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Gospel’s greatest singer was born this day 109 years ago. Here’s Mahalia Jackson with her friend and admirer Dinah Shore.

There has never been anyone like Mahalia Jackson.

Tuesday, October 27th, is the last day to register to vote in Connecticut to cast a ballot in the November 3rd election. Here’s a link. Pass it on.

Connecticut added 17,000 jobs to the workforce in September, as the COVID-19 recovery continued to slow. The state’s labor department reports there were 1.58 million non-farm jobs when September ended. That’s 115,000 fewer than in February, the last full month before the global pandemic began to be felt in the state’s job market.

A busy year awaits the person who snags this at-the-sufferance of the mayor job.

As Republicans brace for a November 3rd deluge of disappointments, some are beginning to contemplate how to emerge from the wreckage. The maneuvering for advantage in what’s left of the party after Donald Trump’s unpopularity in Connecticut punishes candidates in down-ballot races.

Candidates eyeing the party’s 2022 nomination for governor may begin to reveal stalking horses in the early competition for advantage. Party leadership contests provide a narrow arena to test their support and fighting skills.

A contest may come in an early race for party chairman. Incumbent J.R. Romano could have trouble holding on until his term reaches its natural conclusion in June. Republicans will be looking for immediate change after November 3rd in the only political entity they control: their shambolic party organization. June will not be soon enough for those who want to try to begin the post-Trump era and begin a soft launch of the race for governor.

Lobbyist, Friend of Angelo and former Senator Christopher Dodd will join Governor Ned Lamont Wednesday morning on a virtual fundraiser for Connecticut Democrats. A donation of any amount will get a contributor into the breakfast without breakfast event.

Dodd, who served for 30 years in the Senate before becoming a lobbyist, is coming off a hard summer. The Harvey Weinstein favorite failed to torpedo the vice presidential prospects of Senator Kamala Harris from his perch on Joe Biden’s search committee. Harris and her allies made short work of Dodd’s attempt to boost the prospects of Representative Karen Bass. The California congresswoman’s affinity for late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro quickly deflated her Dodd-inspired boomlet.

The invitation:

Tomorrow, October 14th at 8:30 a.m. ET, you’re invited to join me and Governor Ned Lamont for coffee and conversation!

During this informal virtual event, we’ll talk about how important it is for the nation and the world that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are elected in November. Additionally, I will share some of my personal reflections and take your questions.

Register today by making a contribution of ANY amount to the Connecticut Democratic Party.

Morning Coffee and Conversation w/ Former Senator Chris Dodd
Hosted by Governor Ned Lamont
Wednesday, October 14th, 2020
8:30 a.m. ET
Zoom Invite Upon RSVP

RSVP Now

I’ll see you tomorrow!

— Chris Dodd

Political committee FixCT officials Scott DePetris and Lawrence McGonegal will pay hefty fines to settle an ongoing State Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC) complaint that FixCT “made disallowed contributions to the Steve Obsitnik for Governor campaign committee.” Obsitnik sought the 2018 Republican nomination for governor.

DePetris served as chairman of FixCT, McGonegal as treasurer. DePetris, according to the October 7th consent agreement reached with the SEEC staff, served as a fundraiser for Obsitnik’s campaign committee and had critical contacts with Obsitnik. FixCT expended more than $88,000 in support of Obsitnik’s unsuccessful race for governor.

The SEEC found that McGonegal as treasurer was responsible for the illegal FixCT expenditures. The agreement notes that both DePetris and McGonegal were “responsive and cooperative with this investigation” and did not knowingly violate the law.

DePetris will pay a fine of $20,000, McGonegal $5,000. The agreement will be presented to the commission for approval.

A footnote warns, “Allegations concerning respondents to this matter not named herein shall be addressed in a separate document.” That may refer to Obsitnik. Evidence of his contacts with DePetris is mentioned in several critical paragraphs of the consent agreement.

Obsitnik’s bid for governor gained momentum at the Republican nomination but stalled when he had trouble qualifying for public financing. The Westport Republican finished fifth in the party’s primary.

Mike DiGiovancarlo is the Democratic nominee for the House of Representative from the state’s 74th District. The Waterbury Democrat serves on the city’s board of aldermen and is an ally of Mayor Neil O’Leary.

A Waterbury patrol and community relations officer, DiGiovancarlo contributed to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign committee in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission reports. DiGiovancarlo may be ready to give up his day job. He is endorsed by the Working Families Party, which has been in the forefront of the movement to defund the police.

DiGiovancarlo faces two-term incumbent Republican Stephanie Cummings.

There was no misunderstanding. State Representative Cara Pavalock-D’Amato thought a neighbor whose uninhabited house had been foreclosed left a crude note on her windshield. The Bristol Republican responded with a cruel message to the neighbor. The neighbor had not written the note, but that did not keep Pavalock-D’Amato-D’Amato from unfurling her ugly instincts.

Pavalock-D’Amato’s message appears above. The incident occurred Saturday evening. A social media dustup and condemnation from Bristol’s mayor, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, and press inquiries preceded a statement issued Tuesday by Pavalock-D’Amato, according to The Courant. The third term legislator wrote, “I apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused over the weekend in my Bristol neighborhood. I brought my two-year-old son with me to an event Saturday night and parked nearby. When asked to move my car, I did.”

Pavalock-D’Amato’s instincts are jarring but not surprising to Capitol denizens who have observed her. Zoppo-Sassu dropped a revelation in her statement that ought to add to voters’ worries. “In the three years I have been mayor, I have never had a conversation or a phone call from Rep. Pavalock, nor has she ever responded to any emails about the city’s legislative agendas or wishlists that I send to the Hartford delegation,” Zoppo-Sassu said in a statement Tuesday.