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Trumbull First Selectman responds to this post and this lawsuit with a statement provided by one of his lawyers, Vincent M. Marino, whose name appears on the Trumbull website as a town attorney. Mr. Marino writes that he is not acting as a town attorney in his representation of Herbst.

The statement:

“It’s no surprise that the personal attacks are coming this early from Governor Malloy’s Hartford insider allies and the Connecticut Democratic Party.  Rather than debate the issues, the modus operandi of Malloy’s gang is to respond to all criticism of their job-crushing, fiscally ruinous record and policies with personal attacks and political smears.   In all of my years in public service I have always maintained that families are off-limits.  Politicizing personal family matters should be beneath even them — sadly it is not.

As Trumbull’s Chief Executive, I took an oath of office to uphold the laws and ordinances of the Town of Trumbull – – including our Code of Ethics.  The simple fact of the matter is that I took action to prevent a potentially unethical situation from developing. I follow the Code of Ethics just like any other official or employee.  I stick to that code even when it may be uncomfortable and regardless of whether family is involved.

Most of the Connecticut press corps has typically left family out of politics as a matter of decency.  Governor Malloy has been accorded that respect with the multiple issues associated with his children.  I would hope that would be the case for the governor’s critics as well.”

NOTE: Herbst is the defendant in the action. No other member of his family is a party to the action.

Jesse Jablon’s action against Timothy Herbst, the first selectman of Trumbull, accuses the aspiring Republican gubernatorial hopeful of unjustly firing him from a town job in 2013, interfering with Jablom’s attempts to get a new job, and slander. The trouble began, according to Jablon’s complaint when Herbst “terminated [Jablon’s] employment solely on the ground that the [Jablon] was dating [Herbst’s] sister.”

After that, Jablon’s alleges Herbst interfered with his ability to make a living by interfering with Jablon’s attempts to obtain and keep a job. The most explosive allegation is that on October 12, 2016, Herbst met with a supervisor at Enterprise Car Sales, Jablon’s employer, and “falsely and maliciously accused [Jablon] of being a drug dealer.” That may have been the final straw for Jablon. The complaint is dated a month later. For any kind of employer disputes, it is best to get a legal team to help you resolve any kind of dispute cases.

The complaint, which was filed in state court, has been removed to federal court by one of the lawyers who has filed an appearance on behalf of Herbst.

Herbst is being sued in his individual capacity, not as a town official.

You can read the vivid complaint here. 

Herbst was the 2014 Republican nominee for state treasurer. He announced an exploratory committee for governor this month. His disputatious manner has become his calling card.

Job is probably limited to a lefty because they believe in diversity of everything but thought. Nevertheless, if you would like to join the lucrative world of non-profits, take a look at this:

Vice President of Policy and Communications Employer: Connecticut Health Foundation Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 Job Type: Jobs outside of DC Description: As Connecticut’s largest independent health philanthropy, the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) believes that everyone deserves the opportunity for optimal health—regardless of race, background, or income level. CT Health strives to improve the health and well-being of people across the state by focusing on systems change to unlock greater access to quality, affordable care, especially for people of color and underserved communities. With a unique focus on health equity in the region, CT Health works to ensure that communities of color not only have access to care but also receive appropriate and high quality health care (please cite Brad Traverse Group as the source of this lead). CT Health leverages change through grant making, leadership development, and by influencing decision makers to ensure greater access and quality of care for Connecticut residents. With an endowment of $105 million and an annual programmatic and grant making budget of $4.8 million, CT Health has made a significant commitment to policy, advocacy, and communications initiatives that will advance its mission and strategic goals. CT Health now seeks a new Vice President of Policy and Communications who will lead and give strategic direction to the Foundation’s policy and communications efforts.  The new Vice President will partner closely with the President and CEO and an engaged board in developing the Foundation’s policy agenda and will seek innovative opportunities to integrate policy and advocacy efforts into CT Health’s programmatic and grant making activities. S/he will shape and implement the new strategic communications plan and build capacity internally and externally to advance CT Health’s policy goals. S/he will lead government relations efforts, developing and nurturing both strong bipartisan relationships throughout Connecticut government and diverse coalitions to improve the health and health care of Connecticut residents with special attention to underserved populations.  The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who understands and can leverage the intersection of effective communications with policy change and be a passionate advocate for health equity. S/he will be a collaborative leader internally and externally with the ability to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with a broad and diverse constituency interested in improving health and health care in Connecticut. The new Vice President will be a savvy communicator and advocate on behalf issues and policies the Foundation is invested in and convey the importance of CT Health’s mission to the media, policymakers, key stakeholders, and the general public. This is an exciting opportunity to improve the health and health care of the people of Connecticut.

