


E
L E C T I O N 2 0 1 0 I N C O
N N E C T I C U T - D E B A
T E O C T 2 4
LWVCT
ONLINE
VOTER'S GUIDE
THE ABSENTEE BALLOT IS TWO-SIDED: Please read both sides for each
district. And done forget to vote for Registrar of Voters (column
#11)!
CONNECTICUT
GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST 2010 FINALLY OVER?
YUP! But now there must be special election
on February 22, 2011 to fill open seats...



CLOSEST GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST EVER:
Foley concedes to Malloy (photo from @2005).
Special
Elections For 3 Senate, 6 House Seats Set For Feb. 22
All
But One Vacated
By Malloy Appointees
The Hartford
Courant
By EDMUND
H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com
7:16 PM EST,
January 7, 2011
Special
elections will be held Feb. 22 to fill nine state legislative
seats, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced Friday.
All but one of
the seats are being vacated by appointees to the
administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The exception is the 13th
Senate District seat vacated by former Meriden Sen. Thomas Gaffey, who
resigned this week after agreeing to plead guilty to larceny charges
for double-billing travel expenses to the state and his political
action committee.
The other open
Senate seats are in districts 6 and 29 and were held by
veteran former Democratic Sens. Andrew McDonald of Stamford and Donald
DeFronzo of New Britain.
There will be
elections for House seats in districts 20, 25, 36, 99,101
and 126. Those seats are being vacated by Democratic state Reps. John
Geragosian of New Britain, David McCluskey of West Hartford, James
Spallone of Essex, Deb Heinrich of Madison, Mike Lawlor of East Haven
and Christopher Caruso of Bridgeport.
Merrill
scheduled the elections by signing Writs of Special Election
issued by Malloy. By law, Merrill said, the special elections must take
place 46 days after the writs are issued, which is Feb. 22.
"We have a sea
change in state government with a significant number of
state lawmakers leaving the legislative branch to serve the Malloy
administration," said Merrill, who is the state's chief elections
officer.
She said the
voting will necessarily follow a compressed election
schedule. Major parties have until Jan. 18 to endorse candidates.
Petitioning candidates have until the same date to deliver nominating
petitions to town clerks' offices or to the secretary of the state's
office.
Petitioning
candidates must turn in a number of signatures equivalent
to at least 1 percent of the total number of voters who cast ballots
for that seat in the previous election. The signatures must be those of
registered voters in the district.
"I urge
eligible voters in these districts to register as soon as
possible so you can cast a ballot and choose someone to represent you
in Hartford," Merrill said. "The deadline to register is Feb. 21, the
day before the special elections."
She said polls
will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the following
communities for the Senate races: District 6, covering Berlin, New
Britain, and part of Farmington; District 13, covering Meriden,
Middlefield, and parts of Cheshire and Middletown; and District 27,
covering parts of Darien and Stamford.
Merrill said
the same hours apply in the races for the House seats:
District 20, covering part of West Hartford; District 25, covering part
of New Britain; District 36, covering Chester, Deep River, Essex and
Haddam; District 99, covering part of East Haven; District 101,
covering Madison and part of Guilford; and District 126, covering part
of Bridgeport.
Foley concedes, finding 'no credible
evidence' of fraud
Mark
Pazniokas, CT MIRROR
November 8, 2010
Republican Tom
Foley conceded the race for governor today to Democrat
Dan Malloy, ending Connecticut's closest gubernatorial contest in a
half century. Nearly a week after the polls closed and three days
after the last vote was counted in Bridgeport, Foley said he will not
seek a court-ordered recount, despite errors and irregularities in
Bridgeport.
Foley said a
review of results over the weekend found "no credible
evidence of fraudulent voting." He called Malloy's victory
"conclusive," and he said he intended to call the Democrat after his
press conference.
"I'll be
congratulating him," Foley said.
The 5,637-vote
margin of victory was well outside the statutory trigger
for a mandatory recount: 2,000 votes or less. An automatic
recount is ordered only when the margin is 2,000, so Foley and his
lawyers have been examining the chaotic results in Bridgeport, where a
shortage of scannable ballots forced city officials to use thousands of
photocopied ballots that had to be counted by hand.
With the
delivery Friday afternoon of results from Bridgeport, the
secretary of the state's office announced that Malloy won with 566,498
votes to 560,861 for Foley and 17,586 for Independent Tom Marsh.
The
town-by-town results showed Malloy winning a three-way race for
governor with just under 50 percent of the vote. It was Malloy, 49.48
percent; Foley, 48.99 percent; and Marsh, 1.54 percent.
Despite Foley's
decision, the Connecticut Republican Party has hired
Ross Garber, a prominent Republican attorney, to conduct an inquiry
into how the election was conducted in Bridgeport. Garber already
has written to the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, David Fein, and Chief
State's Attorney Kevin Kane, asking them investigate, saying the GOP's
has found evidence of "significant deficiencies, irregularities and
improprieties."
Bridgeport's
registrars ordered only 21,000 ballots in a city of 69,000
voters, assuming a record low turnout of 30 percent for a mid-term
election. The city ran out of ballots in 12 of 23 polling places.
The Connecticut
Republican Party also is seeking town-by-town voting
results and records under the Freedom of Information Act, looking for
mistakes and discrepancies that could provide a reason to seek a
court-ordered recount. Healy said Sunday the party is gathering
as much information as possible, but the decision to concede or
challenge rests with Foley.
"Tom has been
very thoughtful. He's been calm and cool," Healy said.
Malloy, who
narrowly lost a Democratic primary for governor in 2006,
has told his staff to refrain from criticizing Foley's refusal to
concede. In his only public statement, Malloy has expressed
confidence he is the winner, but he added, "I appreciate and respect
Tom Foley's perspective."
Weston results only on this
page, from here on down.
Click here for a sample of the absentee
ballot in VOTING DISTRICT ONE
(CT Senate district 28)
Click here for a sample of the absentee
ballot in VOTING DISTRICT TWO (CT Senate district 26)
WINNERS OVERALL NOVEMBER 2 WERE...IN
MAJOR, TOP OF THE TICKET RACES:
Click
here to get the results from the Secretary of the State when they are
available (Legislature is now up)



Weston's top of the ticket choices:
Gov. Foley, Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Himes
Winners in Weston ONLY, in all 11 races:
Foley/Boughton (Gov-Lt Gov)
Blumenthal (U.S. Senator)
Himes (4th District
Congressman)
--------------------------
McKinney (28th) -
Boucher(26nd)
Shaban (135th)
-------------------------
Farrell (Sec'y of the State)
Wright (Treasurer)
Orchulli (Comptroller)
Jepsen (AG)
-----------------------
O'Grady (Judge of Probate)
-----------------------
Moran (highest vote-getter
for Registrar of Voters)

John Shaban of Redding (l) won in the
135th.
Weston
candidates square off at debate
Weston FORUM
Written by Liz
Skalka
Wednesday, 27
October 2010 11:42
More job
growth, a lower deficit and a more efficient state government — while
the goals are common, how to achieve them is
still a matter of debate between candidates vying for the 135th House
District.
Carl Bernstein
and John Shaban running in the district, which includes all of Weston,
Easton, and part of Redding, along with
candidates in Redding’s other House district (the 2nd), squared off in
a Redding League of Women Voters debate at the
Redding Community Center last Wednesday, Oct. 20, responding to
questions submitted by audience members
about taxes, state government, education and transportation.
Weston’s Carl
Bernstein, a Democrat, and Redding’s John Shaban, a Republican, are
jockeying for the 135th District seat being
vacated by John Stripp, who is not seeking re-election. Gabriel Rossi
is also on the ballot as the Green Party-endorsed
candidate, but he did not participate in the Oct. 20 debate.
The 2nd
District candidates at the debate were Bethel Democrat Jason Bartlett,
the incumbent, and his challenger, Republican Dan
Carter, also of Bethel. The district includes parts of Danbury, Bethel
and Redding.
While they were
able to reach a consensus on some issues, opinions about others spanned
differing personal and party
ideologies. Candidates were first asked by league moderator
Charlotte Garrell to describe themselves and why they chose to
run for office.
“As a citizen,
I have an obligation to serve my community,” said Mr. Shaban. Mr.
Shaban is a Greenwich law firm partner. He’s
chairman of Redding’s Water Pollution Control Commission and vice
chairman of that town’s Zoning Commission.
Mr. Bernstein,
a New York litigation attorney, touted his active involvement in the
Democratic Party.
“This is an
extension of what I believe is my ability to serve,” said Mr.
Bernstein, who noted he once ran for the New York State
Assembly.
Revenue
and deficit
The candidates
responded to a question that broadly addressed taxes, revenue, the
state’s deficit and state government.
Mr. Bernstein
said he’s reluctant to raise taxes, but would consider it a solution of
“last resort.”
He advocated
“making the state as job-friendly as possible” through special economic
zones. He also suggested working with
universities to keep employment within the state. In terms of
improving state government, it must be streamlined in order
to be more effective and user-friendly, he said.
Mr. Shaban said
his focus is on “people and business — that’s it.”
“Would I raise
taxes?” he asked. “That’s like bleeding the patient … You can’t raise
taxes and expect businesses and jobs to come
back.”
He seeks to
create a “predictable and stable environment” for businesses to grow.
Mr. Shaban added that government size and
spending has increased more than the population has.
Republicans
can’t talk about slashing and burning without stating specifics, Mr.
Bernstein responded.
Mr. Bartlett
agreed with Mr. Bernstein that parts of state government need to be
consolidated. He suggested merging agencies
such as Homeland Security and Public Safety. State employees should
also make concessions, he said.
Education
cost sharing
The candidates
were asked about their views on the Education Cost Sharing grant, the
state’s largest funding program for
kindergarten through grade 12.
“I see my job
as getting every dollar Easton-Redding is entitled to,” Mr. Bernstein
said.
“Let’s keep
dollars here, don’t send them up to Hartford,” Mr. Shaban said. He
added, “The focus should be on hiring talented
people. Teachers first, bells and whistles second.”
SustiNet
Another
discussion centered around SustiNet, the state health care plan for
Connecticut. In 2009, the SustiNet law established a
board to recommend details and plans for implementation to the
legislature by January 2011.
Mr. Shaban said
the program has some great ideas but “has the potential to put
government in the insurance business.” We will
be “nickel, dimed and quartered to death with government-run
insurance,” Mr. Shaban added.
SustiNet is
“critical to help Connecticut and those people with pre-existing
conditions,” said Mr. Bernstein, who does not see it as
government entering the health care business.
Business
Candidates were
asked specifically about business regulations, but the discussion
expanded to how business should be grown.
Mr. Shaban said
taxes and regulations are speed bumps. “Regulations are just part of
the problem. The biggest problem is taxes,”
he said.
Mr. Bernstein
is in favor of business enterprise zones, but added the state needs
better public transportation and highway
infrastructure to really have businesses thrive.
“We have a
great opportunity to grow business here and I’d like to take more
advantage of it,” Mr. Bernstein said.
