November 10, 2010
Call Him The "Official" Gov-Elect | New Haven Independent
Call Him The "Official" Gov-Elect New Haven Independent: "Call Him The “Official” Gov-Elect"
Bridgeport voting debacle shows poor training - The Daily Campus - Commentary
Bridgeport voting debacle shows poor training - The Daily Campus - Commentary
"Though the chaotic governor's race is over, and Democrat Dan Malloy has legitimately won, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and Bridgeport officials should be held accountable for the voting fiasco. Bridgeport registrars failed to secure enough ballots and neglected to satisfactorily explain the voting irregularities that occurred. As a result, a clear victory for Malloy dragged out for days, allowing unsubstantiated concerns about fraud to undermine voter confidence. Bysiewicz failed to prevent the ballot shortage and worsened the situation by making a premature announcement on Wednesday that was based on unofficial election results.
Such incompetence needs to be investigated, identified and corrected so that this preventable scenario does not happen again.
Bridgeport drastically underestimated the number of ballots that it required. For 69,000 registered voters, the city only requested 21,000, even though it had ordered 28,000 for the low-profile 2009 municipal elections. Furthermore, the number of ballots was meant to cover 30 percent of registered voters, even though the smallest turnout recorded in the last 14 years was 39 percent. The Hartford Courant reports that Bridgeport's Republican Registrar of Voters, Joseph Borges, took cost into consideration when ordering the ballots. Though Democratic Registrar Sandi Ayala did not address the shortage issue, Borges apologized on his behalf, saying "we are taking responsibility; it's our fault."
Borges and Ayala are right in accepting responsibility for their negligence. As registrars, they should have reported any cost concern to the Secretary of the State's office, instead of shrugging their shoulders and hoping for the best. Because of their laziness, citizens were turned away from the polls. Those who remained had to wait in long lines while officials quickly printed out more ballots.The mistake created discrepancies in the total voting tally for the gubernatorial race, which caused the dilemma to drag on for days.
But Borges and Ayala are not the only one's responsible for the shortage; the Secretary of the State's Office should have caught the problem. Bysiewicz defended herself, saying that in "2008, when a high turnout was predicted, my office advised registrars to order enough ballots to cover 110 percent of the voter rolls," suggesting that she had provided guidelines to prevent just this situation, and any failure is on the part of city officials. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, also a Democrat, sees things differently. "I will also say, the Secretary of the State's office should have caught this mistake." Bysiewicz failed to enforce her own recommendations. This oversight did not occur in a small town, which would have minimized the issue. It occurred in Connecticut's largest city. There is no excuse for missing a 48,000 ballot shortage.
In addition to the ballot shortage in Bridgeport, Bysiewicz is also responsible for post-election mistakes. On Wednesday, she announced to the media that Dan Malloy was the winner-apparent, even though Bridgeport had not yet released its official vote count. The public announcement should not have been made based on unofficial results. Bysiewicz's decision was premature and unprofessional, especially since the numbers released to the public at the time showed Foley as the winner. Additionally, the Associated Press had not finalized the total with Bysiewicz's own office, and would go so far as to withdraw Malloy as the official winner before the final count showed him the victor. Bysiewicz's actions suggested political favoritism at worst, lack of tact at best. Her mistakes have undermined her personal credibility and the state's ability to regulate the basic electoral process.
Further responsibility lies with individual errors of election workers. Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy, a Republican poll watcher, witnessed several irregularities, such as voters who were checked off without showing an ID and exposed ballots, which should have been secured in the regular steel cages. To make matters worse, a bag full of 300 uncounted ballots was found two days after the election. Ayala brushed aside concerns about tampering, arguing that the bags had been sealed since Tuesday. Nevertheless, officials did not notify vote counters of the bag, and the ballots remained untouched and unprotected until their discovery.
Even though these irregularities are not illegal and do not suggest fraud, they reveal an inadequate training process for poll workers. Conducting a safe, legal election is not easy, but it is essential to the democratic process. Therefore, the individuals who staff the polling places need to clearly understand protocol and be able to respond to any situation, within reason, that may develop.
The mistakes and miscounts do not change the outcome of the governor's race, but they severely undermine the credibility of the state's electoral system. They damage the reputation of Secretary of the State Bysiewicz and the two Bridgeport registrars, while pointing to the communication breakdown that should not have happened between overstressed election officials and poll workers.
An investigation into the secretary of the state and registrars' handling of the affair is necessary to explain exactly what happened and to call to task the people who failed to perform their duty."
"Though the chaotic governor's race is over, and Democrat Dan Malloy has legitimately won, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and Bridgeport officials should be held accountable for the voting fiasco. Bridgeport registrars failed to secure enough ballots and neglected to satisfactorily explain the voting irregularities that occurred. As a result, a clear victory for Malloy dragged out for days, allowing unsubstantiated concerns about fraud to undermine voter confidence. Bysiewicz failed to prevent the ballot shortage and worsened the situation by making a premature announcement on Wednesday that was based on unofficial election results.
Such incompetence needs to be investigated, identified and corrected so that this preventable scenario does not happen again.
Bridgeport drastically underestimated the number of ballots that it required. For 69,000 registered voters, the city only requested 21,000, even though it had ordered 28,000 for the low-profile 2009 municipal elections. Furthermore, the number of ballots was meant to cover 30 percent of registered voters, even though the smallest turnout recorded in the last 14 years was 39 percent. The Hartford Courant reports that Bridgeport's Republican Registrar of Voters, Joseph Borges, took cost into consideration when ordering the ballots. Though Democratic Registrar Sandi Ayala did not address the shortage issue, Borges apologized on his behalf, saying "we are taking responsibility; it's our fault."
Borges and Ayala are right in accepting responsibility for their negligence. As registrars, they should have reported any cost concern to the Secretary of the State's office, instead of shrugging their shoulders and hoping for the best. Because of their laziness, citizens were turned away from the polls. Those who remained had to wait in long lines while officials quickly printed out more ballots.The mistake created discrepancies in the total voting tally for the gubernatorial race, which caused the dilemma to drag on for days.
But Borges and Ayala are not the only one's responsible for the shortage; the Secretary of the State's Office should have caught the problem. Bysiewicz defended herself, saying that in "2008, when a high turnout was predicted, my office advised registrars to order enough ballots to cover 110 percent of the voter rolls," suggesting that she had provided guidelines to prevent just this situation, and any failure is on the part of city officials. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, also a Democrat, sees things differently. "I will also say, the Secretary of the State's office should have caught this mistake." Bysiewicz failed to enforce her own recommendations. This oversight did not occur in a small town, which would have minimized the issue. It occurred in Connecticut's largest city. There is no excuse for missing a 48,000 ballot shortage.
In addition to the ballot shortage in Bridgeport, Bysiewicz is also responsible for post-election mistakes. On Wednesday, she announced to the media that Dan Malloy was the winner-apparent, even though Bridgeport had not yet released its official vote count. The public announcement should not have been made based on unofficial results. Bysiewicz's decision was premature and unprofessional, especially since the numbers released to the public at the time showed Foley as the winner. Additionally, the Associated Press had not finalized the total with Bysiewicz's own office, and would go so far as to withdraw Malloy as the official winner before the final count showed him the victor. Bysiewicz's actions suggested political favoritism at worst, lack of tact at best. Her mistakes have undermined her personal credibility and the state's ability to regulate the basic electoral process.
Further responsibility lies with individual errors of election workers. Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy, a Republican poll watcher, witnessed several irregularities, such as voters who were checked off without showing an ID and exposed ballots, which should have been secured in the regular steel cages. To make matters worse, a bag full of 300 uncounted ballots was found two days after the election. Ayala brushed aside concerns about tampering, arguing that the bags had been sealed since Tuesday. Nevertheless, officials did not notify vote counters of the bag, and the ballots remained untouched and unprotected until their discovery.
