 65th [House of Representatives district|65th districts] from 1967 to 1979, as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his political career he had served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Bonetti was born in Torrington, Connecticut, and educated at Torrington High School. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Marine Corps where he would be given the Purple Heart after being wounded at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Following his service in the Marines he entered local politics in Torrington with campaigns for a seat on the Democratic Town Committee, Board of Tax Review, and town clerk.
Bonetti was elected to the state house from the 175th district and did not face significant opposition until the 1972 election. In 1972, he and Representative John J. Miscikoski were both moved into the 65th district and Bonetti was initially defeated until the primary was invalidated and a new one was held in which Bonetti won. He served in the state house until 1979. Bonetti died in 2021.
Early life and education
Addo E. Bonetti was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on April 4, 1926, to Teresa Berti and Domenico Bonetti. He graduated from Torrington High School. On June 29, 1944, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II before becoming a corporal. During the war he was wounded after a grenade hit his helmet at the Battle of Iwo Jima on March 12, 1945, and was given the Purple Heart. He married Lois E. Sjogren and stayed with her until her death in 1974.Career
Local politics
Bonetti ran for a seat on the Democratic Town Committee in Torrington as part of a rival slate to the slate endorsed by the Democratic Party in 1960, but lost and the slate of twenty-four candidates Bonetti was in failed to win a single seat. Bonetti was the member of the slate who received the highest number of votes. Bonetti was appointed to the Board of Tax Review to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Guido De Angelis who was appointed to a job at the Litchfield State Jail, but Bonetti lost re-election in 1961. Bonetti was elected with the Democratic nomination as one of thirty-two justices of the peace in 1962. In 1965, he ran for town clerk with the endorsement of the Torrington Democratic Town Committee, but lost to Fred Bruni.Bonetti was a member of the Young Democrats of America and served as the treasurer of the Torrington Young Democrats. He was selected to serve as a delegate to the Democratic Party of Connecticut's state convention in 1962 and 1968.
Connecticut House of Representatives
Elections
During the 1966 election Bonetti ran for a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 175th district with the Democratic nomination and defeated Republican nominee John Cilfone. Bonetti reported no contributions or expenses during the campaign, but the Citizens for Bonetti spent $431 on his behalf while Cilfone raised $92 and spent $92. He won reelection after defeating Republican nominee Joseph Perosino, a member of the city council, in the 1968 election. He defeated Republican nominee Cilfone in the 1970 election.Bonetti and Representative John J. Miscikoski were both moved into the 65th district after legislative redistricting in 1972. The Torrington Democratic Town Committee voted fifty-nine to two to not endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary. Bonetti was initially defeated in the primary by Miscikoski by one vote and a recount maintained Miscikoski's one vote victory. However, Judge George Saden invalidated the primary and ordered a new one due to a Republican having mistakenly voted in the primary. Bonetti defeated Miscikoski in the second primary and won in the general election against Republican nominee Edwin R. Chadwick. He defeated Republican nominee William T. Barrante in the 1974 election. He won reelection in the 1976 election against Republican nominee George H. Christian.
Bonetti did not seek reelection in the 1978 election and the Torrington Democratic Town Committee endorsed Miscikoski. Miscikoski was elected to succeed him in the state house.
Tenure
Bonetti supported Ella Grasso for the Democratic nomination during the 1974 gubernatorial election. In 1975, Speaker James J. Kennelly appointed Bonetti to serve on the Finance Advisory Committee until March 17, 1976. During his tenure he served as vice-chair of the Appropriations committee.Later life
Bonetti considered running for mayor of Torrington in 1979. Bonetti was selected by the Services for the Elderly Commission to work as director of elderly services following the death of Edward Sullivan. Although the commission recommended the appointment of Bonetti as director, Mayor Michael J. Conway appointed Margaret Murphy as director instead. George P. Avitabile, the chair of the commission, resigned in protest at the decision. Bonetti then worked as an aide for House Majority Leader John Groppo.Robert M. Phalen, the city clerk of Torrington, announced that he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in 1981, after being fined $5,000 and given a suspended sentence of one year after not filing his federal income tax returns in 1977. Bonetti defeated Frank Czapor, who was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee, in the primary. He defeated Republican nominee Richard Zaharek in the general election. He won reelection in the 1985 election against Republican nominee Roger F. Pollick and was the candidate who received the most votes in Torrington's city elections. He won reelection without opposition in 1989. Bonetti did not seek reelection and was replaced by Frank R. Vitalo in 1992.
During the 1986 gubernatorial election, Bonetti supported Governor William A. O'Neill. During the 1995 Torrington mayoral election, he supported Mary Jane Gryniuk and worked as a leader in her campaign.
Bonetti died on June 6, 2021, at the age of 95.