Soliciting opinions on convention

I've spent most of my work week learning about Connecticut's constitutional conventions. I've been reading up on the few rules the state has regarding conventions, and I've spent a great deal of time studying the 1965 constitutional convention.

This was not a boring assignment by any means.

I have to admit, I was captivated by the history. I had the pleasure of talking to Hamden's Lawrence DeNardis, a former state senator and U.S. congressman, and Charles M. McCollam, a former state representative from Bethel, about their experiences as delegates. They are one of the few 1965 constitutional convention delegates still alive, and they were clearly proud of their affiliation with the historic convention.

If you didn't already know, 1965 was the last time Connecticut amended its constitution through the convention process.

Anyway, voters will get to decide next week if they want to hold a state constitutional convention. It's question No. 1 on the ballot. There are groups lobbying for both yes and no votes, and it has actually become a topic that many are discussing.

I've talked to those involved in the political arena, college professors and to those representing the groups lobbying for or against the question. I, however, haven't heard from the average Connecticut resident. I want to know what people think.

Should there be a constitutional convention, and is it worth it when the General Assembly gets to decide how delegates are selected?

Let me know your thoughts, and pick up a copy of Sunday's Record-Journal if you want to learn more about the 1965 constitutional convention!

Why so many uncontested races?

I don't know if anyone read my story on uncontested state political races. It ran in Tuesday's Record-Journal. If you didn't, the link to the story is featured at the end of this blog.

Anyway, this year there are 53 uncontested House races in Connecticut and seven uncontested Senate races. Keep in mind, the Secretary of the State's office is taking into account both unopposed races and races where a candidate is not facing a major party opponent when they came up with these numbers.

Locally, Republican Sen. Leonard Fasano, Republican Rep. Vincent Candelora and Democrat Rep. Joe Arisimowicz are running unopposed.

Notably, Fasano has not run against an opponent since he was first elected in 2002. Wallingford's Democratic Town Committee chairman says that no one has stepped forward and wanted to run against either Fasano or Candelora, who is just wrapping up his first term in the legislature. Money and time play a role when it comes to potential Democratic candidates, Vincent Avallone said.

Most people, including Avallone, seem to think that the state's new public financing system will provide an incentive for people thinking about running for office. They think the new system evens the playing field, and come 2010, they are hoping that more people want to get involved in politics.

Is money the main reason why people are not running for office, or is it something more -- like apathy?

I'd like to believe it's only about money and time. Those are certainly valid reasons not to run. I, however, have my doubts. Call me cynical, but I'm more inclined to believe that maybe money and time are excuses rather than reasons.

Read the Story


P.S. My sympathies to the family and friends of Dan Hunter. Hunter, vice president of Meriden-based Hunter's Ambulance and Transporation Services, died this morning as a result of injuries he suffered when his motorcycle collided with a car in East Hartford Oct. 15.

Amann quietly gets endorsements

Instead of worrying about his reelection, Jim Amann is counting endorsements.

The speaker of the House, a Milford Democrat, announced in April that he was leaving the legislature at the end of this year. He has served as a state representative for 18 years.

But Amann is not ready to leave the political arena quite yet. He is considering a run for governor in 2010 and has been collecting endorsements from various groups as his colleagues in Hartford concentrate on reelection campaigns.

Every so often, his endorsements land in my inbox. One day, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association was giving their seal of approval; today, the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut announced that it supports Amann in his quest to become the state's top elected official.

Amann has not officially declared that he's in the 2010 race, but he is testing the waters. He wants to see if he has the support to be a competitive candidate.

Rumor has it that Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, is also someone interested in being the Democratic nominee for governor. Williams was first elected to the Senate in 1993.

We know both Amann and Willians have the legislative experience, but how would they do leading the Nutmeg State? Can either one beat Gov. Rell if she decides to seek another term? Although Connecticut is a Democratic state, the Republican governor is a popular one.

I'm undecided. Thankfully, we have two years until we need to make our decisions, and it will be interesting to see the 2010 race for governor take shape.

Another one bites the dust

Rep. George Wilber

"And another one gone, and another one gone..."