Even though these irregularities are not illegal and do not suggest fraud, they reveal an inadequate training process for poll workers. Conducting a safe, legal election is not easy, but it is essential to the democratic process. Therefore, the individuals who staff the polling places need to clearly understand protocol and be able to respond to any situation, within reason, that may develop.
The mistakes and miscounts do not change the outcome of the governor's race, but they severely undermine the credibility of the state's electoral system. They damage the reputation of Secretary of the State Bysiewicz and the two Bridgeport registrars, while pointing to the communication breakdown that should not have happened between overstressed election officials and poll workers.
An investigation into the secretary of the state and registrars' handling of the affair is necessary to explain exactly what happened and to call to task the people who failed to perform their duty."
Review & Outlook: Yankee Pankey - WSJ.com
Review & Outlook: Yankee Pankey - WSJ.com: "REVIEW & OUTLOOKNOVEMBER 6, 2010Yankee Pankey
Connecticut voters should demand an independent review before a Governor is declared."
REVIEW & OUTLOOK
NOVEMBER 6, 2010.
Yankee Pankey
Connecticut voters should demand an independent review before a Governor is declared..Article Comments (80) more in Opinion ».
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley tells us he isn't planning to concede Tuesday's Connecticut election until he's "certain that the will of the voters was honored." Good for him. Mr. Foley and the rest of the state's voters have plenty of reasons to question a reported tally that now shows Democrat Dannel Malloy ahead by fewer than 6,000 votes out of more than 1.1 million cast.
Specifically, Connecticut voters deserve a more thorough accounting of the votes in Bridgeport, and of the bizarre behavior of Susan Bysiewicz, the secretary of state. In Bridgeport, where the Hartford Courant has noted a disturbing recent history of voting irregularities, the registrar's office had not printed enough ballots before voting began, so workers were dispatched to city offices on Election Day to photocopy blank ballots, raising questions about the custody of ballots created on the fly.
On Wednesday, Bridgeport missed its statutory deadline to report results, and then on Thursday officials there produced a bag containing hundreds of ballots that had not previously been counted. Over Republican objections, the new ballots were added to the tally. The current count in that city shows Mr. Foley receiving fewer than half as many votes as the GOP candidate received in 2006, while Democratic votes increased by almost 60%. Mr. Foley was leading by 8,409 votes before the Bridgeport votes were counted.
Jason McCoy, the Republican mayor of Vernon, Connecticut, told WFSB-TV in Hartford that he served as a poll-watcher in Bridgeport on Election Day and observed people voting without identification, voters receiving more than one ballot, and ballots left unsecured at the polling place.
Adding to the spectacle was Ms. Bysiewicz, whose job is to certify an official election result on November 25. Yet on Wednesday she offered the prediction that fellow Democrat Mr. Malloy would be declared the winner, even as towns across the state were still checking their vote totals. Something looks rotten in Connecticut, and the state's voters should demand an independent review before a victor is declared.
Connecticut voters should demand an independent review before a Governor is declared."
NOVEMBER 6, 2010.
Yankee Pankey
Connecticut voters should demand an independent review before a Governor is declared..Article Comments (80) more in Opinion ».
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley tells us he isn't planning to concede Tuesday's Connecticut election until he's "certain that the will of the voters was honored." Good for him. Mr. Foley and the rest of the state's voters have plenty of reasons to question a reported tally that now shows Democrat Dannel Malloy ahead by fewer than 6,000 votes out of more than 1.1 million cast.
Specifically, Connecticut voters deserve a more thorough accounting of the votes in Bridgeport, and of the bizarre behavior of Susan Bysiewicz, the secretary of state. In Bridgeport, where the Hartford Courant has noted a disturbing recent history of voting irregularities, the registrar's office had not printed enough ballots before voting began, so workers were dispatched to city offices on Election Day to photocopy blank ballots, raising questions about the custody of ballots created on the fly.
On Wednesday, Bridgeport missed its statutory deadline to report results, and then on Thursday officials there produced a bag containing hundreds of ballots that had not previously been counted. Over Republican objections, the new ballots were added to the tally. The current count in that city shows Mr. Foley receiving fewer than half as many votes as the GOP candidate received in 2006, while Democratic votes increased by almost 60%. Mr. Foley was leading by 8,409 votes before the Bridgeport votes were counted.
Jason McCoy, the Republican mayor of Vernon, Connecticut, told WFSB-TV in Hartford that he served as a poll-watcher in Bridgeport on Election Day and observed people voting without identification, voters receiving more than one ballot, and ballots left unsecured at the polling place.
Adding to the spectacle was Ms. Bysiewicz, whose job is to certify an official election result on November 25. Yet on Wednesday she offered the prediction that fellow Democrat Mr. Malloy would be declared the winner, even as towns across the state were still checking their vote totals. Something looks rotten in Connecticut, and the state's voters should demand an independent review before a victor is declared.
November 9, 2010
Local Video: Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Foley Concedes To Democrat Dan Malloy
Local Video: "GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Foley Concedes To Democrat Dan Malloy
HARTFORD -- On Monday afternoon, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley concedes to Democrat Dan Malloy."
http://www.wfsb.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4409562
HARTFORD -- On Monday afternoon, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley concedes to Democrat Dan Malloy."
http://www.wfsb.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4409562
Local Video
Local Video: "Foley Concedes To Malloy In Race For Governor
HARTFORD -- Republican Tom Foley conceded to Democrat Dan Malloy in the race for governor on Monday."
HARTFORD -- Republican Tom Foley conceded to Democrat Dan Malloy in the race for governor on Monday."
November 7, 2010
Shows Problems At Bridgeport Polls
Local Video: "ONLY ON 3: Video Shows Problems At Bridgeport Polls
BRIDGEPORT -- A video shot from inside the Lincoln Avenue School in Bridgeport shows a poll watcher telling a poll worker not to mix unofficial ballots with official ones before the workers says, 'I quit.'"
Click to Watch Special Report:
BRIDGEPORT -- A video shot from inside the Lincoln Avenue School in Bridgeport shows a poll watcher telling a poll worker not to mix unofficial ballots with official ones before the workers says, 'I quit.'"
Click to Watch Special Report:
November 6, 2010
More Allegations of Impropriety in Bridgeport Polls « Channel 3's Dennis House Blogs
More Allegations of Impropriety in Bridgeport Polls « Channel 3's Dennis House Blogs: "More Allegations of Impropriety in Bridgeport Polls"
There are shocking allegations of improper activities at polls in Bridgeport. Mayor Jason McCoy was one of several Republican poll watchers dispatched to the Park City to monitor the election there. In an exclusive interview with Channel 3, McCoy told us they were sent there because they suspected something could go wrong. Why did they think that? McCoy said they received word that an application for absentee ballots to be sent to Bridgeport contained the address of a vacant lot.
McCoy told me he witnessed people who got more than one ballot, didn’t check in to get a ballot, and other improper activities.
There is also some video of inside a polling station (Central High School) that shows a chaotic scene between a poll watcher and a poll worker.
Here is our report: http://www.wfsb.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4405211
There are shocking allegations of improper activities at polls in Bridgeport. Mayor Jason McCoy was one of several Republican poll watchers dispatched to the Park City to monitor the election there. In an exclusive interview with Channel 3, McCoy told us they were sent there because they suspected something could go wrong. Why did they think that? McCoy said they received word that an application for absentee ballots to be sent to Bridgeport contained the address of a vacant lot.
McCoy told me he witnessed people who got more than one ballot, didn’t check in to get a ballot, and other improper activities.
There is also some video of inside a polling station (Central High School) that shows a chaotic scene between a poll watcher and a poll worker.