“I think we’re
all saying the same thing, but the devil’s in the details,” Mr. Shaban
said. Mr. Shaban was also in favor of enterprise
zones in Bethel, Danbury and Georgetown.
Other
topics
Minimum wage:
Mr. Shaban agreed with the idea that the only reason to lower minimum
wage would be to encourage business
growth in enterprise zones, but added that minimum wage adjustments
would not solve employment issues.
Mr. Bernstein said he was shocked with what Republicans had suggested,
and described minimum wage as a
“safety net to live with some degree of decency in the state.”
Danbury Branch
rail line: Mr. Shaban said he would be in favor of making improvements
to Metro-North’s Danbury branch to
help revive industry along the rail line. Mr. Bernstein said capacity
should be increased.
Agriculture:
Mr. Shaban said state agriculture should be run like any other business
— with an eye toward profit — while Mr.
Bernstein said though he hadn’t given a lot of thought to agriculture,
he agreed it should be profitable.
Closing
remarks
“I understand
what concerns people,” Mr. Shaban said. “I’m done sitting on the
sidelines.”
Mr. Bernstein
said, “I want to do everything to streamline government and bring an
effective voice to government.”
This was the
first and only debate among the candidates.
Himes-Debicella:
Much to agree on, but lots of room for debate
Uma
Ramiah, CT MIRROR
October 24, 2010
It wasn't so
much the issues that divided Jim Himes and Dan Debicella
at their Sunday night debate. Instead, the two 4th District
Congressional candidates took shots at each others' voting history,
campaigns and even integrity.
"Let's mark 15
minutes as the first time Jim Himes has lied to you
today," said Debicella, in response to the claim that the League of
Conservation Voters had rated his environmental record the worst of any
state senator in Connecticut in past ten years.
"Our national
energy policy should be the same as our national
environmental policy, which is we need to get off of foreign oil," said
Debicella, a state senator and the Republican nominee. Instead, he
would encourage government incentives for research into alternative
energy, whether natural gas, fuel cells, solar.
"Dan is trying
to wear the coat of Chris Shays," said Democratic
incumbent Himes, referring to his moderate Republican predecessor.
"Shays was an environmental hero," he said, and Debicella is the
opposite end of the spectrum.
But Himes also
supported government investment in solar and alternative
energies as a method of job creation. As the campaign has
unfolded,
Himes and Debicella have disagreed strongly on issues including health
care and the stimulus. Himes defends the health care bill, though with
reservations, while Debicella calls for its repeal. Debicella calls the
stimulus, which Himes supported, ineffective and "pork-filled."
But on Sunday
night, the candidates actually agreed on a variety of
issues. Both candidates called for transparency in political
advertising. Funding sources should be disclosed, they said.
"We are now
seeing hundreds of millions being spent by shadowy groups,"
said Himes, who said recent Supreme Court rulings on campaign finance
were a step back for the country.
Debicella
agreed. "We shouldn't have anonymous ads attacking him or me or anyone
else."
But then it was
back to the ring.
"Jim doesn't
need it, he does a great job of attacking me all on his
own. He doesn't need a third party coming in and doing it." Debicella
continued, saying Himes had received donations from both Wall Street
and what he called "Big Labor."
"Dan, if you're
going to climb into the mud pit, and we both agree that
it's a mud pit, don't try to stand up and say you're a little bit
cleaner," said Himes in response. "Is it true that you got thousands of
dollars from Exxon Mobil?"
"Yes it is,"
said Debicella.
"Thank you,"
came the swift reply.
Though League
of Women Voters moderator Kay Maxwell was strict with the
"hold your applause" rule, cheers broke out on this and other occasions
- typically after a direct attack. The candidates generally
agreed on
abortion, each one supporting a woman's right to choose.
"The decision
should be made by the woman in question and not by white
guys in suits on Capitol Hill," said Himes, to another unsanctioned
burst of applause.
"I don't want
government telling women what to do with their bodies,
and I don't want government telling faiths what they should do either,"
said Debicella.
"Don't ask,
don't tell," the U.S. policy towards gays serving in the military, was
up next. It, too, was a non-issue.
"It is utterly
inconsistent with what this country is," said Himes.
"Fully agree.
Anybody who wants to serve in our military; gay,
straight, black, white man or woman, you are a hero, period," said
Debicella. "'Don't ask, don't tell' is discriminatory and it should be
removed."
This
wholehearted agreement, without caveat, was met with roaring
applause and a friendly handshake between the two candidates. Even
Maxwell was impressed.
"Equal applause
on that one, I'll let that slide," she said.
And on the
issue of Wikileaks, the candidates were again in complete agreement.
"This kind of
leaking is absolutely abhorrent," said Debicella.
"Anything that puts our troops at risk should not be leaked to the
general public. Wikileaks, which is now completely unaccountable, is
now leaking this info," he said.
"We live in an
open society but that society has limits when you put people in
danger," he finished.
The response
from Himes was short: "Ditto."
The candidates
also agreed on the basics of how to fix education and
immigration. Both touted the example of charter schools and
praised
"Race to the Top," the most recent attempt at public school reform
which rewards achievement with funding. Throughout the night,
Himes
agreed that government doesn't always get it right, but pointed out
ways in which it has spurred economic growth and helped stem the
recession - from the development of the Internet to the recent finance
regulation bill.
But Debicella
disagreed. "The government can't pick winners," he said.
"The government
is not good at predicting the future," he continued,
referring to investment in energy, technology and even job creation.
This was a common refrain and a point of disagreement throughout the
night.
"The difference
between us," said Debicella, "is that you think the government creates
jobs, and I think private sector does."
