The Board of Regents for Higher Education is expected to fill three community college presidencies at a special meeting Friday, including the Quinebaug Valley Community College post sought by Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr.
Mark Pazniokas
Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.
Posted inPolitics
Boughton offers $2 a signature, only GOPers need apply
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Boughton needs to collect 8,190 signatures by June 10 to get his running mate, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, on the GOP primary ballot. He’s offering petition circulators $2 a valid name.
Posted inPolitics
For CT Democrats, those $10,000 checks keep coming
The state pays $4.7 million annually in rent for top state elected officials in the building pictured above. The landlord gave the Connecticut Democratic Party $30,000 last month, part of the steady flow of cash from state contractors, including the recent winner of an $8.63 million contract.
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Boughton loses running mate, looks to Lauretti
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Senate Minority Leader John P. McKinney of Fairfield, who finished second and third in balloting for governor at the GOP state convention Saturday, filed papers Thursday that place them on the ballot for a Republican primary on Aug. 14. But Boughton’s running mate, Heather Bond Somers, declared herself a free agent.
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Pelto: Can a political consultant give himself the right advice?
There’s never been anyone in Connecticut politics quite like Jonathan Pelto, the Democrat threatening a third-party run for governor. No one has worked in top jobs on so many successful campaigns as a precocious teen and 20-something. And no one has burned so many bridges.
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Judge orders settlement try in DGA campaign case
New Haven – U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall ordered the Democratic Governors Association and the State Elections Enforcement Commission into settlement talks Wednesday in an attempt to resolve the DGA’s claim that the commission overly restricts independent expenditures. Prior to the closed-door negotiations, Hall sharply questioned lawyers for both sides in open court, probing the DGA’s legal standing to challenge a law it is yet to be accused of violating.
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Rowland attacks federal indictment, ‘poisonous’ publicity
Attorneys for John G. Rowland sought the dismissal Tuesday of the criminal indictment accusing the former Republican governor of conspiring to act as a secret paid consultant to the congressional campaign of Lisa Wilson-Foley in 2012. If that fails, they also want a closer examination of prospective jurors to guard against “poisonous” pre-trial publicity.
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McKinney, Walker form ticket, then each finishes third
Updated 1:29 p.m. Uncasville – As delegates prepared Saturday to endorse a Republican nominee for governor, John P. McKinney introduced his running mate, former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, as “a turnaround specialist” who would be a full partner in overseeing an economic recovery in Connecticut. Walker finished third in balloting, but qualified for a primary.
Posted inNews
Bacchiochi apologizes, Walker accepts
After a night of drama about statements attributed to Penny Bacchiochi about David Walker making issue of her biracial marriage, Bacchiochi and Walker issued a joint statement Friday: She apologized; he accepted. Bacchiochi and Walker are candidates for lieutenant governor. Statement from Penny Bacchiochi: “I regret that this misunderstanding occurred and has taken the focus away […]
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GOP Convention: Debicella in 4th CD, Greenberg in 5th CD
Like a political assembly line, the Republican Party simultaneously churned out endorsed candidates for Congress in all five districts Friday, overwhelmingly backing two repeat candidates, Dan Debicella in the 4th and Mark Greenberg in the 5th.
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Foley-McKinney? A flirtation. McKinney-Walker? A deal
Updated 11:22 p.m.: There was the distant possibility of a “dream ticket,” one that might avoid a primary. One candidate for lieutenant governor apologized for suggesting that a rival had made a racially insensitive remark. And a new alliance for governor and lieutenant governor eventaully was confirmed. Welcome to what was supposed to be a low-key opening day of the GOP state convention.
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Foley coy on picking an LG, taking public financing
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley said Thursday he has the delegates and dollars he needs on the eve of this weekend’s GOP nominating convention: sufficient delegates to win, and enough dollars to qualify for public financing.
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GOP congressional hopefuls short on cash, experience
Democrats re-nominated five U.S. House incumbents without opposition Wednesday. Republicans are competing with each other, often spending their own money, in four of the state’s five congressional districts.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Improved graduation rates give Malloy a campaign talking point
A fourth consecutive year of improving graduation rates and narrowing achievement gaps gave Gov. Dannel P. Malloy an opportunity Wednesday to begin to turn education reform from an irritant in his relationship with teachers to an election-year asset with the broader electorate.
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Foley challenges GOP rivals on money
Tom Foley is raising expectations about delegate support and financial resources in the run up to this weekend’s Republican convention, saying a first-ballot endorsement for governor and his qualifying for public financing are within reach. His GOP rivals say he is grandstanding.