{{Short description|Connecticut Senator}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Derek Slap |image = Derek Slap.jpg |caption = Slap in 2023 |state_senate = Connecticut State |district = 5th |successor = |predecessor = Beth Bye |term_end = |term_start = March 1, 2019 |state_house1 = Connecticut |district1 = 19th |term_end1 = February 28, 2019 |term_start1 = January 5, 2017 |successor1 = Tammy Exum |predecessor1 = Brian Becker |birth_date = {{circa}}{{birth year and age|1973}} |education = Syracuse University (BA)<br>University of Connecticut (MBA) |party = Democratic }}
'''Derek Slap''' (born c. 1973)<ref name="demnom2016"/> is an American politician, journalist, and businessman. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019, serving District 19. In 2019, Slap won a special election, and has since sat in the Connecticut State Senate from District 5.
==Education== Slap earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and international relations at Syracuse University, followed by a Master of Business Administration at the University of Connecticut School of Business.
== Career == Between 1998 and 2003, he was a news anchor and reporter at WVIT. He then served as a chief of staff for Democratic Party-affiliated members of the Connecticut Senate, as well as communications director for John DeStefano Jr. In 2014, Slap joined the UConn Foundation as vice president of external relations.<ref name="demnom2016" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Derek Slap sworn in as Connecticut State Senator |url=https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/news/stories/Derek_Slap_sworn_in_as_Connecticut_State_Senator/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |publisher=Syracuse University |date=April 17, 2019}}</ref>
===Connecticut Legislature=== In May 2016, Slap was nominated by the Democratic Party as its candidate for Connecticut House of Representatives District 19, after sitting legislator Brian Becker announced his retirement.<ref name="demnom2016">{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=West Hartford's Derek Slap to Run for State House after Brian Becker Announces Retirement |url=https://we-ha.com/west-hartfords-derek-slap-to-run-for-state-house-after-brian-becker-announces-retirement/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=May 19, 2016}}</ref> Slap faced Republican Party candidate Chris Barnes in the general election.<ref name="barnes2016">{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=West Hartford's Chris Barnes to Run for 19th District Seat |url=https://we-ha.com/west-hartfords-chris-barnes-run-19th-district-seat/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=May 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stoller |first1=Kristin |title=19th House District candidates discuss state spending, attracting businesses |url=https://www.courant.com/community/west-hartford/hc-west-hartford-chris-barnes-derek-slap-1021-20161020-story.html |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Hartford Courant |date=October 20, 2016}}</ref> Slap retained his seat in the state house in November 2018, running unopposed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=[Updated] Election Day Running Smoothly in West Hartford, Rain Not a Deterrent |url=https://we-ha.com/election-day-running-smoothly-in-west-hartford-rain-not-a-deterrent/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=November 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Mikaela |title=Hit The Campaign Trail With Jillian Gilchrest And Mary Fay, The Two Candidates for the 18th House District |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/hc-news-west-hartford-gilchrest-fay-neighbors-20181011-story.html |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=October 11, 2018}}</ref> Following Beth Bye's appointment to Ned Lamont's gubernatorial administration, Slap ran for her District 5 seat in the Connecticut Senate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Joe |title=Gov.-elect Lamont nominates Bye to lead Office of Early Childhood |url=https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/gov-elect-lamont-nominates-bye-to-lead-office-of-early-childhood |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Hartford Business Journal |date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> Slap faced Bill Wadsworth, Jeffrey Przech, and Mark Stewart Greenstein in the special election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Five Special Elections Scheduled for February 26 |url=https://www.cbia.com/news/inside-the-capitol/ct-special-elections-february-26/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |publisher=Connecticut Business and Industry Association |date=January 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dixon |first1=Ken |title=Special General Assembly elections on Tuesday |url=https://apnews.com/ad265d186ac34642a6b851552b46cc18 |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> Slap was sworn in as a state senator on March 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=Derek Slap Sworn In, 19th District Special Election Date Set |url=https://we-ha.com/derek-slap-sworn-in-19th-district-special-election-date-set/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> Within the Connecticut Senate, Slap became the deputy majority leader.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Real Story: Legislative update with State Sen. Derek Slap |url=https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/the-real-story-legislative-update-with-state-sen-derek-slap/520-3b6b87f0-560d-449c-9a6f-71a2b6250273 |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |publisher=WTIC-TV |date=June 30, 2019}}</ref> The Democratic Party endorsed Slap's 2020 bid for re-election to the state senate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=West Hartford Democrats Endorse Slate of Candidates for 2020 Election |url=https://we-ha.com/west-hartford-democrats-endorse-slate-of-candidates-for-2020-election/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> Slap defeated Republican Challenger Phillip Chabot in the general election on November 3, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Ronni |title=West Hartford Republicans Announce Nominees for 2020 Election |url=https://we-ha.com/west-hartford-republicans-announce-nominees-for-2020-election/ |accessdate=July 28, 2020 |work=We-Ha |date=May 21, 2020}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} {{Connecticut State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slap, Derek}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:University of Connecticut alumni Category:Syracuse University alumni Category:21st-century American male writers Category:Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party Connecticut state senators Category:21st-century American male journalists Category:21st-century American journalists Category:Journalists from Connecticut Category:1970s births Category:American television news anchors Category:Political chiefs of staff Category:21st-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly