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Orange Democrat Mary Welander will challenge House Minority Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) for the 114th House District. The race will be a rematch of their 2018 contest. The district includes Derby, Orange and Woodbridge.

Welander serves as member of the board of education in Orange. Klarides was first elected to the seat in 1998.

Klarides defeated Welander two years ago with 6,249 votes to Welander’s 5,246. Klarides carried Derby and Orange. Welander won Woodbridge.

Two staff members have left State Treasurer Shawn Wooden’s office. Jackie Primeau and Adam Brill are no longer shaping communications for Wooden.

Deputy Treasurer Linda Savitsky, a state finance and budget veteran, has also departed. Among other duties, Savitsky had been serving as Wooden’s representative on the chaotic Connecticut Port Authority.

Governor Ned Lamont has conceded that the Democratic legislature will not pass his most recent toll plan during this year. Lamont had announced in 2019 that he had staked his governorship on the success of his various tolls plans.

A bitter Lamont announced at a 4 p.m. press conference Tuesday that his trucks-only plan would not be taken up by the legislature for a vote. Lamont will seek to raise the $200 million that he hoped to collect from tolls on trucks by issuing bonds.

Tolland Republican Tammy Nuccio is seeking her party’s nomination for the 53rd House District, which includes Ashford, Willington and part of Tolland. Nuccio is the chairwoman of Tolland’s town council.

“We do not need more taxes, we do not need tolls, we need people who understand a budget and know where to push to find efficiencies. We need fiscally responsible decisions that truly benefit our friends and neighbors,” Nuccio wrote in announcing her candidacy.

The Tolland native will face first-term Democratic incumbent Patricia Wilson Pheanious. She defeated incumbent Republican Sam Belisto in 2018 as Democrats scored gains in legislative races across the state.

Republican Mary Ann Turner required only 10 days to collect the donations necessary to qualify for taxpayer-financed campaign funds in her race for the 58th House District. She raised $6,000, including 160 donations from Enfield residents. Turner has been the chairman of the Enfield Republican organization since 2006, enjoying a reputation as an energetic leader of the local party.

The Enfield district is represented by first term Democrat Thomas Arnone, who defeated freshman Republican Greg Stokes in 2018. Other than the Stokes term, the district has long been represented by Democrats.

Here’s the March 13, 2019, letter from Attorney General William Tong’s office to the Michael Bloomberg-funded stable of environmental lawyers seeking an additional staff lawyer. Deputy Attorney General Margaret Q. Chapple complains that the office does not have enough lawyers. This seems a curious way to hire lawyers in a merit system that also includes a union contract.

A beef farmer sent this email after reading my column on tolls in Sunday’s Courant:

 I just wanted to point out one thing that is being sorely overlooked by our media and our politicians….. FARMERS       

This truck only tolling proposal will be the nail in the coffin for many of Connecticuts farmers. Milk is already at an all time low and additional tolls will force milk processors to purchase thier milk from areas where the transportation cost are cheaper. Not to mention farmers that own and drive trucks that will be directly impacted.

Farmers have been and should continue to be a protected class from many taxes. Given the economic state of agriculture in Connecticut if vehicle registered with “farm plates”are not exempted from this truck only toll plan it will not only be bad optics for dem politicians it will also be the straw that breaks many farmers backs.     

Ryan Matson, Matson Farm LLC, Berlin, CT

Hamden town council member Justin Farmer is a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the state senate’s 17th district. The “hobo-chic activist” is seeking to challenge two-term Republican incumbent George Logan in the district that includes all or part of seven towns from Hamden to Ansonia.

Farmer will first need to get by Jorge Cabrera, his fellow Hamden Democrat who challenged and came close to defeating Logan in 2018.

You’ll want to read Daniela Altimari’s story on the growing Bloomberg primary campaign in Connecticut. Bloomberg is hiring and planning to spend millions in the state in the run-up to the state’s April 28th primary. Expect the campaign to hire hundreds for a formidable primary day GOTV effort.

Connecticut’s presidential primary does not often attract much attention–sometimes because of the late primary date or in years when voting in larger states overshadows the contest here. This year could be different if a Democratic nominee does not emerge after March’s primaries.

Bloomberg’s 12 years as mayor of New York made him a familiar figure in Fairfield County, where Democrats have made notable gains in the past several years. The campaign is expected to emphasize endorsements from local officials.

Caroline Kennedy is seeking nominations for the 2020 Profiles in Courage Award. The selection committee must be spoiled for choice year after year. This year is no different. The United States is blessed with brave leaders in these troubling times.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman stands out as a patriot who has not flinched in the face of the onslaught that comes with speaking the truth about Donald Trump and his machinations to undermine the rule of law for personal benefit. He deserves to be recognized as a profile in courage who has inspired much of the nation. Lt. Col. Vindman is a steadfast friend of freedom.