State Senator Joe Markley represents the 16th Senatorial District which includes the communities of Cheshire, Southington, Wolcott and Waterbury.
Joe is a Southington native, descended through his mother, Priscilla Cowles, from a family which has resided in town continuously since before the Revolutionary War. Joe was educated in the local school system and graduated from Southington High School in 1974. He earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Amherst College, and a master's degree in English from Columbia University. After serving on the Southington Library Board of Trustees, Joe was elected to the State Senate in 1984 – the first town resident to sit in that chamber in over forty years. During his first term in the legislature, Joe chaired the Human Services Committee, and the Welfare Subcommittee of Appropriations. In that role, he cut more than $100 million from the state budget, pressed for the consolidation of agencies, and cosponsored the largest tax cut in Connecticut's history. Joe was re-elected to the state senate in 2010. As senator, Joe will continue his efforts to reduce the cost and size of government and will hold to his pledge to never support tax increases. He is committed to common-sense principles that will restore government by the people. Joe has taught English at the high school and college level, and published articles, reviews, op-eds, and short stories. He has been employed as executive director of state and national trade associations, and as campaign manager for congressional and statewide races. Joe also cofounded the Connecticut Taxpayers Committee and helped lead the fight against the state income tax. Joe Markley currently resides in Southington.