William Tong
Encyclopedia
William Tong serves as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
. First elected in November 2006, he represents the 147th district, which includes parts of Stamford
and New Canaan
. Geographically the 147th is the largest district in Stamford, and includes Westover, North Stamford, Scofieldtown, as well as the western side of New Canaan.
Tong is the first Asian American to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly
, and the first Asian American to be elected at the state level in Connecticut's history. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Energy and Technology committee and serves on the General Law and Judiciary committees.
Tong was the first Connecticut legislator to endorse then-Senator Barack Obama
for President.
to look for work as a cook in a Chinese restaurant. He met William's mother Nancy, and had five children, William and his four sisters. William attended public and private schools in West Hartford. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover and later studied at Brown University
and the University of Chicago Law School
.
LLP, and a Management Consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers
. He is a member of the state bars of New York and Connecticut, and practices before both state and federal courts. He formerly served as a Commissioner on the Personnel Commission of the City of Stamford, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the social services organization Person-to-Person.
professors about a study that they had conducted at the behest of "big oil". The study found that price fluctuations were a result of normal market trends. When Tong requested that the data used in the study be disclosed, the professors refused and followed by claiming that the data has been destroyed.
Tong has also introduced legislation aimed at protecting citizens from abusive, misleading, and intrusive use of "robocalls" to support a political candidate or advance a political cause.
Tong supported the passage of legislation that created a state Asian Pacific American (APA) Affairs Commission. As one of the fastest growing communities in the country, the commission focuses on the specific needs of the Asian Pacific American community in Connecticut. It serves as a resource for the General Assembly, the Governor, and other executive branch agencies related to social, educational, health, economic development and civil rights concerns and interests to the APA community.
Locally, Tong worked with former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy
and the Sustainable Stamford Task Force to develop and host the "Stamford Energy Expo" on May 20, 2008.
During the 2009 legislative session Tong authored legislation that would classify biosolids as a class I renewable fuel source, continued his push for transparency in the gasoline pricing, and lead an effort to pass lyme disease legislation that would extend additional protections to doctors who treat patients with the disease.
to screen candidates for United States Attorney
. On November 14, 2009, the Hartford Courant reported that the panel assembled by Dodd and Lieberman had forwarded four names to the White House and President Barack Obama
for consideration; Tong was included in that list.
(I-CT) announced he will retire, leaving the seat open. Tong would face former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Rep. Chris Murphy
in a potential Democratic primary.
The first week of May, 2011, Tong announced that he would seek the nomination, conceding that it would be "a heavy lift" to defeat Bysiewicz and Murphy. The Tong campaign raised over $500,000 in the quarter ending June 30, 2011.
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
. First elected in November 2006, he represents the 147th district, which includes parts of Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
and New Canaan
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
. Geographically the 147th is the largest district in Stamford, and includes Westover, North Stamford, Scofieldtown, as well as the western side of New Canaan.
Tong is the first Asian American to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
, and the first Asian American to be elected at the state level in Connecticut's history. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Energy and Technology committee and serves on the General Law and Judiciary committees.
Tong was the first Connecticut legislator to endorse then-Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for President.
Family history
William's father, Ady, came to Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
to look for work as a cook in a Chinese restaurant. He met William's mother Nancy, and had five children, William and his four sisters. William attended public and private schools in West Hartford. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover and later studied at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
.
Professional career
Tong is an Associate Counsel at the law firm of Finn Dixon & Herling. Prior, Tong was an attorney with the international law firm of Simpson Thacher & BartlettSimpson Thacher & Bartlett
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City which employs over 800 attorneys in ten offices worldwide. The firm is highly regarded for its litigation and corporate practices, with special attention focused on its mergers and acquisitions specialty...
LLP, and a Management Consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
. He is a member of the state bars of New York and Connecticut, and practices before both state and federal courts. He formerly served as a Commissioner on the Personnel Commission of the City of Stamford, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the social services organization Person-to-Person.
State Representative
Tong wrote legislation to overhaul Connecticut's Criminal Justice Information System. Tong has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate "zone pricing" of gasoline in Connecticut. Recently Tong has taken on "big oil" by proposing a measure that would have required oil transporters and suppliers to disclose detailed price data to the state for analysis to ensure that consumers were not being gouged at the pump. This legislation was developed after Tong questioned three Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
professors about a study that they had conducted at the behest of "big oil". The study found that price fluctuations were a result of normal market trends. When Tong requested that the data used in the study be disclosed, the professors refused and followed by claiming that the data has been destroyed.
Tong has also introduced legislation aimed at protecting citizens from abusive, misleading, and intrusive use of "robocalls" to support a political candidate or advance a political cause.
Tong supported the passage of legislation that created a state Asian Pacific American (APA) Affairs Commission. As one of the fastest growing communities in the country, the commission focuses on the specific needs of the Asian Pacific American community in Connecticut. It serves as a resource for the General Assembly, the Governor, and other executive branch agencies related to social, educational, health, economic development and civil rights concerns and interests to the APA community.
Locally, Tong worked with former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy
Dan Malloy
Dannel Patrick "Dan" Malloy is the 88th and current Governor of Connecticut. He was the Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut from December 1995 until December 2009. Malloy had been endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Party on May 22, 2010 over 2006 Democratic U.S...
and the Sustainable Stamford Task Force to develop and host the "Stamford Energy Expo" on May 20, 2008.
During the 2009 legislative session Tong authored legislation that would classify biosolids as a class I renewable fuel source, continued his push for transparency in the gasoline pricing, and lead an effort to pass lyme disease legislation that would extend additional protections to doctors who treat patients with the disease.
Short List for U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
On March 7, 2009, it was reported that Tong was being considered by a panel assembled by Sens. Chris Dodd and Joe LiebermanJoe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
to screen candidates for United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
. On November 14, 2009, the Hartford Courant reported that the panel assembled by Dodd and Lieberman had forwarded four names to the White House and President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for consideration; Tong was included in that list.
2012 U.S. Senate campaign
On March 15, 2011 it was reported that Tong is considering a candidacy for U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Sen. Joe LiebermanJoe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
(I-CT) announced he will retire, leaving the seat open. Tong would face former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Rep. Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy may refer to:*Chris Murphy , member of the band Sloan*Chris Murphy , member of the British ska band [spunge]*Chris Murphy , Australian Idol finalist in 2006...
in a potential Democratic primary.
The first week of May, 2011, Tong announced that he would seek the nomination, conceding that it would be "a heavy lift" to defeat Bysiewicz and Murphy. The Tong campaign raised over $500,000 in the quarter ending June 30, 2011.