John H. Frey (born February 8,1963) since 1987 is an American real estate broker (with Coldwell Banker Realty),businessman and politician.[1] A member of the Republican Party,he served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for the 111th district from 1999 to 2021.[2]
Frey served as a member of the Ridgefield Republican Town Committee from 1981 to 1998 and the Republican State Central Committee from 1989 to 2000.
Before winning election to the state House of Representatives,Frey was appointed chairman of the Connecticut Real Estate Commission in 1995 by former Governor John G. Rowland. Frey held the distinct honor as the commission's youngest chairman in state history. Frey was also appointed 'government representative' for the University of Connecticut Business School Center for Real Estate and Economic Studies.
Republican politics
In February 2007,Frey was first elected as the Connecticut National Committeeman to the Republican National Committee. He was re-elected to a four-year term in 2008,a second full term in 2012,third term in 2016,a fourth term in 2020 and a fifth full term in June,2024 making him the seventh longest serving member in the 168 member committee.[5] Mr. Frey was appointed by RNC Chairman Michael Steele to the RNC Redistricting Committee,which is charged with planning for federal redistricting that begins after 2010. In July 2009,he was elected to the RNC Site Selection Committee. The eight member committee was charged with determining the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention (their recommendation of Tampa,Florida,was ratified by the Republican National Committee). Mr. Frey was appointed to the Committee on Arrangements,charged with the planning and oversight of the 2012 Republican National Convention. He has served on the RNC Rules Committee since 2007. He served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2016,2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
Mr. Frey was the 5th District coordinator for the Bob Dole 1996 presidential campaign and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in San Diego,California,where he represented the state as a member of the Platform Committee. In 2004,for the third time he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and again represented Connecticut on the Platform Committee,where he gained approval for language calling for a more transparent Indian tribe recognition process. He was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention and served on the Rules Committee.
Connecticut House of Representatives
Rep. Frey served eleven terms (22 years) in the state legislature as Ridgefield's chief advocate in Hartford,making him the longest served legislator in Ridgefield’s history. One hundred seventy-six state representatives have represented Ridgefield since 1776 (as of 2021). Second to Rep. Frey in tenure was Ridgefield’s first state representative who served 13 years beginning in 1776.[6][7] Rep. Frey was appointed by the House Minority Leader Themis Klarides to serve as Senior Republican Whip. He served on the Finance,Revenue and Bonding Committee;the Bank Committee and Legislative Management Committee. He also served on the state Aging Commission.[8]
John H Frey,taken at Ridgefield Playhouse
Rep. Frey has supported measures to improve education for students at all grade levels,protect the benefits of seniors and veterans residing in Connecticut,preserve consumers' rights,reform state government,and secure pristine open space areas.
Rep. Frey has also been instrumental in securing state aid for local projects in Ridgefield,including the Ridgefield Playhouse,school construction and improvements,the Ridgefield Veterans Community Center,the Aldrich Museum,Tiger Hollow and the Ridgefield Boys &Girls Club. He is largely credited for gaining funding for the 400-acre (1.6km2) Bennetts Pond State Park.
In February 2008,the State Bond Commission approved $3.25 million to fund 12 unit expansion of Ballard Green senior housing and rehabilitation of 120 units of affordable and senior housing in Ridgefield. Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell thanked Frey for his perseverance in advocating for funding for the project. In October 2008,he secured an additional $640,000 to cover unanticipated funding shortfalls.
Frey publicly criticized Governor Dannel Malloy following Connecticut-based General Electric’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Massachusetts. He stated that retroactive tax increases and other legislative actions under Malloy’s administration contributed to the company’s decision to explore relocation. Frey also cited concerns expressed at the time by other major corporations,including IBM,Aetna,Travelers,and Ridgefield’s Boehringer Ingelheim,regarding the state’s business climate. He said that GE formed a relocation committee after these policies were implemented and pointed to specific issues during state negotiations,including a presentation error.
Frey argued that Connecticut’s business climate had become less competitive,referencing CNBC’s “Best States for Business”rankings and comparing GE’s concerns with other state incentive packages,such as the $300 million offered to Jackson Laboratory. He called on the Malloy administration to acknowledge and address these concerns to improve the state’s ability to retain and attract businesses.[9][10]
Frey received recognition from The Connecticut Post’s Ken Dixon. “The Democratic budget was essentially wrapped up and ready to go,when veteran Rep. John Frey,R-Ridgefield,announced his weekend conversation with a sword-rattling General Electric executive,who intimated that if planned corporate-tax escalations occurred,the Fairfield-based multi-national would decamp the state. For this well-timed declaration,Frey,a member of the Republican National Committee,earns the honorary “Dick Belden Rat Patrol Award,”named for the late Republican lawmaker from Shelton,who every year would cull a shopping list of special-interest items nestled in Democratic budget.”[11]
In 2019,the Independent Party of Connecticut unanimously endorsed Frey’s reelection bid for the 111th District,placing him on both the Republican and Independent ballot lines and making him the first Ridgefield legislative candidate to receive the party’s endorsement.[12]
In November 2021,Mr. Frey was elected to a full four year term on the Ridgefield Police Commission,receiving the most votes in all contested seats on the ballot. He previously was appointed to fill a vacancy. He served two years as Chairman. In 2025,he was elected to a second four year term.[15][16]
John Frey meeting Cardinal Timothy Dolan at the Archbishop’s residence in Manhattan,April 2,2025
In September 2024,Mr Frey was appointed to the newly formed CT-Ireland Trade Commission by CT House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora. The appointment is a four year term.[17]
Former State Representative John Frey (left) with the Ireland Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny at the 2017 Saint Patrick’s Day celebration at the Irish Embassy
In December 2025,Frey was appointed to the Board of Advisors of the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service at the University of Hartford. The Center,established in honor of Connecticut’s 87th governor,promotes ethics in government,civil discourse,and civic engagement. Frey,who had a long association with Governor Rell dating to their early years in the Connecticut General Assembly,was selected to support the Center’s mission of encouraging ethical leadership and public service. As an advisor,he contributes to programs and initiatives aimed at fostering civic responsibility among students and the broader community.[18]
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