About John

John grew up in Barkhamsted, and his family still lives in the area. He attended the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He has a decade of experience in the manufacturing industry and currently works in finance, as a mortgage lender for Guaranty-Federal Bank in Farmington. John has been active civically since moving to Colebrook a few years ago, serving on the local board of education. He is a member of the Winsted Rotary Club. In November, voters of the 63rd House District elected John to his first term in the state legislature. John serves on four legislative committees: Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Human Services, Higher Education and Employment Advancement, and Energy. John and his wife, Kelly, have two young children.

Throughout his first two-year term John has been staunch advocate for residents in his district, offering and supporting proposals that sought to help Connecticut’s ailing economy and job market—without increasing taxes. On several occasions Rigby pushed “no tax increase” budget proposals. And he offered his “Common Sense Commitment” that sought to streamline government, forcing it to live within boundaries. That means borrowing only what it can afford to pay back, and spending no more than it takes in.

His common sense approach to government saw him support the creation of a nursing program at Northwestern Connecticut Community College—a program he contends will inject new life into the region’s job market while stimulating the local economy. Rigby crafted and passed legislation aimed at allowing the college to compete for federal funds that would jumpstart its efforts to create a nursing program that would help address the state’s critical shortage of nurses.

John was an equally strong advocate for Northwest Corner dairy farms, working with other representatives in 2009 to craft legislation brining much-needed assistance to dairy farms—a vital component to the economy of his seven-town district.

What’s more, Rigby, led the successful effort to keep the Department of Motor Vehicles satellite office in Winsted open when super-majority legislators proposed to close it.

During the 2010 legislative session Rigby focused his efforts on the number one issue facing Connecticut residents: jobs. With his House Republican colleagues, Rigby repeatedly offered proposals geared toward pumping new life into the private sector, such as repealing the small business entity tax so many people view as a barrier to entrepreneurship.