08/02/10 BREAKING NEWS: Hearst Newspapers Picks Stamford Resident And Lt Gov Mike Fedele Over Millionaire Tom Foley In Republican Primary For Governor

CT Post Says Tom Foley "Brings Some Unpleasant Baggage To The Race"

Photo: Republican gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele

Connecticut Post Says Fedele The Choice Among Republicans

Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele has the combination of government and business experience that, given the chance to serve in the No. 1 seat, would be good for the state of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Post endorses his candidacy in the Aug. 10 Republican three-way primary.

The 55-yearold Fedele brings 10 years of legislative experience, serving in the state House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002, and three years in his current position.

But Fedele is also a self-made businessman and understands that job creation is the top challenge to the state.

Fedele understands in no uncertain terms that improving the atmosphere in Connecticut for small business is essential to turning around the state's economy.

His stand against any new taxes speaks to his understanding of the situation.

We compliment him for his position.

Given his experience, Fedele is confident solutions to the state's problems of spending and borrowing can be resolved through good management, and not through new taxes.Though Fedele has been part of the Rell administration ... well, that in some respects sums it up.

It was indeed the Rell administration, and if anyone can name a Connecticut lieutenant governor who shaped policy from that office, we'd be curious to know who it was.

Fedele rightly says he can be held accountable only for those areas in which he had authority.

He's been an effective ambassador for the state, recruiting business and reaching out to the Henkel Corporation, manufacturer of Loctite adhesive products and successfully encouraging them to consolidate operations in Rocky Hill.

Fedele also figured in the move of Columbia Elevators from New York to Bridgeport.

We also applaud Oz Griebel, another candidate in the GOP primary, for his passion and clear commitment to improving the business climate in the state.

And Tom Foley brings a business background as well. But he also brings some unpleasant baggage to the race.

But Fedele earns our endorsement. We believe he's the best of the three choices to lead the state.

UPDATE:

1. Fedele the choice among Republicans - NewsTimes

   Aug 2, 2010 ... Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele has the combination of government and business experience that, given the chance to serve in the No.
   www.newstimes.com/.../Fedele-the-choice-among-Republicans-599342.php

2. Fedele the choice among Republicans - StamfordAdvocate

   Aug 2, 2010 ... Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele has the combination of government and business experience that, given the chance to serve in the No.
   www.stamfordadvocate.com/.../Fedele-the-choice-among-Republicans-599342.php

3. Fedele the choice among Republicans - GreenwichTime

   Aug 2, 2010 ... Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele has the combination of government and business experience that, given the chance to serve in the No.
   www.greenwichtime.com/.../Fedele-the-choice-among-Republicans-599342.php

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08/01/10 CT PRIMARY CANDIDATE ROUNDUPS: State Comptroller

Photo: Kevin Lembo On The Campaign trail

Lembo And Jarjura Battle In The Democratic State Comptroller Primary

A week from Tuesday, Aug. 10, registered Democrats will go to the polls to narrow the field in a number of contested races, but even after that, there are so many contenders in so many races that it's really hard to keep track.

People shouldn't complain about their elected representatives if they don't at least cast an educated ballot first.

Do a little homework first. Visit the candidates' websites and study their positions on issues that you care about.

The battle to be comptroller, is very important given the state's nearly $3 billion deficit.

Many wonder why this seat is contested in such hard times. One would think that it would be more fun to be the money person when the state is flush rather than broke. But this hasn't deterred Democrats Kevin Lembo and Michael Jarjura from battling for the democratic nod.

The winner of that race will face Republican Jack Orchulli and Green candidate Colin Bennett.

Democrat Kevin Lembo, who served as assistant state comptroller to Nancy Wyman, is the party-endorsed candidate running against Michael Jarjura for the state comptroller seat.

Lembo is nationally recognized for his expertise in health care systems and consumer protection, according to his campaign website. He currently leads the Office of the Healthcare Advocate for the state. He lives in Guilford with his wife; they have three children.

Today the Harwinton Democratic Town Committee is hosting a meet and greet so voters can meet candidates. The event will be held at the Harwinton Senior Center, 209 Weingart Road, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Mr. Lembo has confirmed that he will attend.

Mike Jarjura is the mayor of Waterbury. He worked as a state representative in the 1990s and as an assistant attorney general. He has a B.S. in management from Post College and a J.D. from the University of Bridgeport School of Law.

This weekenday, with Waterbury Mayor Jarjura was on the ropes after Lembo came out with three body blows.

First, a YouTube video surfaced of the Democrat speaking at a Tea Party rally.

