Farmington Surprise. Johnny! Johnny! is a Super Delegate.
The Farmington delegation to the state Republican convention has a surprise member. Mr. John Healey is a super delegate, the locals have learned. Healey is better known as “Johnny! Johnny!” in the devastating Lawrence Cafero cash-in-the-refrigerator tapes. You may recall that Federal criminal enforcement authorities revealed that tape at Robert Broderick’s spring 2013 criminal trial.
Many Republicans wonder what Healey’s role in the post-refrigerator investigation was. Conversations at the Officer’s Club with undercover agents are mentioned now and then. Healey was never charged with mishandling the thousands in cash that were deposited in Cafero’s office, returned, and converted to contributions to Republican House campaign committees from fake donors. Eight people went to jail in the contributions for legislation scheme that wrecked then-Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan’s congressional campaign.
Farmington Republicans are curious and dismayed as to how such a person got dropped into their delegation. Seems hopeless state Republican chairman Jerry Labriola appointed Healey as vice chair of the 5th Congressional District party organization, and that makes him a delegate. This will surprise few. Labriola called Lisa Wilson Foley–the convicted campaign finance schemer and Rowland accomplice–a “good Republican” in the aftermath of her guilty plea.
As if they were not suffering through enough aggravation, the Farmington Republican Town Committee endured a visit from candidate Martha Dean on Wednesday. The conspiracy theorist went into a dance when two innocuous questions were posed. Would she pledge not to run as an independent if she is not the Republican nominee for governor? Will she support the winner of the Republican primary? Simple questions, you might think. Not for Dean. Her campaign rattled out of the meeting without providing answers.
UPDATE: Martha Dean has answered Farmington’s question. She’s withdrawn from the race for governor after seeing her paltry showing in today’s Q-Poll. Dean indicated she will support the Republican nominee. Candidates will scramble over her 9 delegates.