City Councilman Richard DeJesus and local Sierra Club organizer Onte Johnson have taken out paperwork to secure signatures to make the ballot for the February 24 special election for Connecticut’s 23rd Senate District while former State Rep. Bob Keeley and political newcomer Toshirea Jackson are doing the same for the special election for the 129th State House District.
DeJesus and Johnson need 103 certified signatures while Keeley and Jackson need 32 signatures of registered voters within the respective districts to qualify for the ballot. They must turn in the signature petitions to the Town Clerk’s office by 4 p.m. Friday.
Jackson, a case manager with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, says education issues are a big concern, particularly early childhood development. Her son attends a charter school in Bridgeport. “I’m excited to be involved,” she says, adding she’s never run for public office before. She resides on the West Side. Jackson says she will not participate in the state’s labor-intensive Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races. She says she’s friends with Onte Johnson who’s running for State Senate as well as a partner with Marshan Coleman in trying to open a city trade school for contractors. Coleman is featured in a taxpayer-funded marketing campaign recently launched by the city.
Former State Senator Ed Gomes has formed a candidate committee for the State Senate special election. Others may also jump into the race.
Former City Councilman Steve Stafstrom, former State House member Hector Diaz and Republican City Councilman Enrique Torres are also announced candidates for State House.
The special elections were called to fill the State Senate seat of Andres Ayala, the new commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State House seat of Auden Grogins, who’s been nominated to the state bench.
This Jackson woman is kind of intriguing. Is she a contractor with the State or a State employee? Either way it’s a no-no, right?
Okay, let’s examine this potential candidacy further. She lives in the 133rd City district, but in the 129th State House district. Hmmm sounds familiar. Well at least she does not have to move into the 129th.
Is she independently wealthy? It appears she neither needs her current source of income to survive, nor run for State Rep. Does she have a job prospect in the pipeline if she wins? If so where could it possibly be?
Good point, Mustang.
Not 100% sure what the state law says about running but I am pretty sure she couldn’t serve in the legislature and keep that job.
Please remember, all the pro-charter school organizations formed an Independent Expenditure and funneled over $100,000 into the BBOE elections in 2013. Onte Johnson was a paid community organizer for Families for Ex$ellent Shysters and was featured on their website until recently.
Just a few observations about Mr. Johnson, though not an endorsement, if he can acquire the necessary valid signatures. He has a background as an community organizer, he knows door knocking. He is young and the weather may be a factor in February. However, the big question should be, who is supporting and helping to finance his campaign? This race will depend on who can get people out and having organizational and structural support to ensure that happens.