Here is our report: http://www.wfsb.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4405211
Questionable Conduct By Official - Courant
Vernon Mayor: Video Shows Questionable Conduct By Official - Courant.com: "Vernon's McCoy Says Video Shows Bridgeport Election Official Refusing To Follow Law"
Vernon Mayor: Video Shows Questionable Conduct By Official - Courant.com
Vernon Mayor: Video Shows Questionable Conduct By Official - Courant.com: "Vernon's McCoy Says Video Shows Bridgeport Election Official Refusing To Follow Law"
November 1, 2010
Journal Inquirer Letters To The Editor Oct. 29
Journal Inquirer Letters To The Editor Oct. 29
McCoy’s picks
I ask that you join me to support Tom Foley for governor, Jeff Wright for treasurer, Jerry Farrell for secretary of the state, Tony Guglielmo for state Senate, and Mark Etre and Tim Ackert for state representative.
The state has been operating the government through borrowing, there is not enough revenue to pay operations from taxation, our bond rating has been lowered, there is too much spending to meet our obligations. We need more private sector jobs and businesses and no more taxes. Our state legislature has chosen to operate its day to day governmental operation by borrowing or securitizing future revenues. In fact, nearly 20 percent of your town’s budget is funded by state revenue. The wasteful spending and irresponsible borrowing at the state level, if not stopped, will either force towns to raise taxes, reduce services, or both.
There needs to be real change.
Foley as governor is Connecticut’s key to more jobs and less taxes. Foley has saved jobs in his career by bringing back distressed businesses. He has reorganized businesses to the point where those companies and their employees have survived. Don’t believe his opponent’s paid TV ads.
The time is right for Foley to fix the mess the state is in. We need a governor who has a universal view of how to operate our government.
Jeff Wright, a certified financial planner and mayor of Newington, is the choice for state treasurer. The treasurer has the power to refuse to issue borrowing or bonds for operation. The treasurer has the duty as a fiduciary to make sound investments of state taxpayer monies. Our sitting treasurer has never exercised that power. The sitting treasurer has invested in risky investments, losing millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
Our teachers and state employee pension funds are at risk under the sitting treasurer. To avoid another taxpayer bailout we need to elect Wright. To ensure Connecticut will be a place to start a business and for more jobs support Wright.
Guglielmo, our state senator, has a history of voting against waste, borrowing, and anti-job killing regulations. Etre and Ackert are the key to a balanced budget and the end of wasteful borrowing. We need all three in the legislature.
Jason L. McCoy
Vernon
The writer is mayor of Vernon.
McCoy’s picks
I ask that you join me to support Tom Foley for governor, Jeff Wright for treasurer, Jerry Farrell for secretary of the state, Tony Guglielmo for state Senate, and Mark Etre and Tim Ackert for state representative.
The state has been operating the government through borrowing, there is not enough revenue to pay operations from taxation, our bond rating has been lowered, there is too much spending to meet our obligations. We need more private sector jobs and businesses and no more taxes. Our state legislature has chosen to operate its day to day governmental operation by borrowing or securitizing future revenues. In fact, nearly 20 percent of your town’s budget is funded by state revenue. The wasteful spending and irresponsible borrowing at the state level, if not stopped, will either force towns to raise taxes, reduce services, or both.
There needs to be real change.
Foley as governor is Connecticut’s key to more jobs and less taxes. Foley has saved jobs in his career by bringing back distressed businesses. He has reorganized businesses to the point where those companies and their employees have survived. Don’t believe his opponent’s paid TV ads.
The time is right for Foley to fix the mess the state is in. We need a governor who has a universal view of how to operate our government.
Jeff Wright, a certified financial planner and mayor of Newington, is the choice for state treasurer. The treasurer has the power to refuse to issue borrowing or bonds for operation. The treasurer has the duty as a fiduciary to make sound investments of state taxpayer monies. Our sitting treasurer has never exercised that power. The sitting treasurer has invested in risky investments, losing millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
Our teachers and state employee pension funds are at risk under the sitting treasurer. To avoid another taxpayer bailout we need to elect Wright. To ensure Connecticut will be a place to start a business and for more jobs support Wright.
Guglielmo, our state senator, has a history of voting against waste, borrowing, and anti-job killing regulations. Etre and Ackert are the key to a balanced budget and the end of wasteful borrowing. We need all three in the legislature.
Jason L. McCoy
Vernon
The writer is mayor of Vernon.
October 30, 2010
Lewis and Janowski vote allowed Rockville Hospital to end services
Journal Inquirer reported today voted by Vernon Reps allowed services to end.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3
October 28, 2010
October 26, 2010
Connecticut governor candidates to debate - National Politics - fresnobee.com
Connecticut governor candidates to debate - National Politics - fresnobee.com: "Connecticut governor candidates to debate"
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new Quinnipiac (KWIHN'-uh-pee-ak) University poll of likely voters released Tuesday shows Malloy besting Foley by 5 percentage points, or 48 percent to 43 percent. Republican Tom Foley and Democrat Dan Malloy are scheduled to face off in their final live, televised debate in the Connecticut governor's race before Election Day. Foley, Malloy and independent candidate Tom Marsh are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Tuesday's hour-long debate is set for 7 p.m. at the studios of NBC affiliate WVIT-TV in West Hartford.
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new Quinnipiac (KWIHN'-uh-pee-ak) University poll of likely voters released Tuesday shows Malloy besting Foley by 5 percentage points, or 48 percent to 43 percent. Republican Tom Foley and Democrat Dan Malloy are scheduled to face off in their final live, televised debate in the Connecticut governor's race before Election Day. Foley, Malloy and independent candidate Tom Marsh are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Tuesday's hour-long debate is set for 7 p.m. at the studios of NBC affiliate WVIT-TV in West Hartford.
October 24, 2010
Connecticut Gubernatorial Debate - C-SPAN Video Library
Connecticut Gubernatorial Debate - C-SPAN Video Library: "DebateOct 19, 2010WFSB-TV
Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Dan Malloy (D) and Tom Foley (R) debated various issues including fiscal deficits, health care costs, stagnating job growth, energy costs and achievement gaps in Connecticut’s public schools."
Connecticut gubernatorial candidates Dan Malloy (D) and Tom Foley (R) debated various issues including fiscal deficits, health care costs, stagnating job growth, energy costs and achievement gaps in Connecticut’s public schools."
October 23, 2010
Rell hits airwaves for Her choice for Governor
Journal Inquirer Politics & Government Rell hits airwaves for Republicans
At the end of the day Governor Rell knows better than anyone who is the best choice for Governor. Who is the best choice to replace her? Governor Rell has always sought the advice of Mayors and First Selectman both republican and democrat around the state during the budget crisis. Governor Rell fought for as longs as she felt comfortable, while watching local governments suffer, observing our citizens suffering, watching businesses close down, seeing private sector jobs dry up, all resulting in a diminished tax based and lost revenue- why? It is due to the legislative Jonathan Pelto Style politics in the General Assembly. It has been just politics, not policy that comes out of the legislature, no longer are they part time legislators as they are supposed to be but they act as full time appropriators.
When the Governor decided to retire, I was upset. Not with the Governor, but with my understanding that she retired because there was a lack of concern by the majority of elected officials in the legislature who will act like a bunch of political zealots with the mentality of a kamikaze pilot. The dangerous majority just does not care about the State and our situation.
Today the legislatures agenda, is no longer that of law making on a part time basis, it is 100 percent partisan politics, 100 percent of the time, it is an attitude without concern for the greater good, now contrast that to Governor Rell who has a nurturing style, logical concern for the state first, her concern for the greater good, an obligation to manage the state and by law balance a budget that funds services based upon revenues. Governor Rell's choice not to run again, her choice to wait to support a candidate for Governor, even during the primary, her history in the past of working with Mayors and First Selectman of both parties, must mean that Tom Foley is the candidate we can trust to take over and fix this mess.
I'm sure Governor Rell believes in Tom Foley, otherwise she would have said nothing. Listen to her message in the radio ad, it's an honest assessment and it just makes sense.
