Clara O'Shea

Clara O'Shea
O'Shea c. 1946
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Beacon Falls
In office
1945–1961
Preceded byWilliam B. Bradley Sr.
Succeeded byEdward R. Betkoski
Personal details
BornClara Forst
(1894-05-04)May 4, 1894
Derby, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 1970(1970-06-22) (aged 76)
PartyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Thomas Patterson
David O'Shea
Children4

Clara P. O'Shea (née Forst; May 4, 1894 – June 22, 1970) was an American politician who served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1945 to 1961, representing the town of Beacon Falls as a Democrat.

Personal life

O'Shea was born on May 4, 1894, in Derby, Connecticut, to John and Minnie Forst. She attended elementary school in Beacon Falls and graduated from Seymour High School.[1]

O'Shea married her first husband, Thomas Patterson, when she was 18, and together they had four children. Patterson died during the 1918–1920 flu pandemic, when O'Shea was 23. She married her second husband, David O'Shea, three years later, and they remained together until David's death.[2]

Career

Beacon Falls

O'Shea began her political career in 1932 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut, as vice-chairman of the town's Democratic Party. O'Shea held the position until 1957, when she became chairman. She worked as an auditor for the town and served three terms on its school board.[2]

Connecticut House of Representatives

Elections

O'Shea was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1944, defeating Republican incumbent William B. Bradley Sr., and she served eight terms representing the town of Beacon Falls as a Democrat.[3][4]

O'Shea ran for a ninth term in 1960, but was defeated by Edward R. Betkoski in the Democratic primary by a margin of 57 votes.[2][3] She continued her 1960 campaign as a write-in candidate,[3][5] a decision that John Moran Bailey, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Connecticut, criticized. Bailey referred to Betkoski as "the only legal Democratic candidate for state representative in Beacon Falls"[6] and stated that O'Shea should withdraw, expressing concern that her candidacy could split the vote and cost Democrats the seat altogether.[7] O'Shea did not withdraw and stated that she was more qualified for the position than Betkoski.[6][8] Her campaign was unsuccessful, and Betkoski succeeded her in 1961.[4][9]

Tenure

Much of O'Shea's focus throughout her career was on environmental, road, and utility issues in Beacon Falls and other towns in the area now known as the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.[10][11][12][13][14]

In 1951, O'Shea opposed a bill seeking to give the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company eminent domain over two brooks in Oxford. Residents and representatives expressed concern about the area being used as a watershed and its potential impact on Hop Brook, which already experienced a problematic rise in water levels during rainfall. O'Shea stated that Fairfield County, where the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company was located, had enough water, and the company should not extend to New Haven County. She remarked, "Why don't the city slickers stay away from the country folks and leave us alone?"[14]

Rep. Rose Prokop and O'Shea in 1950

Throughout the 1950s, O'Shea authored and supported bills to fund improvements to High Rock, a part of Naugatuck State Forest.[13][15][16] In 1955, O'Shea sponsored a bill to provide $12,500 for improvements. The Connecticut General Assembly passed the bill, but it was vetoed by Governor Abe Ribicoff.[17][18] In 1959, O'Shea filed a bill to charge the Connecticut Highway Department with maintaining a road in Beacon Falls that led to High Rock.[19]

In 1959, O'Shea expressed support for the Pines Bridge Redevelopment Plan,[20] which would have funded the purchase and demolition of residential properties impacted by a 1955 flood in the Pines Bridge area of Beacon Falls.[21][22] Opponents argued that the plan was too costly and would leave "better than 13 acres for unsightly briers and poison shrubs to take over".[23] The town voted "overwhelmingly" against the plan in March 1959.[24]

O'Shea was a member of the Connecticut branch of the National Order of Women Legislators. She was elected president of the branch in 1955, succeeding Rep. Beulah Blackman and becoming the first Democrat to hold the position in over 20 years.[25]

Later career

Following her service in the House of Representatives, O'Shea worked as a Senate messenger for the Connecticut General Assembly.[26] In 1968, she was appointed to Southbury Training School's board of directors.[12][27]

Death

O'Shea died on June 22, 1970, at age 76.[28][29]

References

  1. ↑ State of Connecticut Register and Manual 1945-1946. Connecticut Secretary of the State. 1946. p. 226. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Palladino, Mercedes (October 1, 1960). "16 Years Of Legislature Best Of Clara O'Shea's Life; 1959 Session Tops All". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Write-In Campaign For Clara O'Shea A Reminder Of Bradley's Victory". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. October 6, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "City/Town of Beacon Falls Historical Election Results". electionhistory.ct.gov. Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Rybinski, Dorothy B. (November 8, 1960). "Write-In May Delay Vote Counting". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Betkoski Confers With Bailey; Declines Bid To Talk To Women Democrats". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. October 18, 1960. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Chairman Bailey Urges Withdrawal By Mrs. O'Shea". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. October 18, 1960. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Rep. O'Shea To Run In Spite Of Bailey Ruling". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. October 19, 1960. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Betkoski Wins Beacon Falls Assembly Seat". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. November 9, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rep. Clara O'Shea Plans Introduction Of Measure To Increase Road Funds". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. January 8, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Rep. O'Shea Would Recover $9,500 For Beacon Falls". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. February 4, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Clara Does It Again..." Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. August 19, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Mrs. O'Shea Promises Fight For High Rock Improvement". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. March 26, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Rosenberg, Joe (April 11, 1951). "Borough Residents Speak In Opposition To Oxford Dam Bill". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Remember High Rock". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. March 25, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ Marteka, Peter (September 7, 2023). "Naugatuck State Forest's West Block has wild views, waterfalls and "one of the prettiest ravines in all of New England"". Connecticut Magazine. CT Insider. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ "House Votes $12,500 For High Rock". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. June 9, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ribicoff Vetoes $12,500 For High Rock Improvements". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. July 8, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ Woelflein, Mrs. John (February 13, 1959). "Two Bills Filed By Rep. O'Shea Assigned To Committees". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 9. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  20. ↑ Heller, William (March 4, 1959). "Redevelopment Plan Supported By Rep O'Shea". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Pines Bridge Redevelopment Project Support Is Sought". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. March 5, 1959. p. 5. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Redevelopment Plans for Pines Bridge Area Given Approval By Federal Govt". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. October 17, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Partisans Fire Final Shots In Pines Bridge Redevelopment Controversy; Vote Tomorrow". Naugatuck Daily News. March 6, 1959. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved August 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Beacon Falls Redevelopment Unit Will "Close Up Shop" In A Month". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. March 11, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Women Legislators Elect Rep. O'Shea". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. February 2, 1955. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Tattooing Is Erased By State Lawmakers". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. April 18, 1963. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  27. ↑ Hurley, Helen (August 1, 1968). "Bits of Beacon". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  28. ↑ Rau, Harriet R. (July 7, 1970). "Tribute To A Lady". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Funeral Mrs. Clara O'Shea". Naugatuck Daily News. Newspapers.com. June 24, 1970. p. 16. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
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