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Volatile Tim Herbst has an unsettling taste for violent imagery. The Trumbull Republican texted a message to a fellow Republican declaring, “I would love to put my cigar out in Mark Lauretti’s eye”.

In 2016, Herbst sent a text to troubled Enfield Democrat David Alexander that featured a clip with the “make my day” moment from 1983’s “Dirty Harry”, which features star Clint Eastwood pointing a gun. Herbst claimed at the time that he’d sent the clip to Alexander by mistake.

The former Trumbull first selectman’ s violent animus for Lauretti, mayor of a nearby Shelton, seems strange even in the context of the odd Herbst. They are rivals in the crowded contest for the Republican nomination for governor but it’s hard to think of one other than Herbst who would form that cigar assault thought and put it into a text.

The Herbst campaign attributes the text to the campaign’s “desperation season.” Republican delegates, however, will have to wonder what else from Herbst’s cellphone is out there and how many May to November surprises could their party endure.

The Manny of the People campaign put a big one on the board in its first day. Middletown’s town treasurer, Quentin Phipps, endorsed Manny Sanchez in his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District.

Middletown is not in the district, so it sends no delegates to the nominating convention. Nevertheless, Dan Drew, the Democratic mayor of Middletown, is thinking about packing his carpetbag and entering the race. Phipps’ attendance at the Sanchez Monday afternoon announcement sent a message. Critical Middletown Democrats will not be supporting Drew.

Newtown and other 5th Congressional District Republicans have awoken to the prospect of nomination the beloved Pat Llodra as their candidate for the open seat. The former Newtown first selectman was in office in December 2012 when the shootings at Sandy Hook School tested her leadership abilities. She met each challenge, earning Connecticut’s gratitude and admiration.

Updates as events occur.

Boughton–36

Lumaj–22

Lauretti–15

Obsitnik–6

Handler–2

Stewart–2

Walker–2

Herbst–1

Kent Republicans held a fundraising straw poll Friday night. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton already had the town’s delegates. On Friday he won the straw poll.

Republican warrior Chris LaCivita has joined the Bob for Governor campaign. The Virginia Campaign guru will serve as General consultant to the Stefanowski campaign.

LaCivita is familiar with Connecticut politics. He served as general consultant to Linda McMahon’s 2012 unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate, her second. McMahon turned her generous support of loathsome demagogue Donald Trump into a minor position in his cabinet.

LaCivita and Stefanowski provide a start contrast in political interest and philosophy. LaCivita has spent more than a quarter century in politics. Stefanowski declined to cast a ballot in elections for 16 consecutive years of the 21st century, though he did make a maximum contribution to former U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd.

LaCivita gained national renown among politicos when he masterminded the 2014 campaign comeback of Kansas incumbent U.S. Senator Pat Roberts. The marine veteran spent the 2016 campaign cycle on Rand Paul’s campaigns.

Gubernatorial hopeful David Stemerman joined Dennis House Thursday for his first television interview. The Greenwich Republican’s appearance on WFSB’s Face the State public affairs program continues an increase in campaign activity after the career investor shutdown his Connecticut business at the end of 2017 to run for governor.

Stemerman made a splash last fall when he funded his campaign start-up with $1.8 million of his own money. He’s recently been making the rounds of town committees but has not yet appeared at party-organized forums.

Face the State is broadcast Sunday at 11 a.m. and is available online.

Wealthy Greenwich Democrat Dita Bhargava is applying a reality check to her aspirations to become governor of Connecticut, Daily Ructions has learned. Bhargava has been making inquiries of party leaders on whether to convert her exploratory committee into a candidacy for treasurer.

Bhargava’s fundraising has lagged far behind what she would need to qualify for public financing as a credible candidate for governor. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the state legislature in 2016. A race for treasurer will require Bhargava to provide more details on her career in finance.

Bhargava would be the fourth Democrat in the race to succeed five term incumbent Denise Nappier. Hartford Democrat Shawn Wooden has been expected to be a decisive favorite but has been slow out of the starting gate.

You will have to watch a lot of television to catch them. Bob Stefanowski, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, will air $12,057 in ads for two days on Fox News in the Hartford and New York markets. The buy should get the candidate about a half dozen spots a day.

Stefanowski is the self-funding Madison resident who did not vote for 15 years but did find time to make a maximum contribution to Democrat Christopher Dodd. Curiously, Stefanowski was a Democrat for parts of 2016 and 2017.

Expect the Stefanowski ads to highlight the tax repeal plan the campaign paid entrepreneurial Tennessee economist Arthur Laffer $75,000 to draft and explain.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dan Drew’s candidacy was in doubt Tuesday night after his hometown Democrats swept his supporters from Middletown’s Democratic town committee. It was a stinging defeat for the mayor who has hoped to become governor from a loyal base in Middletown.

By a lopsided vote of 118-41, Drew’s allies suffered a decisive defeat at the local caucus. With their victory, the anti-Drew forces have gained control of the selection of delegates to the state Democratic convention. Drew will be shut out in his hometown.

A brutal night at home for Drew, who will now have to consider his position.

In the midst of a national economic expansion, Connecticut lost 3,500 jobs in November. The grim news raised the job casualty toll to 15,000 in the past six months.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s office continued its tradition of silence in the face of the monthly flight of jobs and opportunity from the state. The continuing bad news will require candidates to replace the unpopular incumbent to provide credible, detailed plans on how to reverse the jobs crisis.