Category — Posts

State Comptroller Kevin Lembo’s bid for governor is imminent. Expect an announcement soon. The two-term comptroller has been looking for a venue for his announcement. He’s also been calling calling party leaders with considerable campaign experience to do some brain-picking.

Some early Lembo obstacles will include the memory of his mediocre result for re-election in 2014 against a Republican opponent with no money to spend. More formidable will be the Malloy loyalists, and there are still plenty of those in the upper ranks of the party, share their leader’s loathing of Lembo.

Joe Ganim’s growing interest in making the race for the state’s top job will also be an obstacle. Lembo has been cultivating Ganim for several years and now may not reap the benefit of tending to that rocky garden.

Ella Fitzgerald was born 100 years ago today. The BBC’s Radio 4 is celebrating with this tribute and biography.

Rejoice:

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Management released a Request for Proposals for operation of CT-N, the public service network that provides public affairs programming. The goal of the proposal is set forth in the RFP:

Lakeville Republican and New York investment executive Thaddeus I. Gray will appear with a host of Republican hopefuls in Avon on Friday, May 19th for the party town committee’s 6th annual spring fling. Confirmed guests, according to the event announcement, include “Prasad Srinivasan, Tim Herbst, David Walker, Mark Greenberg, Steve Obsitnik, and Thad Gray.”

Thad Gray is a new name on the long list of Republicans thinking about running for office. More are expected to enter races for a variety of statewide offices.

Woodbridge holds its municipal elections on May 1st. Local Democrat Cheryl Sackler took to Facebook to decry the Republican ticket as “rich white guys in suits.” A commenter mentioned she had met state Senator George Logan, the district’s new state senator and a Republican. Sackler, a veterinarian with a Beacon Falls practice, turned her venomous keyboard to Logan. The malignant Sackler declared Logan a “token black Republican” after her screed attracted attention.

As Democrats troop to Woodbridge to help their local ticket, will they denounce racism in their party? Will outgoing First Selectman Ellen Scalletar find her voice to intervene for decency?

Read the dispiriting exchange here. 

UPDATE:

Hartford, CT – Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today released the following statement regarding comments posted on Facebook directed at State Senator George Logan (R-Ansonia).

“In this era of heightened political insensitivity, there is no place at the national or local level to use race, religion sexual orientation or economic status as a barometer of an individual’s worth,” said Senator Looney. “These types of statements directed at Senator Logan are just wrong – regardless of party – and do not belong in our public discourse.”

UPDATE:

Hartford – Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) today released the following statement regarding comments posted on Facebook directed at State Senator George Logan (R-Ansonia) and a statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) condemning these comments.

“The Senate Republican Caucus appreciates Senator Looney’s statement condemning the completely unacceptable comments directed toward State Senator George Logan. No one should be judged or measured based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation. The prejudice seen in certain comments posted on Facebook are inexcusable. We must condemn bigotry in unity. This is an issue where Republicans and Democrats in Connecticut can and will stand together.”

UPDATE:

Woodbridge Democrat Beth Heller sends this:

“My team and I are focused on bringing people together, and we strongly denounce and reject any divisive comments, including those made by Ms. Sackler today. Her insensitive and offensive language has no place in our public discourse.”

This stark mailer tells the unusual tale of the special election for the House of Representatives in Watertown. Polletta is the Republican nominee. He was the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for the same seat not long ago.

Christopher Mattei launched his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor with a short introductory video. The former federal prosecutor mentions he put John Rowland in jail. Rowland was a Republican. Here’s a sentence you will likely see nowhere else: Mattei is too modest. He also put members of Meriden Democrat Christopher Donovan’s 2012 congressional campaign staff behind bars. The union favorite’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for the open 5th Congressional District seat collapsed.

Donovan continues to be a popular figure in Democratic politics. He’s not likely to be a Mattei booster, but why poke him with a mention in the video when his once in a lifetime chance to snag a congressional seat can be relegated to a quick “others”? 

Ah, misty colored memories of they way they were ought to make for some memorable moments in this campaign.

Correction: An earlier version of this post included in error Bridgeport Democrat Ernie Newton among the defendants Mattei prosecuted. 

Dear CSU-AAUP members,

During a meeting Tuesday evening with the governor’s office, SEBAC leaders were notified the governor will annouce the beginnings of the layoff contingency plan.

According to the governor’s staff, action is being taken now because of notice requirements in various collective bargaining agreements. The governor will identify the largest 12 executive branch agencies funded by the General Fund, plus OPM and DAS, for the first round of layoffs. More widespread layoffs will happen if there is no success from the SEBAC exploratory talks. CSU-AAUP members are not at risk of layoffs presently.

Here’s what you can do to help:

Click here to contact your legislators and tell them to stand up for public higher education and Connecticut’s working and middle class families.

Tell them about the new study done by our own CCSU economists and the Center for Public Policy and Social Research that shows Connecticut not only has the lowest Total Effective Business Tax Rate (TEBTR) in the region, including New York and New Jersey, but also in the United States. Connecticut also has the lowest business taxes per private sector worker in the region, and the lowest business taxes as a share of state and local taxes in the United States. This report is also attached to this email and available for you to share widely.

A budget that works for everyone is possible!

While SEBAC leaders continue to explore ways that state workers can provide help in the state’s fiscal challenges, the uncertainty of thousands of public service workers who serve Connecticut’s families and communities are more proof of a rigged economy and a rigged tax system that protects only the very wealthy few. Layoffs and service cuts threaten public health and safety, our children’s education, and our state’s future. They only hurt the economy more and lead to more fiscal crises.

Thank you for taking action.

Elizabeth Newberg

Communication and Research Associate

Connecticut State University – American Association of University Professors

Joe Visconti, who ran for governor as a petitioning candidate in 2014, will run for run for governor once more. Visconti will seek the Republican nomination for governor against many opponents. Visconti sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2014 but received almost no support.

Visconti endorsed Republican Tom Foley the weekend before the election. Foley was defeated by incumbent Dannel P. Malloy.

Mike Jarjura, the former Waterbury mayor, is running for judge of probate as a Democrat in a November special election. Jarjura earned a place in political history in 2005 when he won re-election as mayor with write-in votes. Jarjura had lost the Democratic primary to Karen Mulcahy, the city tax collector.

Jarjura ran for governor as a Democrat in the eventful 2010 political cycle and switched to the comptroller’s race. He lost that summer’s primary to Kevin Lembo, who is in his second term as comptroller and is contemplating a race for governor. In that race, Jarjura accused Lembo of working as chief of staff to a right wing Republican in New York. That was Betsy McCaughey, who served as lieutenant governor of New York from 1994-1998.

Jarjura ran for re-election in Waterbury in 2011 as a Republican and was defeated in a bitter contest with retired police chief Neil O’Leary, the Democratic candidate.