I am willing to bet that Queen wasn't writing lyrics about Connecticut's politicians, but those lines can be applied regardless.

Let's take a moment to reflect on the past few years.

Former Republican Gov. Rowland resigned in 2004. He was at the center of a corruption scandal and impeachment was being discussed.

Then came former Sen. Ernie Newton, a Democrat, who resigned in 2005 -- a day before pleading guilty to bribery, tax evasion and mail fraud.

Both got sentenced to prison.

Former Senate Minority Leader Louis De Luca, a Republican, resigned in 2007. He was being investigated by the Senate's Bipartisan Committee of Review after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor threatening charge.

Did I miss anyone?

Now, I guess it was the Democrats' turn to have someone resign.

Rep. George Wilber's last day as a lawmaker will be Nov. 1. The Democrat from Colebrook gave the Secretary of the State his resignation last night. He also dropped out of his November race.

Wilber allegedly paid $100,000 to a woman who claimed he sexually abused her as a child. He denies the allegations.

But he resigned. Why resign if you did nothing wrong? Wouldn't you fight to keep your job and your reputation?

Regardless, it looks like Democrats are already down a seat for next year. Republican John Rigby is the only one running in the 63rd House District now, and it's too late for the Democrats to replace Wilber.

But if the pattern of resignations continues, it looks like the next scandal in Hartford will be a Republican one. I guess things have a way of evening out in the end.

Debate brings back a memory

I just returned to the office from the 5th District debate at Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. There was a really good turn out. I'd say there were about 300 people in attendance, mostly senior citizens. The debate was sponsored by AARP.

A few Meriden local leaders were there, including Mayor Rohde and probably about half the City Council.

This debate was less heated than the last one I attended in Waterbury, and the candidates have not changed their position on any issues. As a result, the core of the debate resembled the one held last week, minus some of the finger pointing.

Anyway, with everyone now briefed on the debate, I am ready to share a story. The debate brought back a memory.

About a year or two ago, the debate's moderator, Susan Raff, a reporter for Channel 3, and I were part of a throng of reporters covering a press conference at the Capitol in Hartford. For those of you who have never experienced a political press conference, they can get ugly.

Today, I cannot tell you the topic of that press conference, but I do remember Raff's microphone hitting me in the head as she pushed to get closer to Speaker of the House James Amann. I applaud Raff for being agressive, but it hurt.

Oh, the trials and tribulations of daily journalism.

Candidates to debate in Meriden

I'm thankful that it's Friday. I'm worn out.

As a news staff this week, we had to get everything together for the annual voter's guide. It is expected to be published later this month and will be a resource for local voters. So, read it, enjoy it, frame it...whatever works for you.

In addition, I had to write a profile about state Sen. David Cappiello, which will be in Sunday's paper. As you hopefully know by now, he is running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.

I also spent a decent amount of time this week working on a story about ethics and Cappiello and Murphy. That should appear in tomorrow's paper. Oh, and I can't forget about the 5th District debate I covered in Waterbury.

That's a lot of politics in 40 hours.

Even so, as I sit here waiting for my editor to finish reading my stories, I am already thinking ahead to next week. For me, that means more politics.

An important event to note is Monday's 5th District congressional debate at Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. It is sponsored by the AARP, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and Murphy and Cappiello are the only candidates asked to participate.

I, personally, would like to see Harold Burbank, of the Green Party, and Independent Thomas Winn be asked to participate in these debates, but I guess the hosts have certain qualifications and rules for candidates and Burbank and Winn don't meet them.

The United States does allow and encourage freedom of speech, however, and I would like to see Burbank and Winn try to share their views with voters in other ways. You don't necessarily need a debate to be heard.

Regardless of what candidates are participating, I hope to see Political Potpourri readers at the Four Points Monday!

Listen to Rell about breast cancer

As the week winds down, I've been very busy writing about the 5th District congressional race between U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and state Sen. David Cappiello. As a result, I don't have much time to write a great political blog.

I did, however, want to write something to keep this blog as active as possible, and so I decided to mention a press release I received today from the governor's office.

Gov. Rell wants to remind everyone that tomorrow, Oct. 17, is National Mammography Day, and she is promoting the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection, especially for those over 40.

Rell is a breast cancer survivor, and I think, on this issue, women should listen to her.

As a side note, her press release said that Connecticut had the third highest rate of new cases of breast cancer in the United States between 2000-2004. I did not know this.

Forum on reforms scheduled

Being that Connecticut's new criminal justice reforms came about largely because of the home invasion in Cheshire, I thought I would mention that the General Assembly's Appropriations and Judiciary committees are holding a forum on the 2008 reforms Thursday.

It starts at 1 p.m. in room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, is expected to last about three hours and is open to the public.

There are several invited guests, including Robert Genuario, the governor's budget director, and Robert Farr, chairman of the state's Board of Pardon and Paroles. New Haven State's Attorney Michael Dearington will also be there.

Take note of report on Palin

I can't help but notice that few people are talking about the Alaska report that came out recently about Gov. Sarah Palin.

For those who don't know, an independent legislative investigation recently concluded that Palin violated ethics laws and abused her power as governor when she pressed to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. The matter went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court.

I think this is a big deal, especially since she is running for vice president. Afterall, she is portraying herself as someone who is trying to do the right thing -- a reformer.

Even if she wasn't in the national spotlight, I think it would still be a big deal. Being governor is a high-profile position and that person is expected to follow the rules.

For example, think about the hype concerning ethics laws and the position of governor in Connecticut recently. Remember the fundraiser lists and invitations that caused a stir? Like Palin, Gov. M. Jodi Rell paints herself as a reformer, and Connecticut does not waste any time in pointing out where she, or her staff, has gone wrong.

If Connecticut is going to talk about ethics when it comes to Rell and former Gov. John Rowland, it should also be talking about Palin and this new report.

We now have less than a month until Election Day, and voters need the most information they can get about candidates -- especially this year.

Top honors for local lawmakers

Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, was named the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association's Legislator of the Year this week.

The association says they recognized Fasano for his work on legislation that tightened existing laws regulating the purchase and sale of scrap metal.

"Police throughout the state were responding to increased reports of metal theft -- everything from electrical wiring, statues to stadium bleachers," Fasano said in a prepared statement. "That metal was ending up at scrap yards, being sold illegally for cash."

While Fasano already has his award in hand, House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, is waiting for his. Donovan will get the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Physicians' Legislator of the Year award at the group's annual meeting in Southington.

The chapter is honoring Donovan for his work on a health care pooling bill that would have allowed municipalities, small businesses and nonprofits to join the state's health care plan. The bill was passed by the General Assembly and vetoed by the governor.

U.S. may have low expectations

This blog entry -- the first for Political Potpourri -- is being written less than 24 hours after Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin battled it out in the only vice presidential debate this campaign season.

Well, I'm not quite sure it was a battle, but that's for you to judge.

I watched at least half of the debate on CNN last night, but then I lost interest. I truly did try to get into it, but found myself just watching the clock, wondering when the back and forth would end.

And that's from someone who actually enjoys following politics and currrent events.

Today, I've heard reaction from other news outlets and my colleagues about the debate. Everyone seems to be thinking the same thing -- Palin didn't fail miserably and both candidates did better than expected. People, however, add that it was hard to identify a winner, or a stronger vice presidential candidate.

That is a problem.

It is a problem when our country has low expectations for people who are positioned to assume the most important roles in our society. It is a problem when one of those two people will be chosen to help lead the country, particularly during a time of war and economic uncertainty.

And it scares me that people might have the same low expectations for the presidential candidates as well.

It seems to me that many have the "anyone is better than Bush" attitude. I get it. People don't like the outgoing president. But the United States needs a strong, capable leader to take his place, and I'm not sure believing that anyone is better than Bush will give us that.

So, what do you think? Being that this is my first blog entry, I want to take a moment to encourage readers to respond and to share their thoughts! I look forward to reading them.

Oh, and while you are waiting for a new blog entry, feel free to check out another Record-Journal blog, Convention Coverage 2008. It was written specifically for the Democratic and Republican national conventions, but if you crave a daily dose of politics, you can see pictures taken at the conventions and entries submitted by your local elected officials.