Another day, another announcement in the 5th Congressional District. Dan Roberti of Kent, who formed a candidate committee weeks ago, announced his candidacy today for the Democratic nomination.
“As I watch the mess in Washington unfold – with Republican threats to shut down the government, end Medicare, and hold our economy and middle class jobs hostage – I have been inspired by the way Congressman Chris Murphy has served Connecticut and sought innovative solutions to our economic challenges,” Roberti said in an emailed announcement.
Yesterday it was Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley. The day before, it was Democrat Elizabeth Esty.
Roberti has no experience running for office, nor does he offer an extensive professional resume. He is the son of former state Rep. Vincent Roberti, a Democrat who once represented Bridgeport and reinvented himself as a Washington power broker and movie producer. Each Roberti recently gave $5,000 to the Democratic State Central Committee.
The new candidate’s bio says he “worked his way through college and joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where he ran the day-to-day operation of a homeless shelter in Spokane Washington. Dan moved to New Orleans to pursue a degree in Pastoral Studies, but after Hurricane Katrina struck, he left his studies to work with activist James Carville to support Katrina relief efforts.”
Roberti praised Murphy, a three-term congressman who is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in 2012.
“With his decision to run for the US Senate, I’m proud to announce that I’m running to serve the people of Connecticut, following in his tradition of active, energetic, and engaged leadership. And in the months ahead I will be travelling to every town in the district to listen, share ideas, and talk about how we can fight back against Republican plans that will undermine our economy and destroy Social Security and Medicare,” Roberti said.