Connecticut
Post posts about what is happening in the State of Connecticut.
@FringeNYC Preview – Richard 3, with Roots in Wilton
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 08:06Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of … Wilton?
I’ve always loved funky modern adaptations of Shakespeare and when I used to regularly attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I would seek out such plays. The listing of Richard 3 on the FringeNYC website describes the Less Than Rent production of Richard 3 like this:
Betrayal! Bloodlust! Punk Rock! Shakespeare's classic tragedy re-imagined in a nuclear wasteland. Nineteen-year-old Richard Gloucester is trying to get ahead in post-WWIII England, and he wants the crown...really effing bad. It'sTheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt!
Sounds right up my alley. To add to my anticipation, I fondly, yet vaguely, remember a production of Richard the Third that some of my roommates back in 1983 were part of. I have other favorable, but much less clear recollections of a great movie version.
With this, I signed up for the event on Facebook. This morning I received an email from Nicole Ventura who plays Tyrrel in the play to get tickets because they are going fast. I checked out Nicole’s Facebook page, and she and I have one friend in common: James Presson.
Now, I must admit, I have a lot of friends on Facebook, and I can’t always place how I know someone on Facebook. James is listed as having graduated from Wilton High School in 2008. Then it struck me. James Presson, Voices in Conflict.
This was the play that students in a Drama class at Wilton High School created out of “letters and essays written by Iraqi civilians and American soldiers serving in Iraq”. Back in 2007, I wrote about it in Helping students find their voices, or not:
So, what are the issues that our schools are trying to address today? First, there is the case of “Voice in Conflict”, a play put together by a theatre class at Wilton High School. This was the play that was judged to be too inflammatory by the school’s superintendent to be put on in the $10 million auditorium, so instead the students were invited to perform the play in venues around the country.
The major focus of that article was about whether or not our educational system is helping students find their voices. Besides the Wilton case, I also spoke about Avery Doninger. Avery and James appear to have found their voices by speaking out against an educational system that seemed intent on stifling their voices.
Now, James is a theatre major at Fordham and is directing Richard 3. His experiences with Wilton High School and Voices in Conflict provide an interesting and important backdrop to the production. Having this background, Richard 3 moves from the “sounds like something I would enjoy watching” category to the “absolute must” category. However, opening night, really afternoon, tickets are going fast. However, there are four additional performances as part of FringeNYC. Get your tickets now.
Wordless Wednesday - Checking the Voting Machines
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 09:40
Okay. A quick word. I watched the registrars and moderators secure the voting machines and ballots and print out the reports in Woodbridge, CT. I feel that it is very important to keep an eye on the vote counting process, even in a town like Woodbridge, where it is done extremely well.
What Does a U.S. Senate Seat Cost? - #ctsen
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 09:04With 95% of the votes in, Linda McMahon has received 58,206 votes, or just under half of the Republican votes cast. Extrapolating things out, she’ll probably end up with just over 61,000 votes. Reports are that she has spent $26,000,000 on her campaign. That works out to be $425 per vote. In the 2006 U.S. Senate Race in Connecticut, there were over 1.1 million votes cast. If that number holds, McMahon is going to need something like 560,000 votes to win the general election. Assuming that Republican votes cost about the same as other votes, that would be around $240,000,000 to win the general election.
The Connecticut Democratic Party has a great video out about what could be done with the $50,000,000 that McMahon has been expected to spend on the U.S. Senate race. If she has to spend much more, it simply amplifies the Democratic message.
Meanwhile, other’s are playing on her background with the WWE, such as can be found in The Cynics Guide to Politics: Off the Top Rope. Others are pointing to another prescient Onion piece from 2001 predicting Vince McMahon's X-SPAN Promises Bone-Crunching Legislative Coverage.
The comments on Twitter have been fairly negative as well. The CT Senate “race now officially called ‘Fake Senate Race’ due to McMahon & Blumenthal having faked parts of their work”.
“McMahon wins in #CTSEN R primary. /// and then the Undertaker beat her up backstage”.
and “What does it say about American politics? Is it now officially as fake as WWE”.
Meanwhile, Blumenthal issued a press release congratulating his opponent
To all of tonight's winners, including my opponent, congratulations. There are clear choices ahead and a great deal at stake. Washington isn't working and the people of Connecticut want to know what we're going to do to stand up to the special interests and put their interests first. This is going to be a tough campaign, and I'm going to focus on what matters to the people of Connecticut.
Another opponent in the race, John Mertens gave a speech calling for a new way to re-engage the voters who have been disgusted with politics, and who have lost faith in our democracy.
In his speech he said,
A few weeks ago I attended an event during Social Web Week in New Haven. I met some amazing people, who are passionate about rebuilding our democracy, and our democratic process.
This was at the political free for all that I helped organize as part of Social Web Week. It was a great discussion with some great people there and I’m willing to help everyone make better use of the social web to rebuild our democracy. I hope Mertens, and for that matter Blumenthal, can use the social web to make this a real democratic process and not an entertainment show going to the highest bidder.
Primary Day Thoughts
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 09:06My blog post yesterday brought a lot of comments on various platforms about who to vote for in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary. I am glad to see people very engaged in the process. I was disappointed at the number of people that focused on ‘character’ in the race, especially those talking about something lacking in the character of on candidate or another. As a person who has spent a fair amount of time with both Dan Malloy and Ned Lamont, I do not believe that there is a substantial difference in the character of the two candidates. They are both good people that want to do the best they can for our state.
Another discussion was about the rest of the ticket. Many people did not know a lot about the rest of the ticket. So, I am going to provide my biased view here.
Secretary of State
Denise Merrill is the Democratic Nominee for Secretary of State. She is currently the House Majority leader. She is being challenged by Gerry Garcia. Gerry is a financial advisor from New Haven. Both Denise and Gerry have called into Fiona’s radio show and I’ve spoken with both of them many times. Gerry has been running ads that attack Denise as if she somehow caused the financial crisis through her actions as House Majority leader. The attack is unfounded. In 2007, the Appropriations committee, which was co-led by Merrill at the time was awarded the Con Hogan Award for its work in results based accountability.
There was also the issue at the Democratic Convention where Waterbury delegates all voted for Garcia in exchange for all of the New Haven Delegates voting for Jarjura. If it wasn’t for this deal, Jarjura would not have been on the ballot. It got nasty on the floor as town chairs exerted strong influence over delegates in getting them to vote specific ways. I lost a bit of respect for Garcia for his involvement with this.
Based on this, I will be voting for Merrill. That said, Garcia would also be a good Secretary of State. He has run a strong campaign, particularly working to bring out new voters and I applaud him for that. I could be comfortable with either candidate.
Comptroller
State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo is the Democratic nominee for comptroller. Kevin is great. I strongly urge people to watch the video in this diary. He is being challenged by Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura. I mentioned Jarjura in the Secretary of State’s race. Jarjura has run nasty ads attacking Lembo. I won’t give you my opinion of Jajura, because that would be much nastier than I believe we should have in politics. The choice is very clear. Kevin Lembo is the best candidate.
Lt. Governor
Before I leave the statewide offices, I should mention the Lt. Governor’s race. For everyone who is still conflicted or undecided in the Governor’s race, it is even more complicated. You do not vote for the Governor and Lt. Governor as a team. You can vote for either Gubernatorial candidate and either Lt. Governor candidate. As with the Governor’s race, but Lt. Governor candidates are also very good.
Current State Comptroller Nancy Wyman is running with Dan Malloy. I have the highest respect for Wyman and expect to vote for her, independent of what I decide to do in the Governor’s race. She is being challenged by Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary Glassman. Glassman ran in 2006 for Lt. Governor as Malloy’s running mate and ended up winning the Lt. Governor’s Democratic Primary to run in the general election as John DeStefano’s running mate. She is particularly strong on urban transit issues such as bicycles and trains and friends are supporting her for these stances. She would also be a great Lt. Governor.
State Senate
There is one Democratic State Senate primary. State Senator John Fonfara who co-chairs the Energy and Technology committee is being challenged by Ed Vargas. I know people that have been disappointed with Fonfara’s leadership in Energy and Technology, but I don’t know a lot more about him. I know even less about Vargas. However, Ken Krayeske has written his thoughts on a Vargas and Fonfara and has come out in favor of Vargas.
State Rep
There are a dozen Democratic State Representative primaries. I know less about these races and won’t go into as much for details. In the first assembly district, Representative Ken Green is being challenged by City Councilman Matt Ritter. You can read about the race in the Hartford Advocate
In the fourth district, State Rep Kevin Roldan is being challenged by Angel Morales. For more information, check the Hartford Courant article.
In the sixth district State Rep. Hector Robles is being challenged by Alyssa Peterson. I know nothing about this race.
The seventh district sees State Rep. Douglas McCrory challenged by City Councilwoman rJo Winch. Winch has had a strong Facebook presence, but a lot of detractor due to her closeness to Eddie Perez.
