Will State Rep. Don Clemons Retire? Either Way, Ernie Newton Poises Comeback To Legislature

State Rep. Don Clemons is telling legislative leadership in Hartford he will not seek another term after 10 years in the Connecticut Legislature, setting up the comeback of Ernie Newton to reclaim the East End legislative district he occupied prior to Clemons. If there’s a television reality show in the making for politicians, Newton’s gotta be on the list. The self-proclaimed Moses of his peeps is poised to rejoin the State House, irrespective of a federal corruption conviction nearly 10 years ago and a pending state court trial accusing him of violating Connecticut’s program of publicly financed races. As Newton likes to say, all saints have a past, all sinners a future.

Clemons has apparently decided he’d rather walk away on his own accord than risk losing an August primary to Newton who still has a strong following in his East End base. Clemons is a retired city firefighter who will also receive a state pension from his years in the State House, if he does not change his mind and seek reelection. To do so would require him to wage a primary against Newton who has locked up the endorsement support.

Connecticut’s 124th State Assembly District covers the East End and runs north above Boston Avenue to the edge of Beardsley Park. Newton’s political comeback carries a number of twists and turns. Two years ago he was the endorsed candidate for Connecticut’s 23rd Senatorial District but lost a close primary to Andres Ayala who received the backing of Mayor Bill Finch’s political operation.

Months after the primary, state investigators charged Newton with violating Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly financed races claiming he falsified $500 in campaign contributions to trigger an $80,000 public grant to finance his race. There’s no allegation Newton used the funding for personal gain. A few weeks ago, the judge presiding over the case told state prosecutors they have a high burden to win a conviction based on the evidence disclosed, adding a new wrinkle to the first-of-its-kind case since the Connecticut Legislature approved public financing following the resignation, and subsequent federal conviction, of Governor John Rowland 10 years ago.

So a lot is still swirling around Newton as he seeks a comeback to the Connecticut Legislature. Barring a primary opponent, could he be on trial on the eve of the November election? If he’s exonerated his stock goes up, if he’s convicted will the legislature seat him? And maybe his trial does not come up until after the November election. A court hearing is scheduled for Newton at the end of April.