After otherwise
unremarkable closing statements, a personal note:
"I want to
break a couple of rules here, " said Himes. "Tonight is Dan
Debicella's birthday and I'd like to ask for a round of applause for
him."
The audience
cheered. Debicella turned 35 on Sunday.
"What a way to
spend your birthday," said Himes, shaking Debicella's hand.
LEAGUES OF WOMEN VOTERS JOIN
FORCES TO HOLD REGIONAL
DEBATE ON OCTOBER 24
The
League of Women Voters of Weston, in conjunction with eleven area
Leagues, will present a debate with Jim Himes and Dan Debicella,
candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional
District, on Sunday, October 24. The event, free and open to the
public, will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Clune Performing
Arts Center at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road/Route 7 in
Wilton.
The
Leagues of Southwestern Connecticut—the 4th Congressional District—have
joined forces to present a centrally located forum for all area
residents to learn the candidates’ positions on national and local
issues, particularly those impacting the region.
Co-sponsors are the Leagues of Women Voters of the Bridgeport Area,
Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield,
Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton, hosting the event.
The
afternoon’s format will include questions collected from the audience
and others prepared by League members. These questions will then be
presented by moderator Kay Maxwell, former president of the League of
Women Voters of the United States and currently executive director of
the Stamford-based World Affairs Forum.
Jim
Himes, a resident of Greenwich and former business and community
leader, has been a Democratic member of the House of Representatives
since 2008. His Republican challenger, Dan Debicella of Shelton,
is a business executive, and is currently serving his second term as
State Senator from Connecticut’s 21st District.
Directions
to the Clune Center for the Performing Arts: map above.
The
League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which
encourages informed and active participation in government.
The League neither supports nor opposes any political party or
candidate. For information about joining the League, visit
(your website) or call (your contact, title and phone number).
LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS ON DEBATE PANEL...ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATES - MONDAY,
OCT. 11, 2010 - see below for details.
The
CT Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA),
and the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc., (LWVCT) will host
an attorney general debate on Monday, October 11, from 7:00 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. at Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Grand Courtroom in
Hamden.
The debate will present an opportunity for three panelists to ask
questions of the two attorney general candidates, Democrat George
Jepsen and Republican Martha Dean, to help voters better understand
their positions.
Panelists are Livia DeFilippis Barndollar, CBA member and partner at
New Canaan’s Marvin Ferro Barndollar & Roberts LLC; David N. Rosen,
of New Haven’s David Rosen & Associates PC; and Christine
Horrigan, vice president and board member of LWVCT. Timothy S.
Fisher, Hartford attorney and Distinguished Practitioner in Residence
at Quinnipiac University School of Law, will moderate.
A limited number of seats are available. Admission is free. Those
interested in attending should fill out an attendance request form at
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B8Y9MTHTK.
Will
candidates want to participate in an unscripted, open debate?


U.S.
Senate poll; what faces the next Governor? Turnout Nov. 2 -
who will vote?
Not
a debate
The
3 candidates are represented here, delivering prepared remarks.

LWV
scraps three gubernatorial debates
Mark Pazniokas,
CT MIRROR
September 24,
2010
Ignored by
Republican Tom Foley, the League of Women Voters said today
it was pulling the plug on three televised gubernatorial debates
planned for Bridgeport, Stamford and Danbury.
But there still
will be at least four gubernatorial and three U.S.
Senate debates televised between Oct. 4 and 29, though none will
include minor-party candidates.
The Independent
Party's candidate for governor, Tom Marsh, had met the
League's criteria for inclusion in the cancelled debates, as has the
party's Senate candidate, Warren Mosler, for a series of Senate debates.
The criteria
includes evidence of a significant campaign and public
support, including having raised $50,000. John Mertens, a minor-party
candidate for Senate, is on the ballot, but he did not meet the
League's criteria.
"We cleared
their hurdles, and they invited us. We were ecstatic," said
Alice Marshall, a spokeswoman for Mosler, a successful businessman.
"Warren is running to get out a message about full employment and
prosperity, and this would have been a chance to be heard."
Mertens, a
Trinity College professor, said minor-party candidates often
make points and introduce issues shunned by the major-party candidates.
"They don't
answer questions in debates. They are rehearsed on how not
to answer questions. The real answers come from third-party
candidates," Mertens said.
The League's
Senate debates have not been cancelled, but they are in
jeopardy, as Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Linda McMahon
have not agreed to attend...
October 7, 2010 Ridgefield Playhouse - Save the Date!
The
Ridgefield LWV is sponsoring a debate between those candidates running
for the Connecticut State Senate District 26 (Toni Boucher and John
Hartwell) and the 111th Legislative District (John Frey and Joseph
Heyman). The debate is scheduled for Thursday, October 7, 2010
from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge
Road, Ridgefield. Jean Rabinow from the LWVCT has graciously
consented to be the moderator for the event.
The
State Senator from the CT State Senate District 26 represents the towns
of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and
Wilton, and we have been advised that the incumbent, Toni Boucher will
only be participating in two debates this year (one being
Ridgefield’s). Consequently, we would like to invite the Leagues
in those Towns and members of their communities to join us at the
debate on October 7th.
Primary results:
Weston voters pick Malloy, Foley and McMahon
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 21:25
Voter turnout was light today in Weston for the state Democratic and
Republican primaries, with just 24% of all eligible voters casting
their ballots. Of the town’s 2,186 registered Democrats, 462
voted, as did 460 of the town’s 1,887 registered Republicans.
There were 29 Democratic absentee and overseas ballots cast and 38
Republican absentee and overseas ballots cast, for a total of 989
voters overall in the primaries. Unaffiliated voters and those
registered with other parties were not allowed to vote in the primaries.
