July Fourth Weekend–Time For Campaign Fireworks

Analysis and Comment, City Politics6 Comments

Today is the last day of the municipal budget year. Have you received your tax bill?

Mayor Bill Finch says he’s happy to be entering an election season without a tax increase. Several issues have popped up in neighborhoods such as Black Rock, in the school system and police and fire departments that will test hizzoner’s campaign dexterity as well as his three announced Democratic primary opponents. The school system madness will be an issue straight through the primary season when the kids return to school. Is it time for the state to step in?

A poll was in the field a few days ago (not from OIB) testing a variety of candidates and issues, presumably from the mayor’s camp. It’s time for the mayor to test his strengths, weaknesses and those of his opponents. From what OIB readers have shared, several questions had a negative edge toward Mary-Jane Foster. Did you know that Foster did this and Foster did that? It’s a way to test issue movement in case her candidacy threatens Finch’s reelection. If polling shows she’s gaining ground Finch operatives will roll out a negative contrast.

So far, with a couple of exceptions, the mayor has largely ignored his primary opponents, using his governmental platform, rather than campaign, to present his record and ongoing baby-kissing campaign around the city. If you hear Finch responding to opponents that may suggest there’s something in the polling data causing voter angst.

The Fourth of July weekend is a good target date for campaigns to kick up the visibility and campaign fireworks. Can’t wait to see how many work the Barnum Festival crowds on Sunday. Will any of them hand out boxes of Barnum’s Animal Crackers?

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6 comments

  2. O.I.B. Rumor mill:
    Connecticut will have a balanced budget by Friday afternoon with NO layoffs and municipal funds intact. Governor Malloy crafted a politically-savvy budget that’s about to get noticed. His triumphant moment is 24 hours away.

    Here’s why:
    Union negotiators have made their point and now they’re worried. Their by-laws have backfired. In the last 48 hours they’ve found a way to circumvent the “30-day rule” and save their members’ jobs with a vote by the GA today or tomorrow. Here’s the result: GA pols look good, Mayors are happy, union reps move to the background and state workers breathe a sigh of relief knowing their jobs are safe and their benefits are still supersized. One small step back, two giant steps forward and all that kind of stuff …

    It’s a fast world we live in and union reps do not want to look slow.

    What’s good for Governor Malloy is good for Connecticut.

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  3. “ongoing baby-kissing campaign.”

    More like, “ongoing ass-kissing campaign.” Funny how he is trying to get all these things done in 3-1/2 months that he had 3-1/2 years to accomplish.

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