|
|
|
GOP chooses candidate slate
|
|
Written by Justin Reynolds
|
Wilton Bulletin
© Copyright 2010 Hersam Acorn Newspapers All Rights Reserved.
Published On May 30, 2010
|
For Al Alper, all the Republican candidates for the elections in November are very solid.
Mr. Alper, chair of the Republican Town Committee, heartily endorsed each candidate for the offices perhaps most pertinent to Wiltonians.
“Much like in the last election, Toni’s outstanding record, unbelievable work ethic and support for the 26th District resonates with the voters, and she should win this handily,” Mr. Alper said of Toni Boucher’s contest with Westport Democrat John Hartwell, “with more than a decade of service in the state legislature advocating for the residents of the two towns she served in the House, and the seven towns she served in the Senate.”
Mr. Alper said Ms. Boucher was a “legislator without equal.” He said the fact Ms. Boucher defeated Mr. Hartwell in the 2008 election, even though, in his opinion, the voters from the left side of the aisle were “hyperengaged,” bodes well for her in November.
“Toni still won it with authority,” he said of the 2008 race. “This election cycle, her margin should be even more commanding.”
Mr. Alper said Gail Lavielle, who is running against Peggy Reeves for the seat of the state Representative of the 143rd District, has demonstrated a similar work ethic to Ms. Boucher’s since she was elected to the Board of Finance in November 2009. Mr. Alper also commended Ms. Lavielle’s service on the state’s Public Transportation Commission.
Before she established her candidacy, Mr. Alper said, Ms. Lavielle got to know the concerns of Wiltonians.
“She met with well over 1,000 Wiltonians,” he said. “She showed a command of the issues that concerned the individual voters. She is a caring, considerate, gifted candidate. She demonstrates the same advocacy for Wilton that Toni has.”
Mr. Alper said Ms. Reeves is a “very nice woman” but said when the voters compared Ms. Reeves’ and Ms. Lavielle’s record, the Republican candidate will emerge on top.
“When the voters look at the voting records of both of the candidates — of advocacy of one over the other — Gail should handily win,” he said.
John Hetherington as of now is running uncontested to again be the state representative of Connecticut’s 125th District.
“The fact that he continuously runs unopposed says it all,” Mr. Alper said. “The fact he is so gifted and so clearly an advocate for the citizens that they don’t mount a challenger speaks volumes about the man.”
State convention
The Republicans held their state convention this past weekend, endorsing candidates for the November ballot.
Mr. Alper supported the slate, including state Senator Dan Debicella’s bid for the 4th District’s congressional seat.
“I think any candidate that we put up will be the only candidate in the race who clearly puts the 4th above their party and agenda,” said Mr. Alper. “If you look at the record of Jim Himes, that is not the record of someone who considers his constituents before his party,” he said, adding Mr. Himes voted for a $5-billion increase to the tax burden on the residents of the 4th District and has voted 95% of the time with Nancy Pelosi.
Easton First Selectman Tom Herrmann and Rob Merkle, a Norwalk businessman, still plan to collect the required petition signatures to put them on the primary ballot against Mr. Debicella.
Linda McMahon, running for U.S. Senate against Richard Blumenthal, the state’s attorney general, is also a strong candidate, Mr. Alper said.
“She has the business experience to bring to Washington. She understands the impact of expansive government and high taxes on job creators,” he said. “That experience should help to ensure that the policies that are meted out in the Senate are fiscally responsible.”
Peter Schiff, an economist from Weston, said he would petition to get on the primary ballot against Ms. McMahon, but he scheduled a press conference for Wednesday (after press deadline), which could change things.
Mr. Alper said Thomas Foley, a Connecticut businessman who is a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, would make a fine governor.
“Connecticut is in a state of fiscal crisis,” Mr. Alper said. “Tom Foley has demonstrated expertise at turning failed businesses around. Connecticut is in such a state of deficit — clearly an example of a failed business.”
Mr. Alper said a decade of Democratic supermajority control in Hartford “has turned us into the highest-taxed state in the Union on a per capita basis, the highest debt on a per capita basis in the Union. Those two numbers alone benchmark a failed business.
“Tom Foley is the right man at the right time to put Connecticut back on sound financial footing,” Mr. Alper said.
Other candidates
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton was chosen for lieutenant governor, Jerry Farrell got the nod to run for secretary of the state, Jack Orchulli will be the party’s candidate for comptroller, Martha Dean was chosen to run for attorney general, and Newington Mayor Jeffrey Wright won the nod to run for treasurer.
|
|
|
|