Democratic
primary
In Weston, for the governor’s race, Democrats favored former Stamford
Mayor Dan Malloy with 272 votes over Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont,
who got 217 votes. For lieutenant governor, four-term state
comptroller Nancy Wyman got 297 votes while four-term Simsbury first
selectman Mary Messina Glassman received 166 votes. For secretary
of the state, longtime state representative for the 54th District and
house majority leader Denise Merrill received 248 votes, while
financial advisor Gerry Garcia got 199 votes. In the
comptroller’s race, Weston voters favored Kevin Lembo, head of the
state’s Office of Healthcare Advocate, with 338 votes, while five-term
Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura received 102 votes.
Republican
primary
For the governor’s race, in Weston former U.S. ambassador to Ireland
Tom Foley got 242 votes, while lieutenant governor Michael Fedele got
165 votes, and Oz Griebel, president and CEO of a regional development
organization, received 80 votes. For lieutenant governor, Danbury
Mayor Mark Boughton got 244 votes, while businesswoman Lisa
Wilson-Foley got 215 votes. In the race for U.S. senator, Linda
McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, got 254 votes,
Westonite Peter Schiff, head of an international brokerage firm,
received 150 votes, while Rob Simmons, former U.S. representative for
the 2nd District, received 92 votes. For U.S. representative, Dan
Debicella, state senator from Shelton, got 333 votes, Norwalk
businessman Rob Merkle got 83 votes, and Bridgeport businessman Rick
Torres got 62 votes. For attorney general, attorney Martha Dean
received 292 votes, while attorney Ross Garber got 163 votes.
Moderators at the polls in Weston were W. Glenn Major for the
Republicans and Hal Shupack for the Democrats.
PLAN AHEAD
TO BE A POST-ELECTION AUDIT OBSERVER
Party Primaries (Tuesday August 10, 6am to
8pm); over-all election information here.
WESTON
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL NEW LOCATION
FOR PRIMARIES...
Two electronic votings machines:
- BALLOT:
one with Democrat's primary contests ,
- BALLOT:
the other with Republican's primary contests on ballot


NEW LOCATION FOR AUG. 10 VOTING - INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL GYM
Formal portrait at left,
"WIS" and its new facilities are part of the overall school system
- right, WHS volleyball team practice.
Weston Intermediate
School (W.I.S.) site of Party Primaries August 10,
2010 from 6am to 8pm
Aug. 10 primary: Weston's polling
place is moved
FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 12:02
Weston’s regular polling place will change for the Aug. 10 primary
elections because of construction and asbestos abatement at Weston
Middle School.
Voting will take place in the gymnasium at the town’s newest school,
Weston Intermediate School.
Town officials learned from school officials last week that the roof
replacement project at the middle school — where elections normally
take place — might make it necessary to move the polls from the
gymnasium to the cafeteria.
But, Laura Smits, the Democratic registrar of voters, said when she and
other officials did a walk-through of the building on Friday, July 16,
they then learned that in addition to the roof replacement
construction, asbestos abatement is also taking place at the middle
school.
First Selectman Gayle Weinstein said that by law, no one under the age
of 18 is allowed on a site when asbestos abatement is taking place.
Although most voters are over 18 (17-year-olds who will be 18 by the
general election Nov. 2 may also vote in their party’s primary), Ms.
Weinstein said she did not want to disenfranchise any parents who might
bring young children to the polls.
“We decided it’s not worth taking any chance with asbestos,” the first
selectman added. She also did not want to ask the schools to hold off
on the abatement, as that might cause costly delays to the construction
project.
Dan Clarke, director of facilities for the school district, said the
intermediate school could be used instead.
Although she said she wishes the town had been notified earlier, “Dan
Clarke has been very gracious and willing to do whatever it takes to
make this work,” Ms. Weinstein said.
Because a legal notice stating the polls would be at the middle school
has already been published, and because it is less than 30 days before
the election, the registrars asked for and received an emergency waiver
from the secretary of the state in order to move the location of the
polling place.
Signs will be posted along School Road the day of the primaries, and
security officers will be posted at the middle school, directing voters
who might be unaware of the change to the intermediate school.
“We want to make sure people know where the polls are,” Ms. Weinstein
said. “We want it to be as easy and to cause the least amount of
confusion as possible.”
Voting
Parking is available in the two lots in front of the intermediate
school, as well as in a rear lot near the tennis courts and playground.
Polls will be open at the intermediate school gym for the primary
elections Tuesday, Aug. 10, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Only
registered Republicans and registered Democrats may vote in their
respective party primaries; those registered as unaffiliated may not
vote in a primary.
For the first time, 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the Nov. 2 general
election may vote in their party’s primary.
Voters may register to vote any weekday between 9 and 4:30 at Weston
Town Hall.
Registering
The registrars of voters will hold a special session at Weston Town
Hall next Tuesday, July 27, from noon to 2 for the purpose of
registering electors eligible to vote in the upcoming primary.
Mail-in registration forms are available from the registrars’ office at
town hall, as well as online on the secretary of the state’s Web site,
www.sots.ct.gov, and on the town of Weston Web site, www.weston-ct.com.
Mail-in applications for new voters must be postmarked by Aug. 5, and
received no later than noon Aug. 9.
The last day to register in person for new voters and for unaffiliated
voters to declare a party is noon on Aug. 9 at the registrar’s office
in town hall.
Absentee
Absentee ballots for those who will not be in Weston between 6 a.m. and
8 p.m. on Aug. 10 are available.
Absentee ballots may be obtained in the town clerk’s office. Absentee
ballot applications may be downloaded from the secretary of the state’s
Web site, www.ct.gov/sots/.