At the end of the day Governor Rell knows better than anyone who is the best choice for Governor. Who is the best choice to replace her? Governor Rell has always sought the advice of Mayors and First Selectman both republican and democrat around the state during the budget crisis. Governor Rell fought for as longs as she felt comfortable, while watching local governments suffer, observing our citizens suffering, watching businesses close down, seeing private sector jobs dry up, all resulting in a diminished tax based and lost revenue- why? It is due to the legislative Jonathan Pelto Style politics in the General Assembly. It has been just politics, not policy that comes out of the legislature, no longer are they part time legislators as they are supposed to be but they act as full time appropriators.
When the Governor decided to retire, I was upset. Not with the Governor, but with my understanding that she retired because there was a lack of concern by the majority of elected officials in the legislature who will act like a bunch of political zealots with the mentality of a kamikaze pilot. The dangerous majority just does not care about the State and our situation.
Today the legislatures agenda, is no longer that of law making on a part time basis, it is 100 percent partisan politics, 100 percent of the time, it is an attitude without concern for the greater good, now contrast that to Governor Rell who has a nurturing style, logical concern for the state first, her concern for the greater good, an obligation to manage the state and by law balance a budget that funds services based upon revenues. Governor Rell's choice not to run again, her choice to wait to support a candidate for Governor, even during the primary, her history in the past of working with Mayors and First Selectman of both parties, must mean that Tom Foley is the candidate we can trust to take over and fix this mess.
I'm sure Governor Rell believes in Tom Foley, otherwise she would have said nothing. Listen to her message in the radio ad, it's an honest assessment and it just makes sense.
CT News Junkie | She Didn’t Try Many Cases and She Lacked Clients
CT News Junkie | She Didn’t Try Many Cases and She Lacked Clients
I'm sure she just wishes it was over. Well the next four years should give her enough time to work for a living.
I'm sure she just wishes it was over. Well the next four years should give her enough time to work for a living.
October 22, 2010
Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes | Tom Foley for Governor | More Jobs, Not More Taxes | TomFoley2010.com
Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes Tom Foley for Governor More Jobs, Not More Taxes TomFoley2010.com: "Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes"
As a candidate for governor Dannel Malloy has refused to rule out new taxes as a way to balance the state budget. He has said “everything is on the table” including higher income taxes, sales taxes and tolls, but he has refused to be specific about which taxes he intends to raise and by how much.
Now, a key Democratic ally, Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, has made it clear that the Democratic Party has moved beyond targeting millionaires for tax increases and is now focused on low income households as well. Appearing on channel 3’s Face the State, Bransfield said, “I happen to believe that everyone should contribute to the income tax. I know there are people who don’t pay below a certain level, but I believe to have full input… to be part of the state, you have to pay a portion of your income to the state of Connecticut.”
“This is the best illustration we could possibly have about why it is important to elect Tom Foley as governor and as many Republicans as possible to the state House and Senate. A Malloy administration paired with a Democrat controlled legislature is a recipe for new taxes on everyone. Including those that are hurting the most. The Democratic Party is unable to even think of reducing government spending as a means of balancing the budget. Their default position is to raise taxes and that’s the worst thing we can do during an economic downturn,” said Justin Clark, campaign manager for Tom Foley.
“Tom Foley’s plan calls for balancing the state budget by reducing wasteful spending – not by increasing taxes,” Clark said.
As a candidate for governor Dannel Malloy has refused to rule out new taxes as a way to balance the state budget. He has said “everything is on the table” including higher income taxes, sales taxes and tolls, but he has refused to be specific about which taxes he intends to raise and by how much.
Now, a key Democratic ally, Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, has made it clear that the Democratic Party has moved beyond targeting millionaires for tax increases and is now focused on low income households as well. Appearing on channel 3’s Face the State, Bransfield said, “I happen to believe that everyone should contribute to the income tax. I know there are people who don’t pay below a certain level, but I believe to have full input… to be part of the state, you have to pay a portion of your income to the state of Connecticut.”
“This is the best illustration we could possibly have about why it is important to elect Tom Foley as governor and as many Republicans as possible to the state House and Senate. A Malloy administration paired with a Democrat controlled legislature is a recipe for new taxes on everyone. Including those that are hurting the most. The Democratic Party is unable to even think of reducing government spending as a means of balancing the budget. Their default position is to raise taxes and that’s the worst thing we can do during an economic downturn,” said Justin Clark, campaign manager for Tom Foley.
“Tom Foley’s plan calls for balancing the state budget by reducing wasteful spending – not by increasing taxes,” Clark said.
October 21, 2010
Don't miss Face the State Saturday- McCoy (R) Vernon & Bransfield (D) Portland
http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/dems-advice-for-malloy-tax-low-income-people/
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3
Pension Gaps Loom Larger - WSJ.com
Pension Gaps Loom Larger - WSJ.com: "Pension Gaps Loom Larger
Funds Stick to 'Unrealistic' Return Assumptions, Threatening Bigger Shortfalls"
The country's two biggest plans—the California Public Employees Retirement System, or Calpers, and the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS—both are undergoing reviews of projected investment returns that could lead to reductions later this year.
Many plans have held onto an 8% return expectation though thick and thin. Such return assumptions partly reflect the heady years of the 1990s bull market. Public pension plans posted a median, annualized return of 9.3% over the past 25 years, but just 3.9% over the past 10, according to consulting firm Callan Associates.
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System has had an 8% assumption since 1989. Its actual return averaged 10.7% annually from 1970 through 2009. The Teachers Retirement System of Texas has had a similar expectation since 1986, with an annual return of 9% return since then.
A spokeswoman for the Texas system said it doesn't change assumptions "in response to short-term situations," and currently "sees no reason to change our investment-return assumption." A spokesman for the Oregon system said there are no special plans to review its return expectation.
Funds Stick to 'Unrealistic' Return Assumptions, Threatening Bigger Shortfalls"
The country's two biggest plans—the California Public Employees Retirement System, or Calpers, and the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS—both are undergoing reviews of projected investment returns that could lead to reductions later this year.
Many plans have held onto an 8% return expectation though thick and thin. Such return assumptions partly reflect the heady years of the 1990s bull market. Public pension plans posted a median, annualized return of 9.3% over the past 25 years, but just 3.9% over the past 10, according to consulting firm Callan Associates.
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System has had an 8% assumption since 1989. Its actual return averaged 10.7% annually from 1970 through 2009. The Teachers Retirement System of Texas has had a similar expectation since 1986, with an annual return of 9% return since then.
A spokeswoman for the Texas system said it doesn't change assumptions "in response to short-term situations," and currently "sees no reason to change our investment-return assumption." A spokesman for the Oregon system said there are no special plans to review its return expectation.
October 20, 2010
Healy Alleges Voter Fraud in Bridgeport
Healy Alleges Voter Fraud in Bridgeport
You have to click on this link and see the records for this. This reminds me of the 105% turn out in Cleveland Ohio.
http://www.ctgop.org/2010/10/healy-alleges-voter-fraud-in-bridgeport/
You have to click on this link and see the records for this. This reminds me of the 105% turn out in Cleveland Ohio.
http://www.ctgop.org/2010/10/healy-alleges-voter-fraud-in-bridgeport/
October 17, 2010
Brickley Studies O’Connor Playbook in Quest for Upset
Brickley Studies O’Connor Playbook in Quest for Upset
Face the State Today- Wow Ann Brickley was great, don't miss the replay if you have not watched it. The opening with former Mayor Ganim and Congressman Larson was very telling.
jason mccoy
Face the State Today- Wow Ann Brickley was great, don't miss the replay if you have not watched it. The opening with former Mayor Ganim and Congressman Larson was very telling.
jason mccoy
October 16, 2010
Journal Inquirer > Politics & Government > Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat
Journal Inquirer > Politics & Government > Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat: "Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat"
Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat
The chairman of the state Republican Party contends the state treasurer used her office to promote a re-election campaign. Christopher Healy on Wednesday filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission accusing Democrat Denise Nappier of violating a law that prohibits office-holders from using public funds to aid in campaign efforts less than 60 days before Election Day. The complaint says Nappier allowed her image and quotes to be used on materials announcing a new feature to the state’s student loan program. Nappier’s office oversees the Connecticut Higher Education Trust fund. Messages for Nappier weren’t immediately returned. On Tuesday, Healy complained that the Democrat running for secretary of the state, Denise W. Merrill, had called herself a lawyer despite having an inactive California law license.
Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat
The chairman of the state Republican Party contends the state treasurer used her office to promote a re-election campaign. Christopher Healy on Wednesday filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission accusing Democrat Denise Nappier of violating a law that prohibits office-holders from using public funds to aid in campaign efforts less than 60 days before Election Day. The complaint says Nappier allowed her image and quotes to be used on materials announcing a new feature to the state’s student loan program. Nappier’s office oversees the Connecticut Higher Education Trust fund. Messages for Nappier weren’t immediately returned. On Tuesday, Healy complained that the Democrat running for secretary of the state, Denise W. Merrill, had called herself a lawyer despite having an inactive California law license.
Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register | Tom Foley for Governor | More Jobs, Not More Taxes | TomFoley2010.com
Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register Tom Foley for Governor More Jobs, Not More Taxes TomFoley2010.com
Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register
October 13th, 2010
Send To A Friend
The New Haven Register has endorsed Tom Foley for Governor in the November 2 election.
“I am very pleased to have the endorsement of the New Haven Register,” said Tom Foley. “The New Haven Register cuts through the untruths coming from Dannel’s campaign and focuses on the plans and qualifications of each candidate. Their conclusion that my plans for Connecticut, my business background, and my truthfulness make me the candidate voters should choose on November 2nd is very gratifying.” Here is what the New Haven Register is saying about Tom:
“We have found Foley to be the more forthright of the two candidates.”“Foley’s record as a business executive is commendable. His business skills in increasing productivity while keeping an eye on costs are needed in the governor’s office.”“Foley has proposed having state agencies bid against private contractors for provision of services. The potential savings are enormous.”“Malloy supports and Foley opposes two measures that would add to the perception of Connecticut as a high cost state that is hostile to business.”“If Malloy is elected governor, he will abolish the death penalty. Foley supports the death penalty. Abolition of the death penalty would mean that the perpetrators of truly heinous crimes — like the Cheshire home invasion, rape and triple murder — would escape the only fitting punishment. Indeed, passage of the law, blocked only by Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto in 2009, would surely complicate any appeal by either of the accused Cheshire killers if they are sentenced to death.”The New Haven Register believes Tom is better suited to be Governor of Connecticut than the former Mayor of Stamford. Here is what the paper had to say about Dannel Malloy:
“Malloy has said ‘everything is on the table’ to balance the budget, but on a state employee union questionnaire stated he would not support layoffs of any of the state government’s some 55,000 workers.”“Despite denials in public debates that he would raise taxes, Malloy supports increasing tax rates for the wealthy as well as a possible state tax on Internet sales, which could net $150 million in revenue.”“Where Foley would reduce the size of government, Malloy has a more expansive view of government that envisions, for example, $50 million in spending by a new port authority whose duties would overlap those of the already existing state Maritime Commission. This commission is responsible for developing a long-term strategic plan for state ports. The need for the extra layer of bureaucracy is doubtful.”Quotes from the New Haven Register were taken from their endorsement of Tom Foley and can be found at http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/10/10/opinion/doc4cb134122f242024349024.txt
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Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register
October 13th, 2010
Send To A Friend
The New Haven Register has endorsed Tom Foley for Governor in the November 2 election.
“I am very pleased to have the endorsement of the New Haven Register,” said Tom Foley. “The New Haven Register cuts through the untruths coming from Dannel’s campaign and focuses on the plans and qualifications of each candidate. Their conclusion that my plans for Connecticut, my business background, and my truthfulness make me the candidate voters should choose on November 2nd is very gratifying.” Here is what the New Haven Register is saying about Tom:
“We have found Foley to be the more forthright of the two candidates.”“Foley’s record as a business executive is commendable. His business skills in increasing productivity while keeping an eye on costs are needed in the governor’s office.”“Foley has proposed having state agencies bid against private contractors for provision of services. The potential savings are enormous.”“Malloy supports and Foley opposes two measures that would add to the perception of Connecticut as a high cost state that is hostile to business.”“If Malloy is elected governor, he will abolish the death penalty. Foley supports the death penalty. Abolition of the death penalty would mean that the perpetrators of truly heinous crimes — like the Cheshire home invasion, rape and triple murder — would escape the only fitting punishment. Indeed, passage of the law, blocked only by Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto in 2009, would surely complicate any appeal by either of the accused Cheshire killers if they are sentenced to death.”The New Haven Register believes Tom is better suited to be Governor of Connecticut than the former Mayor of Stamford. Here is what the paper had to say about Dannel Malloy:
“Malloy has said ‘everything is on the table’ to balance the budget, but on a state employee union questionnaire stated he would not support layoffs of any of the state government’s some 55,000 workers.”“Despite denials in public debates that he would raise taxes, Malloy supports increasing tax rates for the wealthy as well as a possible state tax on Internet sales, which could net $150 million in revenue.”“Where Foley would reduce the size of government, Malloy has a more expansive view of government that envisions, for example, $50 million in spending by a new port authority whose duties would overlap those of the already existing state Maritime Commission. This commission is responsible for developing a long-term strategic plan for state ports. The need for the extra layer of bureaucracy is doubtful.”Quotes from the New Haven Register were taken from their endorsement of Tom Foley and can be found at http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/10/10/opinion/doc4cb134122f242024349024.txt
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Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard
Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard
New polling in Colorado moves that state's gubernatorial race from Leans Dem to Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.
Voters will elect governors in 37 states this November. Nineteen of those governorships are now held by Democrats, while Republicans sit in the governor’s chair in 18 of the states.
The Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard shows Democrats solidly ahead in two states, with five more leaning their way. Republicans are running strongly in 17 states, and four more are leaning GOP.
No states with a Republican governor are considered likely to elect a Democrat in November. But six states now headed by Democrats – Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming – are seen as likely GOP pickups.
Nine states are currently viewed as Toss-Ups, including Florida and Rhode Island. The Toss-Up states include five currently with Republican governors and four with Democrats as their chief executives.
Adding spice to the political mix is the fact that these governors will all be in place as the states redistrict on the basis of new Census figures, a process that sets the boundaries of congressional districts and generally benefits the party in power.
The state results and overall projections will be updated whenever new polling data justifies a change.
In the table below, the states marked in red currently have a Republican governor. Those in blue currently have a Democratic governor.
Solid Dem
New Hampshire
New York
Solid GOPOklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
AL
Alaska
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Nebraska
Nevada
Lean Dem
Arkansas
Connecticut
MA
Maryland
CA
Gubernatorial
Scorecard Tables:
Current Projected Result
Democrats
14
Independents
0
Republicans
27
Toss-Up
9
Election 2010 To Date
Solid Democratic
2
Lean Democratic
5
Solid Independent
0
Lean Independent
0
Lean Republican
4
Solid Republican
17
Toss-Up
9
No Gubernatorial Race In 2010
Democrats
7
Independents
0
Republicans
6
Overall Snapshot:
Held/Solid Democratic
9
Leans Democratic
5
Held/Solid Independent
0
Leans Independent
0
Leans Republican
4
Held/Solid Republican
23
Toss-Up
9
__________________
Connecticut Results as of Thursday, October 07, 2010
The race to be Connecticut’s next governor is a little closer this month.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state shows Democrat Dan Malloy earning 49% support, while his Republican challenger, Thomas Foley, picks up 44% of the vote. One percent (1%) favors another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This race remains Leans Dem in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.
