From Chris Keating, Hartford Courant:
When former Sen. Ernie Newton campaigned door-to-door recently here in his hometown, not a single person asked about the federal prison term he served on felony charges in a political corruption scandal.
No one asked about an additional seven criminal charges that are still pending against him in a separate case of campaign finance fraud.
And no one asked about his bold statement, in the pouring rain before pleading guilty in 2005 to three felonies, that he was “the Moses of my people”
Full story here.
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I remember making a disparaging remark about Ernie Newton a year or two ago and I stated it was an embarrassment he was allowed to run for his old senate seat. The person I was speaking with replied by stating if Ernie Newton can legally seek office and the residents of his community vote for him and elect him, who was I to judge him. Believe it or not, I was silent for several moments. The only response I could muster was you are absolutely right. After all, many of us were outraged when outsiders like Malloy and the state Board of Education illegally took over the BBOE. Malloy, Finch and the SBOE decided Bridgeport’s residents weren’t qualified to elect their local school board and elected Bridgeport residents should not govern their own public schools. I think we all know Malloy and the SBOE would have never demonstrated such a lack of respect to suburban residents and voters.
Two thoughts come to mind this morning.
The first is to salute Ernie’s style and smile. It is one thing for the people you represent to understand you are one of them. It is another to be in a position today to effectively deliver what they require when you are a part of a City delegation.
Moses spent 40 years according to scripture wandering around the desert with his people and all were sorely tested from time to time. (Doesn’t that resonate with us today when we are being delivered by “water taxis?”) But Moses, himself, did not get to the land of milk and honey, though the people did. How does that play out in the 21st Century?
The second is why The Hartford Courant is the local paper covering this race, and probably others too before 2014 is over.
After reading the Sunday CT Post this morning, I suggest we rename it CT SCARCE. That acronym tells us that the paper covers:
S for SPORTS
C for CLASSIFIED
A for AUTO ADS
R for REAL (See E Below)
C for COMMUTER vs CITY news
E for ESTATE (Not Editorials on Oxford)
Keila Torres Ocasio covers a dispute in Trumbull based on blogging charges and counters? And Brian Lockhart has covered BOE meetings because Linda Connor Lambeck is on vacation but that means he is not present to hear local developer Art Hersh explain why he should not pay more than $2.5 Million in property taxes over the next 10 years in order for him to build 56 MARKET RATE apartments in Black Rock on 1.2 acres with a 12% return. Bad deal for the City. Bad deal for the Post as property owner and taxpayer? What say you? Bad reporting of what keeps the City down for decades at a time. Justification? Explanation from conflicted City Council members? Time will tell.
There are over 300 property owners receiving tax breaks in Black Rock, from the Finch 2009 revaluation. All politically connected!
John Marshall Lee, I agree with you about the Connecticut Post but Keila Torres Ocasio is a excellent reporter BUT it’s not her fault she gets poor assignments from higher-ups.
As for Ernie Newton running for the State Rep. position, he is two years too late, instead of running for the State Senate position two years ago he should have run for the State Rep. position, which is a smaller district of voters who are more forgiving of Ernie than the bigger State Senate district.
Ernie Newton has every right to run. He has a relationship with many of his constituents. He has many constituents who acknowledge he has brought very little to their community. Maybe he’ll bring a grocery store to the area but I doubt it. I think Ernie has sacrificed a lot serving his constituents and also screwed them.
Andre Baker will win. He has to win. That district has been deprived for way too long. He is not the Moses of his people. He was an elected official of all the people.
If not one person mentioned Ernie’s corruption, they were being respectful. How they will vote is another story. Does anyone ask Joe Ganim what it was like fucking the City of Bridgeport? No. Why? Because he is a nice guy and people like him and he served his time. Should he run for Mayor? Why not? However, if his opposition doesn’t remind people the shame he brought upon the City, then they would be lame.
Maria, Ernie deserves to run. It is all he knows.
Andre Baker deserves to win because the people in that district need new blood from an independent thinker. To equate Baker as a Finch person, what does that mean? Ernie Newton was a Ganim person. Imagine Bridgeport Connecticut electing these convicted felons. Where would the respect be in Hartford? Ultimately, the people will decide.
I understand your point of view and perspective Mr. Auerbach, but if Ganim and Newton run for office and are elected, is that a poor reflection on Ganim and Newton, or is it a reflection of those who went to the polls and voted for them?
Agree 100 percent, it is a reflection of those voting. Ganim and Newton have served their time and have the right to go after their dreams. I cannot judge them. They have been judged and paid the price for their indiscretions. If the opposition cannot make their point, then basically they suck.
I think Andre Baker can make his point. I have faith in the future of our great city.
Newton and Ganim have the right to seek public office, but if they get elected it would indicate the electorate is not willing to set their standards higher as to the qualities they should expect from elected officials.
Blame it on Baker. You blame everything else on him.
If Baker gets elected does he have 90 days to move into Ernie’s district?
Lololololololololololololol.
I chuckled, too. Pretty funny, Jimfox.