We’ve officially segued into the gubernatorial election cycle that includes potentially hot state and federal legislative races. Bridgeport’s state legislative delegation has six State House members and two state senators, all Democrats. Plus, Democratic Registrar Sandi Ayala is up for reelection next year. Will she be endorsed by the party? Will she have a primary given the allegations raised by the State Elections Enforcement Commission involving her daughter State Rep. Christina Ayala?
State House delegation: Auden Grogins, Jack Hennessy, Christina Ayala, Ezequiel Santiago, Don Clemons, Charlie Stallworth; State Senators: Andres Ayala and Anthony Musto.
Considering the results of the September 10 Democratic primary that vanquished all endorsed candidates, several incumbents could face their own primaries in August, the month the state cycle holds its primaries.
And now with coalition control of the Board of Education, what will be the role of the Connecticut Working Families Party in 2014?
One Republican who’s not wasting any time positioning for the general election is Bridgeport-raised Dan Debicella who’s challenging Democrat Jim Himes for a second time.
Debicella, who was employed by mega hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, kicked out this news release Friday, blasting Himes for living the good life with special interests.
Just a few weeks after the NY Times reported that Jim Himes’ largest campaign contributor has re-written a piece of legislation that he put forth, it has now been unveiled that Himes has spent the last few winters skiing in Vail and spending time at the Four Seasons with Washington insiders and lobbyists.
“Bridgeport’s unemployment rate sits at over 12%, families in our district are struggling, and Jim is skiing in Vail,” said Debicella. “This is unacceptable. Our Congressman shouldn’t be in Vail, CO or on fancy yachts with lobbyists and doing what’s best for Washington Special Interests; he should be fighting for our families. I am calling on Jim to explain these trips and who went on them.”
Jim Himes spent the money through his leadership committee, JIM PAC, where he paid over $12,000 of campaign contributions in Vail, CO at the Four Seasons, posh restaurants and skiing. What’s more, he spent an additional $11,000 chartering yachts with lobbyists.
“It all makes sense,” continued Debicella. “Just a few weeks ago Jim gets passed a piece of legislation that the NY Times said was completely re-written by lobbyists. Then we find out those same lobbyists are his biggest campaign contributors. Now we look back and find he has been vacationing in Vail, partying at the Four Seasons, and chartering yachts with lobbyists. All you have to do is connect the dots to see how entrenched Jim has become in this corrupt Washington culture.”
Debicella was the 2010 Republican nominee for Congress, which was the closest federal race in Connecticut that year–ultimately decided by a swing of 7,000 votes out of 220,000 cast. The highly competitive race made CNN’s Top 100 Most Competitive Races list, Politico’s Daily 10 (a tracker of the closest House Races), and Real Clear Politics’ list of “toss up” races.
“I am running to change the mess that is Washington DC,” said Debicella, “and I hope to bring the same practical problem-solving to Washington DC that the local leaders who are endorsing my candidacy have shown.” For more information on Dan’s views and positions, people can visit www.debicella.com.
Debicella is an opportunistic punk who needs a job. He ran once, lost! Get out of the way and let some person who can beat Himes do it. You CANNOT!!!
This is why the Republicans keep losing. People run for office who are deemed their turn.
Agreed. This idiot has nothing to offer. As a matter of fact, he’s just talking the same crap he did the last time he ran. If this is what the Republican party deems acceptable they’ve already lost. He’s not getting my vote. My only decision now is to sit it out or send a message and vote for the communist.
Is that all Debicella has on Himes? Good God. How about Himes’ voting for this ill-planned, ill-conceived, and ill-presented healthcare plan? I stood in the heat in the first primary Himes won. I thought he had extraordinary potential. How disappointed I am now as Himes has gone to the “Dark Side” and supported, unquestionably, this inept and ill-suited President.
And, for Ron Mackey, it meant “Star Wars” … no racial intent.
Bob, none was taken, thank you.
*** Oh my, the “dark side” Bob! Why couldn’t it be the “shadier side” or the “less light side?” I’m afraid “the force” is not with you on this one, buddy! Also let’s not put Himes out to pasture just yet, due to Obamacare. Many others signed on to this not-well-thought-out, politically rushed, no “dry run” first, with say the six New England States to see, hear, feel the good and the bad measures in order to make positive tweaks if needed to make the proposal work. And the same goes with the Healthcare web site for Obamacare, rushed with no dry run on a smaller scale to see what works and what doesn’t! The entire rushed process, proposal and politics involved cost the taxpayers a lot more than it should have and will continue so, ’til it’s all said and done. Besides Debicella is and would be a bigger “disappointment!” ***
Ralph, you need to hold their feet to the fire. No one asked for a universal healthcare plan. What needed to be done was to rework Medicaid so there were no medical abuses or fraud, and all who had Medicaid got proper medical attention. Just having a healthcare plan doesn’t mean it will be used. I suggest you look at the statistics of cost, coverage and insurance plans that have been made to be illegal by this bad plan from this inept president.