Two weeks ago, Malloy held a 10-point lead over Foley, 50% to 40%. In surveys dating back to May, Malloy has consistently run ahead of Foley. In those surveys, Malloy has earned anywhere from 38% to 50% of the vote, while support for Foley has ranged from 33% to 40%.
Foley, a businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is favored by 82% of Republicans in the state, while Malloy, the former mayor of Stamford, earns support from 79% of Democrats. The GOP candidate has a slight edge among voters not affiliated with either party.
The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 5, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
In a survey conducted the night after their first head-to-head debate, Democrat Richard Blumenthal has moved further ahead of Republican Linda McMahon in Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race.
Eighty-two percent (82%) of Malloy’s supporters say they’ve already made up their minds how they will vote this November. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Foley voters say the same.
A plurality (47%) of Connecticut voters say states should not be allowed to opt out of the new national health care plan. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree.
Only 54% believe the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration, lower than the finding nationally. Voters in the state are narrowly divided over whether enforcement of laws against illegal immigration should be handled by states or left to the federal government. This, too, is lower than findings nationwide.
Only 15% of Connecticut voters consider themselves members of the Tea Party movement, roughly in line with the national average. Seventy-one percent (71%) say they are not part of the grassroots movement. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.
Among Tea Partiers in the state, 88% support the Republican, while 63% of non-Tea Party members favor the Democrat.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of all voters in Connecticut hold a favorable opinion of Malloy, with 19% who view him Very Favorably. Thirty-nine percent (39%) regard the Democrat unfavorably, including 15% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion of him.
Ratings for Foley are 53% favorable and 40% unfavorable, including 14% Very Favorable and 14% Very Unfavorable.
Republican Governor Jodi Rell decided not to seek reelection this November. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the state’s voters approve of the job she is doing, while 41% disapprove.
Additional questions from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
Rasmussen Reports also has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
New polling in Colorado moves that state's gubernatorial race from Leans Dem to Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.
Voters will elect governors in 37 states this November. Nineteen of those governorships are now held by Democrats, while Republicans sit in the governor’s chair in 18 of the states.
The Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard shows Democrats solidly ahead in two states, with five more leaning their way. Republicans are running strongly in 17 states, and four more are leaning GOP.
No states with a Republican governor are considered likely to elect a Democrat in November. But six states now headed by Democrats – Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming – are seen as likely GOP pickups.
Nine states are currently viewed as Toss-Ups, including Florida and Rhode Island. The Toss-Up states include five currently with Republican governors and four with Democrats as their chief executives.
Adding spice to the political mix is the fact that these governors will all be in place as the states redistrict on the basis of new Census figures, a process that sets the boundaries of congressional districts and generally benefits the party in power.
The state results and overall projections will be updated whenever new polling data justifies a change.
In the table below, the states marked in red currently have a Republican governor. Those in blue currently have a Democratic governor.
Solid Dem
New Hampshire
New York
Solid GOPOklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
AL
Alaska
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Nebraska
Nevada
Lean Dem
Arkansas
Connecticut
MA
Maryland
CA
Gubernatorial
Scorecard Tables:
Current Projected Result
Democrats
14
Independents
0
Republicans
27
Toss-Up
9
Election 2010 To Date
Solid Democratic
2
Lean Democratic
5
Solid Independent
0
Lean Independent
0
Lean Republican
4
Solid Republican
17
Toss-Up
9
No Gubernatorial Race In 2010
Democrats
7
Independents
0
Republicans
6
Overall Snapshot:
Held/Solid Democratic
9
Leans Democratic
5
Held/Solid Independent
0
Leans Independent
0
Leans Republican
4
Held/Solid Republican
23
Toss-Up
9
__________________
Connecticut Results as of Thursday, October 07, 2010
The race to be Connecticut’s next governor is a little closer this month.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state shows Democrat Dan Malloy earning 49% support, while his Republican challenger, Thomas Foley, picks up 44% of the vote. One percent (1%) favors another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This race remains Leans Dem in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.
Two weeks ago, Malloy held a 10-point lead over Foley, 50% to 40%. In surveys dating back to May, Malloy has consistently run ahead of Foley. In those surveys, Malloy has earned anywhere from 38% to 50% of the vote, while support for Foley has ranged from 33% to 40%.
Foley, a businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is favored by 82% of Republicans in the state, while Malloy, the former mayor of Stamford, earns support from 79% of Democrats. The GOP candidate has a slight edge among voters not affiliated with either party.
The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 5, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
In a survey conducted the night after their first head-to-head debate, Democrat Richard Blumenthal has moved further ahead of Republican Linda McMahon in Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race.
Eighty-two percent (82%) of Malloy’s supporters say they’ve already made up their minds how they will vote this November. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Foley voters say the same.
A plurality (47%) of Connecticut voters say states should not be allowed to opt out of the new national health care plan. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree.
Only 54% believe the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration, lower than the finding nationally. Voters in the state are narrowly divided over whether enforcement of laws against illegal immigration should be handled by states or left to the federal government. This, too, is lower than findings nationwide.
Only 15% of Connecticut voters consider themselves members of the Tea Party movement, roughly in line with the national average. Seventy-one percent (71%) say they are not part of the grassroots movement. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.
Among Tea Partiers in the state, 88% support the Republican, while 63% of non-Tea Party members favor the Democrat.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of all voters in Connecticut hold a favorable opinion of Malloy, with 19% who view him Very Favorably. Thirty-nine percent (39%) regard the Democrat unfavorably, including 15% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion of him.
Ratings for Foley are 53% favorable and 40% unfavorable, including 14% Very Favorable and 14% Very Unfavorable.
Republican Governor Jodi Rell decided not to seek reelection this November. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the state’s voters approve of the job she is doing, while 41% disapprove.
Additional questions from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
Rasmussen Reports also has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Election 2010: Connecticut Senate
Election 2010: Connecticut Senate
Democrat Richard Blumenthal now leads Republican Linda McMahon by just five points in Connecticut’s race for the U.S. Senate in a survey conducted two nights after their third and final head-to-head debate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Blumenthal, Connecticut’s longtime attorney general, picking up 51% of the vote. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, earns the vote from 46%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, while three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The latest numbers move the race from Solid Democrat to Leans Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
Just over a week ago, Blumenthal opened a 54% to 43% lead over McMahon the night after their first debate. While the race was closer in several surveys since January, Blumenthal has always held the lead. In 13 surveys this year, the Democrat has drawn 47% to 60% of the vote. McMahon has picked up 31% to 46% support during that same period.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
This statewide telephone survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 14, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers on Connecticut’s gubernatorial race this weekend.
Democrat Richard Blumenthal now leads Republican Linda McMahon by just five points in Connecticut’s race for the U.S. Senate in a survey conducted two nights after their third and final head-to-head debate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Blumenthal, Connecticut’s longtime attorney general, picking up 51% of the vote. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, earns the vote from 46%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, while three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The latest numbers move the race from Solid Democrat to Leans Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
Just over a week ago, Blumenthal opened a 54% to 43% lead over McMahon the night after their first debate. While the race was closer in several surveys since January, Blumenthal has always held the lead. In 13 surveys this year, the Democrat has drawn 47% to 60% of the vote. McMahon has picked up 31% to 46% support during that same period.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
This statewide telephone survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 14, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers on Connecticut’s gubernatorial race this weekend.
Homeowner: Road Is In Disrepair - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford
Homeowner: Road Is In Disrepair ? - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford: "The Sewer residents sewer pipe is ten feet down. The earth did not shift. If he needs help with payment, McCoy said there are ways to work out payment plans for Duppery, but the expense is his."
Watch the video.
Watch the video.