An active business with no required filing since 2014. That’s what Republican auditor nominee Rob Kane’s record showed on Tuesday morning. The former Republican state senator scrambled to backfill the hole after inquiries were made. Just another “misunderstanding” by the Republican choice to scrutinize the state’s spending of its $20 billion annual business.

Republicans are beginning to express worries about Kane’s nomination, which goes before the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee today. It appears Republican leaders skipped even a cursory vetting of Kane’s nomination. The hearing is not the ideal forum for doing that but members will have no alternative if party and committee leaders choose to forge ahead Thursday.

The auditors supervise a large staff of sober professionals. That would be a new experience for Kane. Will one brave committee member ask how Kane has treated staff members at the legislature? Has he always acted appropriately? What have his relationships with lobbyists been?

A few questions on Kane’s experience exercising authority in the legislature’s hierarchy would be a good start on the day’s hearing.

Rob Kane, former state senator seeking to become the auditor of the state’s annual $20 billion budget, fell thousands of dollars behind in his share of unreimbursed medical expenses and other fees for his children. His ex-wife had to file a contempt motion to get redress. The Courant has the distasteful story. The details raise several questions. Here’s one: Why didn’t Kane use the generous alimony his ex-wife was paying him to cover the unreimbursed medical expenses that were his responsibility? Here’s another one: Why the puny monthly arrearage payment? It will take Kane more than three years to catch up on what he has long owed–it’s for his children.

The most important question is what Republicans and Democrats in the legislature (but especially Republicans, since Kane is their nomination) will muster the self-respect to declare, “Party loyalty asks too much. Connecticut must set a higher standard for itself.”

Three term Middletown mayor Dan Drew has filed an exploratory committee for governor. Drew’s announcement sounds like he is ready to challenge fellow Democrat and incumbent Dannel P. Malloy, should he seek a third in 2018.

Drew’s written announcement reads like an indictment of the Malloy years leading Connecticut: “For too long, the focus of our government has been to assist people at the very top. The people in the middle are left behind,” said Drew. He added, “We must recognize that we have the opportunity and responsibility to think big and to make the bold changes that will tangibly improve life for the people of Connecticut. Seniors should be able to retire comfortably, parents should be able to send their kids to great public schools, and workers deserve good jobs to support their families.”

The announcement kicks off a tour of the state to talk with Connecticut Democrats on the way forward.

That shooting star Timothy M. Herbst has resumed exploring a statewide candidacy for 2018. The Trumbull Republican filed a committee formation document with the State Elections Enforcement Commission for an undetermined office.

Herbst was the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 2014, losing a close race to Democratic incumbent Denise Nappier. He was narrowly re-elected first selectman of Trumbull in 2015.

There is some talk that Herbst will run for governor in 2018, though that seems unlikely.

Campaign finance report deadlines can give rise to some confusion. Danbury’s Mark Boughton told The Courant’s Russell Blair that his exploratory committee held no fundraisers in November or December. The $26,350 Boughton disclosed in the first report of his third bid for government.

A Daily Ructions reader disputes Boughton’s claim with an invitation to a Wednesday, December 21st fundraising event. Contributions to the event could be made at the door or online.