The fifteenth district has an exciting race. State Rep David Baram is being challenged by Connecticut AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Leo Canty and by James Michel. I don’t know much about Baram, but the little that I’ve heard is positive. Canty, however, I know a lot about and like him a lot. I know nothing about Michel.
The nineteenth district is an exciting race. Beth Bye, who is the incumbent is running for State Senate. Brian Becker and Terry Schmitt are vying for this position. I have friend supporting both candidates, but I don’t know more than that.
The 51st district has Daniel S Rovero running against Brian Lynch for Shawn Johnston’s old seat. Again, I know nothing about this race.
In the 91st district, State Rep Peter Villano is being challenged by former Hamden councilwoman Ann Altman. Altman has “a doctorate in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University” according to the article in the New Haven Register. Beyond that I don’t know much about either.
In the 92nd district, State Rep. Pat Dillon is being challenged by New Haven Alderman Sergio Rodriguez. The 92nd district is just down the road from where I live and I’ve seen lots of lawn signs for both candidates. The New Haven Independent has this story about the Dillon Rodriquez race. It is great to see competition for seats, but everyone I know loves Pat Dillon.
The 94th district has a similar dynamic where State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield is being challenged by former alderman Willie Green. You can read more about this race, and people’s positions in this New Haven Independent article. Rep. Holder-Winfield has been a star in the state legislature and the day that I don’t see him as State Rep I hope will be the day that he has moved on to a larger office.
The 96th district is a very interesting and exciting race. New Haven Alderman Roland Lemar and Debra Hauser are fighting it out for the seat that State Rep. Cam Staples has held. Friends of mine are supporting Hauser. Other friends are supporting Lemar. Hauser has opted out of the Citizens’ Election Program, which I believe was a mistake, and I don’t believe she has connected as well with people from various communities in New Haven as she needs to. With that, I’m leaning towards Lemar, but either would be good State Reps.
For a glimpse at the possible results, I encourage people to check this cached page from CTN as they prepare for this evening’s coverage.
Voting is Important, but I Might Not Vote in the Governor’s Race
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 09:37This morning I received a bunch of different messages about the importance of getting out and voting in the Connecticut Primaries tomorrow. The point was driven home with the latest Quinnipiac poll which found the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary too close to call. The poll found 45% supporting Lamont, 42% supporting Malloy and 12% undecided. On top of this, 30% of those supporting Lamont or Malloy said they might change their minds before voting.
I am friends with both Dan and Ned. I believe either one of them would make great governors. Ned is bright and energetic, as his work with the Brookings Institute, Harding High, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and CCSU has illustrated. He is also a good administrator. Dan is also bright and energetic. I lived in Stamford for many years while he was Mayor there, and I believe he did a great job. His policy statements have been on point on issues like the death penalty, shared sick days, and his actions supporting the SEIU 32BJ have illustrated his commitment to important issues.
Nonetheless, both have run what I consider bad campaigns, focusing too much on what is wrong with their opponents and not enough about what is right with their own ideas about how to make Connecticut better.
Because of this, I remain undecided and am becoming more and more likely to not vote for either of them. I am hearing this from more and more voters. One person, who has been very involved in campaigns spoke about this as being a very informed decision. It will be interesting to see what the results turn out to be.
As a final note, both the Malloy and Lamont campaigns have issues statements about the poll:
Malloy Campaign Manager Dan Kelly said:
The poll reflects what we're seeing and hearing every day on the campaign trail: Dan's got the momentum. People increasingly see him as the better qualified candidate, and the person best able to provide the leadership this state desperately needs. People are rejecting Ned's sleazy and untrue attacks on Dan, and they're rejecting Ned's attempt to buy this election.
The Lamont campaign statement said:
"While more than a thousand of our volunteers reached out to voters, Ned and Mary spent the weekend pounding the pavement, asking families to vote for a better future for Connecticut," said Lamont Communications Director Justine Sessions.
"Democrats know that Ned is the only one in this race with a positive vision for our state, the experience to create jobs, and the ability to beat the Republicans in November. When they go to the polls tomorrow, we're confident that they'll choose Ned."
Early Tuesday, I will go to the voting booth. My mind is pretty clear on who I will vote for in every race, except the Governor’s race. I will watch to see what the candidates and their staffs do during the final hours and then decide if either of them really earned my vote. I encourage everyone to get to the polls and make as informed a decision as possible.