October 13, 2010
October 12, 2010
YouTube - Jeff Wright for Treasurer Retire Denise Nappier on Nov 2nd
YouTube - Jeff Wright for Treasurer Retire Denise Nappier on Nov 2nd: "Jeff Wright for Treasurer Retire Denise Nappier on Nov 2nd"
jason mccoy
jason mccoy
October 11, 2010
Grand opening Antonio's Pizza Sept. 25 2010, Vernon CT
Grand Opening, Mayor McCoy cuts ribbon with owner Gino Izzo, Ms. Connecticut, Ms. Teen Connecticut, Council Member Mark Etre, 33 W Main St Vernon CT
Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth in Vernon Connecticut
VERNON Connecticut — On 10/7/10 Mayor Jason L. McCoy spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding his administration’s proposed to promote economic growth in the area, to promote private job growth and expand Vernon’s tax base by correcting restrictions on a parcel off Interstate 84 at exit 67 and Reservoir Road. The property is a 40.5-acre parcel. The McCoy Administration has been working to lower the local unemployment rate for area residents and keep the Town off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list. This effort is one more step to encourage investment in the Town. This year Vernon was taken off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list.
Chairman of the Vernon's PZC Lester Finkle opened the application to Public Comment on Oct. 21, at 7 pm at Town Hall.
In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. The 2005 adopted regulation was contrary to the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The 2010 proposal is the same proposal as the consultant in 2005 but it does not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.
The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing forward a distribution company to Vernon. The Company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez said there was “interested” in the parcel from a company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot distribution facility and create 140 jobs in Connecticut.
Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by this Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if no correction acceptable."
In 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, the Town now recognizes that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is an impact on the tax based.
At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy asked the commission to correct the amendment and slightly ease the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as for the local economy. McCoy explained that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire service, education, roads and sanitarians. We need to be careful not to over burden the local taxpayers, this is an opportunity to help.
Len Tundermann the Vernon Town Planner addressed concerns about water run off, explaining that the Commission can utilizing “low-impact development” in the Town zoning regulations to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement through permeable pavement, and grass drainage swales. The Town has LID regulations, that have been used already, and no other regulations are needed.
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Chairman of the Vernon's PZC Lester Finkle opened the application to Public Comment on Oct. 21, at 7 pm at Town Hall.
In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. The 2005 adopted regulation was contrary to the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The 2010 proposal is the same proposal as the consultant in 2005 but it does not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.
The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing forward a distribution company to Vernon. The Company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez said there was “interested” in the parcel from a company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot distribution facility and create 140 jobs in Connecticut.
Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by this Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if no correction acceptable."
In 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, the Town now recognizes that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is an impact on the tax based.
At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy asked the commission to correct the amendment and slightly ease the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as for the local economy. McCoy explained that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire service, education, roads and sanitarians. We need to be careful not to over burden the local taxpayers, this is an opportunity to help.
Len Tundermann the Vernon Town Planner addressed concerns about water run off, explaining that the Commission can utilizing “low-impact development” in the Town zoning regulations to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement through permeable pavement, and grass drainage swales. The Town has LID regulations, that have been used already, and no other regulations are needed.
Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75 - Courant.com
Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75 - Courant.com
Courant.com
Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75
By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com
October 6, 2010
VERNON —
Robert E. Kelley Jr., a longtime fire chief and a dedicated volunteer and leader, died Monday, October 4th. He was 75.
"He was just a down to earth, community-oriented guy who excelled in the fire service; he loved it to death," said Chris Hammick, the fire department's health and safety officer.
Kelley served as chief from 1986 to 2007. He joined the Rockville Fire Department in 1967, rose through the ranks and was one of the key members who consolidated the Rockville and Vernon volunteer fire departments in 1979.
Kelley worked for years as a manager at the Metropolitan District Commission, retiring in 1989. At the time of his death, he was still working as finance director for Tolland County Mutual Aid Fire Service. Fellow firefighters said Kelley was adept at budgeting and financial issues and always kept the fire department's books in order.
"He was very business oriented — a financial wizard," Fire Chief William Call said.
"I don't think there was a year he was chief that he didn't turn money back in," said Hammick, who was deputy chief under Kelley.
Kelley also was knowledgeable about all aspects of firefighting and what he did not know, he was willing to learn, firefighters said.
"He was a mentor to a lot of people," said Jean Gauthier, the department's director of emergency medical services. "I learned a lot from him."
Local firefighters described Kelley as a natural leader.
"He knew where to put people and what to do — and that's important," said firefighter Carl Schaefer. "Under that pressure, you have to know what you're doing."
Kelley, who is survived by his wife and three children, passed on his enthusiasm for public service — his daughter, Diane Carpenter, is secretary for the fire department, and John Kelley, one of his two sons, is head of Vernon police detectives.
Calling hours are Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect St., Rockville. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Rockville, with burial to follow at Valley Falls Cemetery, Vernon.
Courant.com
Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75
By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com
October 6, 2010
VERNON —
Robert E. Kelley Jr., a longtime fire chief and a dedicated volunteer and leader, died Monday, October 4th. He was 75.
"He was just a down to earth, community-oriented guy who excelled in the fire service; he loved it to death," said Chris Hammick, the fire department's health and safety officer.
Kelley served as chief from 1986 to 2007. He joined the Rockville Fire Department in 1967, rose through the ranks and was one of the key members who consolidated the Rockville and Vernon volunteer fire departments in 1979.
Kelley worked for years as a manager at the Metropolitan District Commission, retiring in 1989. At the time of his death, he was still working as finance director for Tolland County Mutual Aid Fire Service. Fellow firefighters said Kelley was adept at budgeting and financial issues and always kept the fire department's books in order.
"He was very business oriented — a financial wizard," Fire Chief William Call said.
"I don't think there was a year he was chief that he didn't turn money back in," said Hammick, who was deputy chief under Kelley.
Kelley also was knowledgeable about all aspects of firefighting and what he did not know, he was willing to learn, firefighters said.
"He was a mentor to a lot of people," said Jean Gauthier, the department's director of emergency medical services. "I learned a lot from him."
Local firefighters described Kelley as a natural leader.
"He knew where to put people and what to do — and that's important," said firefighter Carl Schaefer. "Under that pressure, you have to know what you're doing."
Kelley, who is survived by his wife and three children, passed on his enthusiasm for public service — his daughter, Diane Carpenter, is secretary for the fire department, and John Kelley, one of his two sons, is head of Vernon police detectives.
Calling hours are Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect St., Rockville. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Rockville, with burial to follow at Valley Falls Cemetery, Vernon.
Grant Will Help Vernon Upgrade Police Radio System - Courant.com
Grant Will Help Vernon Upgrade Police Radio System - Courant.com
Town To Upgrade Police Radio System
1:42 PM EDT, October 6, 2010
VERNON –
The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the town $300,000 to begin converting the police radio system to digital signaling.
The grant, available through the justice department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, was obtained through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, Town Administrator John D. Ward has told the town council.
The grant helps communities pay for equipment and programs that advance community policing efforts locally.
With the aid of computers, digital signals can be scrambled making them harder for criminals and scanner heads to listen in on. Digital signals can also carry non verbal messages, like typed dispatch addresses and maps, freeing voice channels for emergency use.
—Joseph A. O'Brien Jr.
Town To Upgrade Police Radio System
1:42 PM EDT, October 6, 2010
VERNON –
The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the town $300,000 to begin converting the police radio system to digital signaling.
The grant, available through the justice department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, was obtained through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, Town Administrator John D. Ward has told the town council.
The grant helps communities pay for equipment and programs that advance community policing efforts locally.
With the aid of computers, digital signals can be scrambled making them harder for criminals and scanner heads to listen in on. Digital signals can also carry non verbal messages, like typed dispatch addresses and maps, freeing voice channels for emergency use.
—Joseph A. O'Brien Jr.
Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth In Vernon around exit 67-- Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon- Must have Misssed the meeting?
Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth In Vernon around exit 67
VERNON — Mayor Jason L. McCoy spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding his administration’s proposed to promote economic growth in the area, to promote private job growth and expand Vernon’s tax base by correcting restrictions on a parcel off Interstate 84 at exit 67. The Town has been working to lower the local unemployment rate for area residents and keep the Town off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list. This effort is one more step to encourage investment in the Town.
