Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

SEEC postpones action on Giuliano appointment

  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • January 18, 2012
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

The State Elections Enforcement Commission today postponed acting on a controversial plan to appoint a recently defeated politician, former Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano of Middletown, as the new executive director and general counsel of the elections oversight agency.

“At this time the commission is not ready to move forward with this appointment,” said Stephen F. Cashman, the panel’s chairman. “We’ll have no further comment with respect to the proceedings until such time we are prepared to move forward.”

Their intention announced last week to name Giuliano prompted criticism from key lawmakers and a complaint alleging that Giuliano tried to discourage Wesleyan students from voting last fall when he was seeking re-election as mayor of Middletown.

castagno jenkins cashman

From left, Commissioners Castagno, Jenkins, Cashman

It was unclear today if Giuliano’s appointment was permanently scuttled. Giuliano was not present at the meeting, and Cashman made clear that the five commissioners had no intention of expanding on his terse remarks.

Acting as a search committee, the entire commission had decided in private to appoint Giuliano last week. It was apparent this morning they had met again in private to postpone what last week was planned to be a unanimous appointment.

Rep. Russell Morin, D-Wethersfield, and Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, told the State Elections Enforcement Commission by letter Friday that Giuliano does not meet the basic qualification required of commissioners: that he be at least three years removed from partisan politics.

Their objections were significant: As co-chairs of the legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee, they have oversight over elections laws, and they were the agency’s defenders last year against maneuvering to strip the commission of auditors, cripping its ability to audit legislative campaigns.

Today, Morin said he was encouraged by the postponement of an appointment that he described as politically clumsy.

“I hope that this is the commission stating that they are going to rethink their decision and they’ll just recognize it will cause a problem,” Morin said. “It will not be beneficial for the commission to make this hire.”

Bozzuto Stankevicius

From left, Commissioners Bozzuto, Stankevicius

Giuliano, a Republican, served three terms as Middletown’s mayor through 2011. He lost his bid for a fourth term in November, defeated by Democrat Dan Drew. The commission announced Thursday that it planned to name Giuliano to the executive director’s post today, its first meeting of 2012.

No law barred the appointment of a recently active politician as director, even though Giuliano could not serve as a commissioner. But Slossberg said in her letter that the commission ignored a clear and sensible guideline.

“Individual SEEC commissioners must be removed from partisan politics for three full years before they are eligible to serve; I think the same standard should be applied to the agency’s staff positions as well,” she said in her letter.

Giuliano was one of two former mayors in the pool of four finalists. He faced competition from a Democrat, who is more than three years removed from elective office and was backed by a top official of Common Cause, the advocacy group often seen as an ally of the commission at the state Capitol.

The Democrat has confirmed he was a finalist, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize his current job. One other finalist was the chief operating officer of a municipality. The fourth had no government experience.

The controversy comes at a difficult time for the commission. Its budget was cut last year, along with the other watchdog agencies.

There were efforts to further cut its auditing staff, a move that would have effectively neutered the commission, which often is in conflict with lawmakers as it enforces election laws. In this environment, Morin said, the appointment of Giuliano was naive.

“I’m not so sure they sensed it was really that big a deal until we complained about it,” Morin said. “I don’t want to beat these people up. I respect the work the commission does. I believe in the program and overall I believe they do a good job. I want to see them remain independent. This issue would have really alienated them with an awful lot of people.”

The commissioners, who are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders of both parties, are not without political experience.

Cashman, a lawyer who now lives in Windsor, is a former counsel to the House Republican caucus and served on the Newington Town Council and Republican town committee in the 1980s. He was appointed in 2000 by Robert Ward, then the House minority leader.

Richard C. Bozzuto of Watertown is a former Republican state Senate leader. He was appointed in 2007 by Louis DeLuca, then the Senate Republican leader.

Joan B. Jenkins of New Haven was appointed in 2003 by Kevin B. Sullivan, a Democrat who was then the Senate president pro tem. She is the former director of labor relations for New Haven and also has served on the state ethics commission.

Patricia Stankevicius of Wolcott was appointed in 2009 by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell. The only political involvement listed on her agency bio is serving on the local planning and zoning commission as an independent alternate.

Anthony J. Castagno of North Stonington was appointed in 2010 by House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut who ran for state Senate as a Democrat in 1990, losing to Republican Edward Munster.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Panel recommends small, inflationary pay hike for state officials
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Connecticut's part-time legislature hasn't received a pay hike since 2001. The annual base-pay for senators and representatives is $28,000.

Police task force seeks wider applicant pool for watchdog role
by Kelan Lyons

The task force sent four recommendations — and two that didn't get unanimous approval— to lawmakers for the 2021 session.

Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Vaccinations in nursing homes top 64,000; COVID cases are dropping rapidly among residents
by Dave Altimari

There were 238 COVID infections reported in nursing homes last week, down from 483 a few weeks ago.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Opinion Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Opinion Connecticut’s $100 million college shell game
by Stephen Adair

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office […]

Opinion Inconsistent television captioning is a barrier to equal access
by Jeffrey Bravin and Barbara Cassin

Our world long ago entered the age of the 24-hour news cycle, and a full understanding of the “who, what, when, where and why” of the news is critical for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing citizens. Yet, Connecticut’s inconsistent quality of television captioning locks our community out of the complete sense of what is happening.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO