Charles Ferraro

Charles Ferraro was born on November 6, 1952, in West Haven, Connecticut. He is a prominent Republican politician and martial artist who has dedicated his career to both public service and the martial arts community. Outside of politics, Ferraro is a 10th-degree black belt, the highest level of recognition in the martial arts community. He is the founder, president, and Grandmaster of Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan, a composite style of classical martial art influenced by Northern Chinese arts, Southern Chinese arts, and Okinawan karate, with schools throughout the United States and South America.

Ferraro is also the owner, CEO, and Grandmaster of West Haven Academy of Karate, Inc., which has been the longest-running martial arts studio in the Southern Connecticut area since 1976. His responsibilities at the academy have included teaching all classes, managing marketing and promotion, training instructors, and coaching national and international competition teams.

Early in his career, from 1976 to 1979, Ferraro represented numerous insurance companies as a general agent, specializing in life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, annuities, and financial planning. From 1979 to 1982, he worked as a territory representative for Westwood Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Co. in Buffalo, New York.

Education

Ferraro is a 1970 graduate of West Haven High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Southern Connecticut State College in 1975 and received a Master of Science degree in fishery biology from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1977.

Political Experience

Ferraro has served in the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 117th District from 2015 to 2025. His district comprises portions of Orange, Milford, and West Haven. During his tenure, he served five terms and held the position of ranking member of the Energy and Technology Committee while also serving on the Human Services and Veterans Committees.

Throughout his legislative career, Ferraro has championed helping small businesses thrive, making Connecticut more business-friendly, and creating policies and providing funding for programs for older adults and veterans. He has been a staunch supporter of renewable energy, public safety, and healthcare. He was honored for legislative achievements in energy and technology in 2021 and 2022 and was named the West Haven Republican Town Committee's 2023 Republican of the Year. In 2023, he received the honor of West Haven's Italian of the Year from the West Haven Italian Heritage Committee.