For more information, call the Weston registrars of voters at
203-222-2686.


Why not have the League moderate a
"cumulative time" format debate series?
Candidates question if debate format helps voters make the right choice
Mark Pazniokas, CT MIRROR
July 16, 2010
Oz Griebel was frustrated. He saw the latest gubernatorial debate
as another futile exercise, illuminating little about the abilities of
the candidates to lead Connecticut.
"To me, it's how does a person think?" Griebel said. "What are their
experiences? How do they react in difficult situations? How do they
react in emotional situations?"
None of those questions were explored in a debate Wednesday night on
NBC30 - or in most previous encounters, said Griebel, who is trailing
in a three-way race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.
His two would-be Democratic opponents, Dan Malloy and Ned Lamont,
watched the debate and agreed with his assessment, but drew opposite
conclusions.
Lamont is through with debates for the primary campaign.
Malloy says the answer is a wide-open format.
Griebel says he is with Malloy: The fewer the rules, the better -- and
more debates, not less. Malloy has proposed a series of 17 encounters,
one in every community with a daily newspaper.
"Hey, man, go for it," Griebel said. "I'll be right there."
Griebel will get to debate his Republican rivals, Tom Foley and Michael
Fedele, at least twice more before the primary election on Aug.
10. Not so with Malloy and Lamont.
WNPR radio and WFSB, Channel 3 are making a last effort to convince
Lamont to debate Malloy the week before the primary.
But Lamont, who refused an invitation by WTNH, Channel 8 and The Day of
New London for a televised debate on July 27 before 1,500 spectators,
said he saw nothing Wednesday to change his mind.
"You end up with one-minute sound bites. I don't think it's
particularly revealing," Lamont said.
Griebel said a debate could be revealing if the questioners went beyond
a list of standard, unrelated questions and gimmicks like viewer emails
and video queries posed by voters.
On Wednesday night, NBC30 played a video of a package store owner
opposed Sunday liquor sales as a burden and asking the candidates their
position. In a Democratic debate, the station played a video about
support for tourism.
Griebel said those issues undoubtedly are important to narrow groups,
but do they help anyone pick a candidate for governor in the one of the
toughest fiscal environments ever to face the state?
On Wednesday, he was criticized by Foley and Fedele for being open to
tolls as a way to pay for transportation infrastructure. He said his
opponents were not adequately challenged about how they would meet the
state's obligations in a time of flat revenues and a projected deficit.
"Yeah, tolls are on the table. Shoot me," he said.
His Democratic opponents empathized.
"I think Oz has got it about right," Lamont said. "I saw the
debate, not much of substance. Everybody seems to be fixated on Sunday
liquor sales, and we're going bankrupt."
Malloy said the NBC30 debate was better than others, because the format
allowed the candidates to question each other, if only briefly.
And he noted that candidates share some responsibility for formats,
which the campaigns typically negotiate with the sponsoring television
station.
David Doebler, the president and general manager of NBC30, said the
segment in which the candidates questioned each other was praised in
hundreds of viewer emails Thursday. He agreed it yielded the most
interesting exchanges, and he would consider expanding it allow follow
up questions.
"We would love to open it up," he said.
Doebler said some of the candidates might have disliked the viewer
questions, but the station felt it important to include the perspective
of voters.
Griebel's criticisms went beyond the debate Wednesday. He said what is
missing from modern political debates is a sustained discussion, where
a candidate must think on his feet and not get by with a pre-packaged
talking point.
"There is something missing here where I don't see the public gets a
full explanation of things. You jump from school vouchers to liquor
laws," Griebel said. "I get frustrated."
Griebel said he was amazed that no one from NBC30 asked Foley about
recent disclosures about two arrests after motor-vehicle incidents in
1982 and 1983, including one in which he was charged with assault.
Neither case was pursued.
"Why did I have to ask the question on the arrests?" he asked.
Malloy, a former Stamford mayor who served with Griebel on the state
Transportation Strategy Board, said he agreed with Griebel that voters
need to get a sense of the candidates' leadership qualities. There is
no better way than to see the candidates side by side, testing each
other, he said.
"They know they are selecting the person who's going to have to make
very important decisions about their future and their children's
future," Malloy said. "I think that's one of the reasons that debates
are very important. I think that's one of the reasons Ned doesn't
want to debate."
Lamont said he finds that voters can get a better sense of him and his
vision for the state at town hall meetings he is conducting in person
and on teleconferences. Voters have the opportunity to press for
answers until they are satisfied.
Malloy said Lamont's town hall meetings are a great idea. One way to
make them better: invite him.
"If anyone can get him in a room around a table or at a podium," Malloy
said, "I'll show up."
Two
courts hand down contradictory rulings on public financing
CT MIRROR
By Mark
Pazniokas and Keith M. Phaneuf
July 13, 2010
In a dizzying
one-two punch of state and federal court decisions today,
the public financing of campaigns in Connecticut was upheld, but key
provisions that could affect the race for governor were invalidated.
A federal
appeals court ruled that the state cannot give supplemental
grants triggered by an opponent's spending, while a state judge
separately denied a motion to bar Republican gubernatorial candidate
Michael C. Fedele from receiving $2.18 million in public financing.
Fedele's grant
includes money that the federal court says was
inappropriately given, but there is no legal prohibition on him from
spending the $2.18 million awarded to him last week by the State
Elections Enforcement Commission under the Citizens' Election Program,
part of sweeping campaign finance reforms passed in 2005.
