Popular Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, whose desire for a gubernatorial run in 2010 was derailed by a federal corruption probe into his administration, says he’ll seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2014. Lauretti told OIB of his plans Saturday night at the Barnum Festival Ringmaster’s Ball at Seaside Park. Lauretti, who has roots in Bridgeport, served as the 2008 ringmaster. If Lauretti carries out his plan he has ground to make up.
2010 GOP nominee Tom Foley, who lost a squeaker to Democrat Dan Malloy in the general election, is poised to make another run for governor with the latest Quinnipiac University poll showing a dead heat between Foley and Malloy.
The federal government spent years examining Lauretti’s administration. The feds won several convictions, but Lauretti himself was never charged with wrongdoing. Irrespective of the federal probe, Lauretti remains a popular figure in Shelton, the business center of the Naugatuck Valley that features a strong grand list and low tax rate, winning reelection by large margins.
Although popular in Shelton, Lauretti is largely unknown in the rest of the state. He is, however, one of the longest-serving mayors in Connecticut history having served as Shelton’s chief executive for more than 20 years.
John McKinney and Larry Cafero, the Republican leaders in the State Senate and State House respectively, are also examining runs for governor. Mark Boughton, the popular mayor of the city of Danbury, may also be in the mix for a run for governor.
If Lauretti does indeed run for governor he will raise money through Connecticut’s publicly funded campaign finance system. The Republican convention to endorse a candidate for governor is less than a year away and it appears Foley has a leg up among party regulars. Challengers can wage a summer primary.
Didn’t everybody around Lauretti go to jail including Bob Scinto? This qualifies Lauretti for mayor of Bridgeport more than Governor of CT.
Quite a few people … In fact considering Shelton has a smaller population than Bridgeport … per capita it may be worse.
I saw Mark Lauretti at a friend’s funeral in Bridgeport last week and he was walking around like he was a peacock with long showy tail doing his version of Dick Blumenthal wearing his American flag necktie. Those who were there didn’t even know who he was.
Gonads.