Robert Ward (American politician)

Robert Ward
3rd Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
In office 2007–2011
Deputy	William Ramirez[1]
Minority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1995–2007
Preceded by	Edward C. Karwiecki
Succeeded by	Lawrence F. Cafero
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 86th district
In office 1985–2007
Preceded by	Timothy P. Ryan
Succeeded by	Vincent Candelora[2]
Personal details
Born	(1952-11-02)November 2, 1952
Died	May 9, 2021(2021-05-09) (aged 68) North Branford, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Anita Siena
Children	4
Education	University of Connecticut (BA) University of Cincinnati (JD)

Robert M. Ward (November 2, 1952 – May 9, 2021) was an American politician who served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1984 to 2007, and as the minority leader from 1995 to 2007, as a member of the Republican Party. He was the longest-serving caucus leader in the state legislature in Connecticut's history.^[3][4]

Ward was raised in Connecticut and was educated at Notre Dame High School, University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut, and the University of Cincinnati. He entered politics when he worked as an intern for state legislator Herbert V. Camp Jr. and later became a member of the North Branford Republican Town Committee.

Ward entered electoral politics when he unsuccessfully challenged Representative Dorothy McCluskey for a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 86th district in 1980. He ran for the seat again in 1982, against Timothy P. Ryan, but lost again. He won election to the state house after defeating Ryan in the 1984 election and continued to serve until his retirement in 2006. Ward was selected to replace Edward C. Karwiecki, who was retiring, as minority leader.

He was lauded for his service in the state legislature with him being named the most effective legislator twice and the "Excellence in State Legislative Leadership" award by the National Conference of State Legislatures. After leaving the state legislature he served on the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees, as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, and as Auditor of Public Accounts. He died from kidney failure in 2021.