"We needed a spark, and you're the spark that is going to be the change. So don't give up. Don't get discouraged because this country is worth fighting for and you're fighting for it," Jarjura said at the rally in Waterbury last September.

Jarjura, a Democrat, defended his attendance at the ultra-conservative rally.

Jarjura claimed he was there at the request of Waterbury citizens and he wasn't there to advocate for any political group," he said. "Every one is trying to do a 'gotcha' in these campaigns and manipulate things to something you don't even represent."

Lembo isn't buying it.

"It's an odd choice for a Democratic mayor to be attending a Tea Party rally," he told the press.

The second blow to Jarjura's campaign was the Waterbury teachers union endorsing Lembo, following the lead one week ago of the local police union.

Jarjura's response: it's backlash from the tough contract negotiations between the city and the unions as a result of the tight economy.

Finally, Lembo launched a television advertisement attacking Jarjura for hiring former Gov. John Rowland, a Republican forced to resign by a corruption scandal.

"Jarjura hired Rowland to a $100,000 dollar a year job after he got out of prison -- calling him the best governor Connecticut has ever had," the 30-second advertisement says.

Jarjura backed the hiring of John Rowland, the disgraced former Republican governor, in an economic development job partly funded with city money.

Jarjura has responded with mailings touting his negative web site, called Lembo Lies, and filed a lawsuit attempting to block Lembo's ability to spend public financing money.

Jarjura's mailer to registered Democrats, accusing Lembo of being a secret conservative. The mailer directed Democrats to a web site created by Jarjura's campaign.

“Some of my opponents’ claims are just bizarre. But let me be clear – I have never ever lied to the people of Connecticut or distorted my record," Lembo said.

The Lembo campaign responded by saying that Jarjura is a cultural conservative who opposes abortion rights.

A Superior Court judge Tuesday rejected Michael Jarjura's effort to block Kevin Lembo from using public financing in their Democratic contest for state comptroller.

The terse order by Judge James T. Graham frees Lembo to begin spending the $375,000 awarded to him last week for his Aug. 10 primary with Jarjura, the mayor of Waterbury.

Jarjura, who also has received $375,000 in public financing.

This legal challenge is the second of two attempts by Jarjura to deny public financing to Lembo.

08/01/10 2010 ELECTIONS - CT CANDIDATE ROUNDUPS: Secretary of the State (Jerry Farrell Jr, Gerry Garcia, Denise Merrill

Photo: Connecticut Republican Candidate Secretary Of State

Jerry Farrell Jr

Even the politically astute of Connecticut have got to be preparing scratch sheets to keep track of who is running for what this political season.

It is a tough job to try and keep track, but it is a job that needs to be done.

People shouldn't complain about their elected representatives if they don't at least cast an educated ballot first.

Do a little homework first. Visit the candidates' websites and study their positions on issues that you care about.

Not sure who is running? Then go to the secretary of the state's website (ctgov.org will get you started) and find out the candidate's names, political parties and offices that they are seeking.

Speaking of the secretary of state, did you know that Gerry Garcia (yes, that's really his name) could get bumped in next week's primaries in his bid to be Connecticut's new secretary of the state?

The Democrat is vying for the seat against party endorsed candidate Denise Merrill in what will be a three-way race Nov. 2 pitting either Garcia or Merrill against Republican Jerry Farrell Jr. and Green Party contender S. Michael DeRosa.

It's an important job, overseeing the state's elections, so we'd all do ourselves a favor by brushing up on the candidates' qualifications and platforms so we can make informed decisions come November.

Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr, nominated at convention for Secretary of State, reiterated the calls for fiscal conservatism, even through the Secretary of State's office.

Farrell just qualified for public campaign financing.and submitted his paperwork to the State Elections Enforcement Commission in preparation of the November general election.

Farrell’s campaign raised over $75,000 from over 900 contributors who were limited to a maximum of $100 per person.

Once approved, Farrell will receive a grant of $750,000 to compete with a Democratic opponent who will receive the same grant.

Farrell and Democratic attorney general candidate George Jepsen are the only statewide candidates without a primary election to receive public funding.

07/30/10 STAMFORD BRIEFING: Mirkin responds to fire union's call for his resignation

This Just In To The Stamford Roundup Newsroom .....

Mirkin responds to fire union's call for his resignation (Connecticut Post)

The city's professional firefighters' union is asking for a city lawmaker to resign following comments he made comparing the union's frequent criticism of the city's volunteer fire service to the way " Hamas lobs rockets into Israel." Scott Mirkin, R-13, co-chairman of the Board of Representatives' Public Safety Committee , made the comments ...

Identity theft suspect returned to Conn. (KTVN Reno)

Connecticut authorities say a Norwalk man wanted on allegations he stole identities and illegally used credit cards has been returned to the state after being caught in Las Vegas.