Superior Court
Judge Julia L. Aurigemma today denied a request by
Fedele's GOP rivals, Tom Foley and Oz Griebel, for a temporary
injunction stopping him from spending his public grant. Foley
immediately appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court.
"We are
disappointed in the judge's decision today, but we look forward
to a trial on the merits of these issues and plan to appeal this
preliminary ruling," said Justin Clark, Foley's campaign manager.
The U.S. Court
of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit issued two decisions
today in response to a ruling nearly a year ago by U.S. District Court
Judge Stefan Underhill, who declared the public financing law
unconstitutional, saying it discriminated against minor parties. It
overturned Underhill on several issues and returned the case to him for
further action.
The appellate
court found no discrimination against minor parties, but
it concluded that a bar on contributions and solicitations by lobbyists
and their spouses violated free-speech rights under the First Amendment.
Most
significantly for candidates seeking public financing, the
appellate court negated an order by Underhill that would have imposed
an injunction on the program until all its constitutional defects were
cured by legislative action.
"Underhill's
decision would have padlocked the program completely,"
said Beth Rotman, director of the Citizens' Election Program.
She praised the
state court and said the state will immediately seek a
stay from the U.S. Supreme Court of the federal decision, citing the
impact on statewide primaries for governor that are less than a month
away.
Gov. M. Jodi
Rell said the legislature should quickly alter the law to
comport with the federal decision, which Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal says leaves most of the public financing program intact
"Today's
decisions uphold significant provisions of the Citizens
Election Program and the state's ban on political contributions by
state contractors, but strike down bans against lobbyist donations and
solicitations of contributions. The decisions also strike the provision
providing additional funding to candidates when an opponent spends
beyond a publicly financed candidate's threshold," Blumenthal said.
The court
decision does not affect the ability of candidates' to seek
and obtain public financing, but it bars them from obtaining
supplemental grants triggered by an opponent's excessive spending, a
long-term complication to the campaigns of the two publicly financed
candidates for governor, Fedele and Democrat Dan Malloy.
"Today's
decision is just one step in a long process, a process that I
am confident will result in Connecticut's public financing law
remaining in place. In the short-term, the decision has no impact on
the primary election I'm engaged in - I'm as confident as ever that
we're going win on August 10th because this campaign represents values
and experience that money can't buy," Malloy said.
The campaign of
Democrat Ned Lamont, who has opted out of the voluntary
public financing program to use his own wealth and privately raised
funds, had no comment on either court decision.
"This was a
frivolous lawsuit," Fedele said of the action initiated by
Foley and joined by Griebel. "It was Tom Foley trying to silence me."
Fedele said he
that tomorrow he will launch a media campaign, including
television advertisements, and that he plans to spend all $2 million in
public funds available to him in less than one month. The gubernatorial
primaries arer Aug. 10.
"We have a plan
and we are ready to go," Fedele said, predicting
Foley's lawsuit and planned appeal would weaken his standing with
voters. "While Tom Foley spends his time with his lawyers, I'll be
spending it with the people of Connecticut."
Foley's
campaign issued a statement expressing its disappointment with
the federal decision. It had no immediate comment on the rejection of
its request for an injunction.
The
supplemental grants were not a factor in legislative races two
years ago, when only one legislative candidate was given an extra grant
of a few hundred dollars.
"Campaign
finance is alive and well," Rell said.
But the court
struck down a ban on contributions by lobbyists, a
provision demanded by Rell over the warnings of lawyers that it might
be unconstitutional. The court found that the state made compelling
case to restrict the free-speech rights of lobbyists.
"I'm
disappointed to say the least," that bans on lobbyist
contributions, and on the ability of lobbyists and contractors to
solicit contributions for candidates from their clients, were struck
down, Rell said. "I still think that whatever we could do to keep
special interests out of campaigns I would support."
House Speaker
Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, and Senate President
Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, were reviewing their
options for a special session consider legislative fixes. Still,
Donovan found the overall decision good news for advocates of public
financing.
"We came out on
top," he said. "We kept the public financing."
The governor
said she believes the legislature should act quickly in
special session to resolve the lobbyist contribution issue, suggesting
a $100 limit. That was the legal advice Rell rejected in 2005, when the
campaign finance reforms were passed.
"I think it
would be very simple for the legislature to put the same
threshold in place that they put for everyone else," she said. "I think
that would be an easy fix."
"I believe
campaign finance reform works," she said. "I support it. I
believe that the Republicans would benefit from campaign finance reform
because I think it helps to level the playing field."
By late
afternoon, advocates of public financing were pressing legislative
leaders to act quickly.
"The enactment
of Connecticut's reform was one of Connecticut's
proudest moments," said Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut
Citizen Action Group. "It is time for the legislature to act. This late
in the election cycle it is important for the legislature to clarify
the rules under which people are running in the fall. We call on the
legislature to come into special session to enact a fix."
"Connecticut
voters overwhelmingly support the landmark Citizens'
Election Program," said Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common
Cause. "The legislature and the Governor should act quickly to amend
the program to comply with the court ruling. Candidates are mid-stream
and the primary is weeks away."
In the race for
governor, the ability of Fedele to collect a further
supplemental grant triggered by the spending of Tom Foley seems in
question. The appellate court struck down that provision.
Malloy already
has collected and, presumably spent, a supplemental
grant of $1.25 million triggered by the spending of his opponent in the
race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Ned Lamont. Fedele
received a basic grant of $1.25 million and a supplemental grant of
$937,500.
Based on
Foley's continued spending, Fedele was expected to seek and receive
another $312,500.
Opponents and
supporters of public financing praised the mixed federal decision.
