Written by Juliana Simone

National Harbor, MD – Connecticut’s own Republican State Senator Art Linares took the CPAC stage this afternoon to tell the Conservative Political Action Conference his story as a young Republican and newly elected State Senator. Linares is twenty-four years old and was elected in November of 2012. He represents the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook. Linares is a resident of Westbrook. His tale was one that the Conference likes to feature as a strong voice for the future of American youth.

Senator Linares (R-33), introduced himself to CPAC members by telling them he worked in Washington for Senator Marco Rubio in 2010. Dick Cheney (former Vice President to George W. Bush) advised the young man/staffer if he wanted to make a difference to leave D.C., go home, and put your name on a ballot. He did. He described to attendees how he called three friends on return and asked for their help. They knocked on every door until Linares says he wore out three pairs of shoes “and we won!”

He thought some in the room might wonder what made someone twenty-four want to serve his 100,000 constituents. He explained how his Cuban grandparents lived through the Bay of Pigs invasion. His grandfather was put in jail during the fighting. When he got out, and the invasion had failed, Linares grandparents fled to America to raise their children in a safe and free country.

It is this family history that inspired the new state Senator to embrace conservative values of equal opportunity, hard work and protecting American liberty.

Senator Linares then addressed his fellow young Republicans and conservatives in the ballroom. He told them they are the Y generation and they are one hundred million strong.

He said we have the opportunity to change our nation and get involved in our towns and states. “We have to win elections and we can’t win if you don’t run! I’m challenging you to put your name on a ballot,” Linares shouted. He advised them with energy and passion to ring every phone and wear your soles on your shoes down knocking on doors, and {then getting} another pair.

“Will you lead?” he asked. “Will you put your name on a ballot?”

He thanked the convention with the parting words “God bless America.”

Linares chose to follow in his father’s footsteps when he saw his father become a successful businessman as a free man.

At the age of nineteen, Linares started his own solar energy company out of his basement while earning a degree from Skyes College of Business at the University of Tampa. He majored in entrepreneurship as he developed his company. “Greenskies” is based in Middletown.

As his business became prosperous, Senator Linares chose to take a sabbatical from his solar power company for the opportunity to be on Florida’s Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio staff. While serving Rubio, he learned how to work in public service and with the Senator’s constituents.

State Senator Art Linares serves in the Connecticut General Assembly as a ranking member on the Select Committee on Children and is a member on the Banks, Commerce and Education committees.