Valor Thieves: Should Faking Military Honors Be Illegal? (TIME)

The hefty bags of soiled war laundry currently being paraded for inspection all over the internet may have topped the military's list of woes in the past few days, but WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is not the only person giving the armed forces the collywobbles right now.

Lamont Says He May Debate Malloy (Hartford Courant)

Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont says he's considering doing a head-to-head debate with fellow Democrat Dan Malloy before the Aug.

STAMFORD NEWS FLASH BACK:

FROM THE STAMFORD ROUNDUP NEWS ARCHIVES

THE CONTROVERSY OVER TAXPAYER FUNDED NO BID CONTRACTS IN STAMFORD ----- THE PAY FOR PLAY DEALS THAT LEAD TO HIGHER PROPERTY TAX RATES IN STAMFORD

in 2004 two City of Stamford contractors - Gunzy Electric and Shapter Construction - performed work on then Mayor Dan Malloy's house and had also received no-bid city contracts.city. The Gunzy and Shapter firms received very profitable and lucrative city deals.

Stamford residents were shocked when these no-bid contracts were disclosed, because Dan Malloy had went on a local cable television news station said that none of the contractors that worked on his house had received no-bid contracts. Malloy further lied and said that any contractor that worked on his house only got city jobs after responded to a request for proposals or issued sealed bids in a competitive bidding process.

COMMENT:

It's sad that politics in Connecticut have reached such a low point that the standard by which politicians are judged is whether or not their abuses of the public trust land them in jail.

The facts are the facts. Dan Malloy handed out no-bid contracts to companies that held fundraisers for his previous failed gubernatorial campaigns or performed renovations on his home.

Dan Malloy has said repeatedly that his questionable actions were not found to be illegal, but does he think they were right?' Connecticut Democrats have a choice on August 10th. If they think it's right for a Mayor or Governor to award no-bid contracts to campaign contributors and people who performed renovations on his house, then they should vote for Dan Malloy.

But if voters are tired of the scandals, the fraud the waste, the abuse and the high taxes, then Dan is NOT their man.

Voters that want government that puts the taxpayer first, they should elect a governor like Ned Lamont, who will head to Hartford with no strings attached.

It Is Time To Put Connecticut Taxpayers First

It Is Time To Put An End To Pay For Play

Klaff's launches Professional Collection (Connecticut Post)

Klaffa s is partnering with three U.S. manufacturers who have the automated equipment to produce high-quality, custom cabinetry that the company can sell at a low to middle price point while offering the same level of customer service.

Related articles:

• Hartford mayor convicted of corruption (msnbc.msn.com)
• Lamont Leads Malloy in Connecticut (politicalwire.com)
• Jerry Zezima: Stupid Crook Tricks (huffingtonpost.com)
• Valor Thieves: Should Faking Military Honors Be Illegal? (time.com)

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07/07/10 Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Malloy Slams Greenwich Resident Ned Lamont For Skipping New London Debate

The Chicken Man Is Afraid Of Getting Plucked:

Greenwich Millionaire Ned Lamont Is Running Scared

Dan Malloy, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Connecticut governor, is criticizing his primary opponent Ned Lamont for skipping a planned televised debate inNew London later this month.

The Day of New London, which traditionally co-sponsors the debate with WTNH-TV, announced Tuesday that Lamont is refusing to participate, forcing them to cancel the live event. The Republican candidates for governor will still face off on July 28.

Malloy and Lamont appeared together last month in their first TV debate. Malloy says he thinks Lamont won't participate in a second debate because a campaign focus group showed he did not perform well.

A spokeswoman confirmed Lamont is not participating, saying that he wants to talk directly to voters between now and the Aug. 10 primary. She says there was no focus group.

06/23/10 Conservative Latino Adds Spice To Congressional Race Against Jim Himes

LOCAL GRASSROOTS CANDIDATE IS

SHAKING THINGS UP IN THE

FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

RICK TORRES STIRS EMOTIONS

BY LENNIEGRIMALDI

Only In Bridgeport® - http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/

If you like your politics conservative, fiscally and socially, Rick Torres fits both.

Rick is a passionate pol who stirs passionate responses. He has qualified for the ballot to challenge GOP-endorsed State Senator Dan Debicella, a Bridgeport native, in an August primary the winner to face Fourth District Democratic Congressman Jim Himes. Rob Merkle, of Norwalk, founder of an executive search firm in Westport, has also qualified for the August primary. Merkle is a favorite of some Tea Party types, such as it is in Fairfield County. So who’s Rick Torres?