"Connecticut's
so-called Citizens Election Program is fatally flawed
and should be repealed. The law's perverse incentives, convoluted
logic, and unconstitutional provisions have already had a shameful
impact on this year's elections, regardless of which candidates
ultimately are nominated and elected," said Fergus Cullen of the Yankee
Institute.
But Secretary
of the State Susan Bysieiwcz credited public financing
for a 12-year high in the number of candidates running for General
Assembly. She said public financing has encouraged that trend.
"Candidates for
state office in Connecticut still need clarity on the
rules for raising and spending campaign funds, and I hope we soon get
the clarity we all seek," she said. "We must not forget the big
picture, which is that we need to stay committed to concept of clean
elections in Connecticut."
Special voter session set for Tuesday, July 27
Weston FORUM
Sunday, 11 July 2010 00:00
A primary election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at
Weston Middle School between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Only
registered Republicans and Democrats will be eligible to vote.
The registrars of voters will hold a special session at
Weston Town Hall on Tuesday, July 27, from noon to 2 for the purpose of
registering electors eligible to vote in the upcoming primary. At that
time, the registrar will hear requests by persons removed, for adding
their names to the registry list.
Questions may be directed to the registrars of voters at
203-222-2686.
Residents of Connecticut who are U.S. citizens and will be 18
years of age or older on Election Day (Nov. 2) may register to vote any
weekday between 9 and 4:30 at Weston Town Hall.
Mail-in registration forms are available from the registrars’
office at town hall, as well as online on the secretary of the state’s
Web site, www.sots.ct.gov, and on the town of Weston Web site,
www.weston-ct.com.
Mail-in applications for new voters must be postmarked by
Aug. 5, and received no later than noon Aug. 9.
The last day to register in person for new voters and for
unaffiliated voters to declare a party is noon on Aug. 9 at the
registrars’ office in town hall.
Absentee ballots may be obtained in the town clerk’s office.
Absentee ballot applications may be downloaded from the secretary of
the state’s Web site.
For more information, call the registrars of voters at
203-222-2686.
NEXT
STOP ALONG THE ROAD TO ELECTION DAY: Primaries for Governor
on both sides expected.
Since the only real news at this point is who won the
Party endorsements for office - those who received 15% of the
Convention votes have the right to file for a Primary - filings
are not due for a while...
KEVIN LEMBO MAY HAVE A COMPROLLER
PRIMARY IN AUGUST, AS MAY SEC'Y OF STATE WINNER DENISE MERRILL, NOT TO
MENTION GOVERNOR WINNER DAN MALLOY. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, SOME
POSSIBLILITIES, TOO - SEC'Y OF STATE WINNER MARTHA DEAN, U.S.
SENATE WINNER LINDA MCMAHON, GOVERNOR WINNER TOM FOLEY...A BUSY
SUMMER!

Gov.
Rell Not Seeking Reelection in 2010; Stunning Announcement Shocks
Capitol; Few Knew In Advance
Hartford Courant
By Christopher Keating
on November 9, 2009 5:24 PM |
Permalink | Comments (0)
In a stunning announcement, an
emotional Gov. M. Jodi Rell told reporters shortly Monday evening that
she is not
seeking reelection...full story here.
NOTE:
This item below is not an endorsement of any candidate for any office
E-Democracy:
A 21st Century Citizen's Right to Know and Participate

LWVCT
Fall
Conference 2007
Keynote speaker was CT Att'y General Richard Blumenthal
3 Democrats
— 2 senators, 1 governor —
to retire
YAHOO
By LIZ SIDOTI,
AP National Political Writer
January 6, 2010
WASHINGTON –
With the 2010 election year barely under way, two senators
and one governor — all Democrats — ditched
plans to run
for re-election
in the latest signs of trouble for President Barack Obama's party.
Taken together,
the decisions by Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and
Byron Dorgan of North Dakota as well as Colorado
Gov. Bill
Ritter
caused another bout of heartburn for Democrats as they struggle to
defend themselves in a sour political
environment for
incumbents,
particularly the party in charge.
As 2009 ended,
Democrats watched a string of their House members
announce retirements and one congressman defect to the GOP.
Now, with Dodd,
Dorgan and Ritter out, Republicans have even more to
crow about, if not better opportunities to pick up
Democratic-held
seats.
Democrats, who
have a 60-40 Senate majority that includes two
independents who vote with them, now will have to defend four
open
seats in the Senate. The others are Delaware and Illinois, where Sens.
Ted Kaufman, who replaced Vice President Joe Biden,
and Roland
Burris,
who replaced Obama, aren't running for full terms.
Among
governors, Democrats are seeking to maintain their 26-24 majority
in a year when those elected will oversee the redrawing of
congressional
and legislative districts for the next decade.
Republicans and
Democrats alike say they now expect competitive races
for the Senate seat in North Dakota, a GOP-tilting state,
and the
governor's seat in Colorado, a pivotal swing state that has trended
toward Democrats in recent years but may be shifting
back toward
Republicans.
But in
Democratic-leaning Connecticut, Dodd's retirement may actually
heighten the likelihood that the seat he's held for five terms
will
remain in Democratic hands. The party can now recruit a more popular
candidate to run, bolstering the prospects of thwarting
a Republican
victory.
Longtime
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told The Associated
Press on Wednesday morning that he will run
for Dodd's seat.
Blumenthal, a Democrat, is seen as one of the state's most popular
politicians. He planned to publicly announce
his candidacy later
Wednesday.
Considered by
many insiders to be the most endangered Senate Democrat,
Dodd planned to announce his retirement Wednesday,
according to
Democratic officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because
they weren't authorized to publicly pre-empt
the senator's
remarks.
Dodd told Democrats of his plans late Tuesday...