(See a snapshot of his bio below.) Torres lives in Black Rock and operates Harborview Market, a popular neighborhood gathering spot. Rick toiled in Bridgeport Democratic politics for a while as an outsider. He was so outside as an establishment fighter that it was better to become a Republican. In 2003 he almost became mayor, losing the general election to John Fabrizi who had become chief executive following Joe Ganim’s resignation following his conviction on corruption charges.

The early fall of 2003 was dicey for Democrats. The electorate was angry, Fabrizi had served as city council president while Ganim was mayor, Mario Testa was party leader. Fabrizi survived a tough primary against Caruso and others. As the general election closed in Republican and Democratic polls showed the race was even. That’s not good for Dems who enjoy a major registration advantage. Testa decided it would be good to resign to take heat off Fabrizi. The editorial board of the Connecticut Post did not believe Rick had the right temperament to be mayor. A statement Rick made about the minority community lifting themselves up was interpreted as insensitive. Fabrizi won the election.

Rick did not go away, nor did his controversial swagger. In the summer of 2007 Rick, as the local GOP chair, endorsed Democratic State Rep. Chris Caruso, the mayoral primary challenger to party-endorsed Bill Finch, arguing the best way to cleanse the city’s Democratic political system was to get behind the guy who’d powerwash it into the Pequonnock River. Local Republicans threw a fit over Rick endorsing a Dem and removed Torres as party leader.

When challengers emerged this year to take on Himes, former State Senator Rob Russo had the majority of the Bridgeport GOP support. Undeterred, Torres jumped in as well claiming the throne of conservatism. Russo’s campaign never took flight, Debicella’s fundraising efforts and district-wide campaigning propelled him to the party endorsement. Taking out Debicella is a tall task. He has money and organizational support. But he must safeguard his money for the general election. Torres has a history of whistling to his own tune. He won’t go away quietly. He has been endorsed by economic guru Peter Schiff who’s trying to slay GOP-endorsed Linda McMahon for the right to challenge Dick Blumenthal in November. www.ricktorres2010.com

From Rick Torres:

Rick Torres, who is running for the Republican nomination in Connecticut’s 4th District, the seat currently held by Jim Himes, has issued the following statement on the Secretary of State’s announcement regarding ballot qualifiers today. Torres is excited to have his ideas aired alongside those of fellow Republicans Robert Merkle and Dan Dibecella.

“This is going to be an exciting race and, I believe, a definitive race for the nation. The voters of Connecticut’s Fourth have clear choices between a candidate who has as his base, the Republican establishment and a candidate who has the support of some of the louder voices in the Tea Party movement. In me they have a third choice: a candidate who derives his support from regular folks across the District who just simply want to be left alone to raise their families and run their businesses.

“I have struggled and fought from the time that my family fled Cuba and have risen from the oppression of the public housing system to have my name on a ballot for United States Congress. It is really quite an honor and I am happy that the voters had the faith in me to sign my nomination papers.

“It is an interesting year to be in a race. So many want to hold on to their power and others are just swinging wildly because they are angry. We need a reasoned dialogue with the people because it is their lives and their freedoms that are at stake here. Insiders must put aside their allegiances and some in the debate must tone down their anger. We need to come up with real solutions to restore our nation to her place as a shining light for democracy around the globe.”

Torres, who was born in Bridgeport, moved back to his family’s native Cuba when he was a young boy. It took his father five years after Fidel Castro came to power to secure permission to return to America’s shores. In 1967, Rick and his brother were brought back to Bridgeport—with not much more than the clothes on their backs. The family lived across from the PT Barnum Public Housing Project and Torres worked his way through college in a series of construction trades jobs. He eventually studied for a PhD in microbiology but, like many folks, had to quit graduate school in order to support his young family.

Torres and Michelle, his wife of 27 years, started a series of small businesses, working double shifts for years. Eventually, they bought Harborview Market: a once thriving neighborhood store which had fallen on desperate times. Harborview is once again a successful business and was the site of today’s press conference.

In 2003, Rick ran for Mayor of Bridgeport on the Republican Ticket. Prior to his Mayoral run, Rick took an active role in a number of neighborhood and community organizations, and ran for several local government offices. Rick and Michele have five children: John, Alex, Michael, Kaitlyn, and Gabbi. They live in Bridgeport.

Tags: Barnum Museum·Bill Finch·Chris Caruso·CT Post·Dan Debicella·Dick Blumenthal·Jim Himes·Joe Ganim·John Fabrizi·Keith Rodgerson·Linda McMahon·Mario Testa·Peter Schiff·Playhouse on the Green·Quinnipiac University·Rick Torres·Rob Russo·Tom Foley

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