The property is a 40.5-acre parcel owned by Lee and Lamont real estate with frontage along Reservoir Road. The present regulation only permits a 40,000 square foot building footprint on the 40.5 acre piece or property.
In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. At the time the PZC restricted the size of any building it was done over the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The proposal that Mayor McCoy and the Town's Economic Development Director spoke to the PZC about is the same proposal as was proposed by the consultant in 2005. However the proposal did not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.
The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing a distribution company to the Town. The distribution company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by the Town Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, cause interested parties to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if there is no interest in the change."
Even though the in 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, it is now recognized that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is a impact on the tax based. According to the Journal Inquirer Mayor McCoy leads the charge.
McCoy first explored the correction to the 2005 zoning amendment in May of this year, but asked that the proposal be withdrawn to “look at the issues … look at it and bring it back.”
At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy urged the commission to correct the amendment and undo the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as the local economy.
The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez and Mayor McCoy said there was “significant interest” in the parcel from a refrigeration company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot facility and create 140 jobs. “This project may not go at this particular site (Vernon- its competitive) , but this site without the change in this buffer zone makes it really no good for anything but skyscrapers, and a 40,000-square-foot footprint doesn’t work,” McCoy told the commission. The distributor was not proposing a sky scraper.
Council person Democrat Marie Herbst began yelling and screaming, and protesting as McCoy began speaking, saying that town officials should speak to commissions as private residents only, during public participation. McCoy corrected Herbst, as she was confused by the factual situation. Herbst apparently misunderstood a ruling by Town attorney Hal Cummings. The ruling by the Town Attorney related to a private application by a private land owner. Herbst and other council members were allowed to speak at a later meeting, only after they emphasized that they were commenting as private residents.
But PZC Chairman Lester Finkle would not acknowledge Herbst, and McCoy shouted over his shoulder to her that as mayor he was exempt from that rule in this situation because it was a Town Application, “and I’m speaking on behalf of the town, how else would the information get to the commission if not from the Mayor as the Chief Executive officer or one on the department heads.”
McCoy reiterated that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire department, schools, roads and sanitarians.
“The legislature only gave us so many ways to raise revenue, largely based upon property taxation, that is the only way to pay for those essential services,” McCoy said. “Responsible development is something the community has to embrace or you’re just going to be forced to raise taxes or reduce services, especially considering the financial bind the State is in.”
Tundermann the Town Planner explained that the Town can utilizing “low-impact development” techniques on the parcel to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement into the Tankerhoosen. Such development uses engineering strategies that mitigate storm water runoff, including permeable pavement, rain gardens, and grass drainage swales.
These regulations already exist in the Town regulations. McCoy supports the low impact development regulations that already exist in Vernon's PZC regulations, but Mayor McCoy has opposed turning over low-impact development in the zoning regulations to some group outside the Town, creating duplicate regulations, a position he reaffirmed Thursday, saying they “take local control away” from the Vernon residents.
Chairman Lester Finkle opened the application up to public comment, but only two individuals had a chance to speak before the hearing was continued to the next meeting on Oct. 21.
VERNON — Mayor Jason L. McCoy spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding his administration’s proposed to promote economic growth in the area, to promote private job growth and expand Vernon’s tax base by correcting restrictions on a parcel off Interstate 84 at exit 67. The Town has been working to lower the local unemployment rate for area residents and keep the Town off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list. This effort is one more step to encourage investment in the Town.
The property is a 40.5-acre parcel owned by Lee and Lamont real estate with frontage along Reservoir Road. The present regulation only permits a 40,000 square foot building footprint on the 40.5 acre piece or property.
In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. At the time the PZC restricted the size of any building it was done over the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The proposal that Mayor McCoy and the Town's Economic Development Director spoke to the PZC about is the same proposal as was proposed by the consultant in 2005. However the proposal did not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.
The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing a distribution company to the Town. The distribution company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by the Town Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, cause interested parties to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if there is no interest in the change."
Even though the in 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, it is now recognized that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is a impact on the tax based. According to the Journal Inquirer Mayor McCoy leads the charge.
McCoy first explored the correction to the 2005 zoning amendment in May of this year, but asked that the proposal be withdrawn to “look at the issues … look at it and bring it back.”
At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy urged the commission to correct the amendment and undo the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as the local economy.
The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez and Mayor McCoy said there was “significant interest” in the parcel from a refrigeration company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot facility and create 140 jobs. “This project may not go at this particular site (Vernon- its competitive) , but this site without the change in this buffer zone makes it really no good for anything but skyscrapers, and a 40,000-square-foot footprint doesn’t work,” McCoy told the commission. The distributor was not proposing a sky scraper.
Council person Democrat Marie Herbst began yelling and screaming, and protesting as McCoy began speaking, saying that town officials should speak to commissions as private residents only, during public participation. McCoy corrected Herbst, as she was confused by the factual situation. Herbst apparently misunderstood a ruling by Town attorney Hal Cummings. The ruling by the Town Attorney related to a private application by a private land owner. Herbst and other council members were allowed to speak at a later meeting, only after they emphasized that they were commenting as private residents.
But PZC Chairman Lester Finkle would not acknowledge Herbst, and McCoy shouted over his shoulder to her that as mayor he was exempt from that rule in this situation because it was a Town Application, “and I’m speaking on behalf of the town, how else would the information get to the commission if not from the Mayor as the Chief Executive officer or one on the department heads.”
McCoy reiterated that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire department, schools, roads and sanitarians.
“The legislature only gave us so many ways to raise revenue, largely based upon property taxation, that is the only way to pay for those essential services,” McCoy said. “Responsible development is something the community has to embrace or you’re just going to be forced to raise taxes or reduce services, especially considering the financial bind the State is in.”
Tundermann the Town Planner explained that the Town can utilizing “low-impact development” techniques on the parcel to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement into the Tankerhoosen. Such development uses engineering strategies that mitigate storm water runoff, including permeable pavement, rain gardens, and grass drainage swales.
These regulations already exist in the Town regulations. McCoy supports the low impact development regulations that already exist in Vernon's PZC regulations, but Mayor McCoy has opposed turning over low-impact development in the zoning regulations to some group outside the Town, creating duplicate regulations, a position he reaffirmed Thursday, saying they “take local control away” from the Vernon residents.
Chairman Lester Finkle opened the application up to public comment, but only two individuals had a chance to speak before the hearing was continued to the next meeting on Oct. 21.
Vernon Police, feds foil attempt to extort Vernon monk- Connecticut
Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon Cops, feds foil attempt to extort Vernon monk
An attempt to extort $30,000 from a Vietnamese Buddhist monk associated with a Vernon temple was foiled by a sting operation in which Trumbull police joined with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and other police authorities, according to Trumbull’s deputy police chief.
“Another Vietnamese person got him to make compromising statements on a video and threatened to use them to destroy his temple,” said Deputy Chief Michael Harry.
Harry didn’t have the name of the Vernon temple. But the only Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Vernon is the Phap Hoa Buddhist Temple at 85 Prospect St.
Harry said the initial threats occurred Sept. 28 at a Trumbull home where the monk had gone to visit after bringing his mother to Bridgeport to visit a friend. The monk formerly had a temple in Bridgeport, and a woman involved in the incident — Thuy Nguyen, 33, of Bridgeport — was a former follower of his, according to the deputy chief.
Harry said the compromising statements were “suggestive comments” about a woman, explaining that Buddhist monks are supposed to remain pure verbally as well as physically.
Charged in the incident were Tuan Nguyen, 32, a man who lives in the Trumbull home where the initial threats were made, and Thuy Nguyen, the deputy chief said.
But he added that Tuan Nguyen confessed after his arrest and made a statement that “negates the girl’s involvement.” As a result, he said, police will ask prosecutors to revisit the charges against Thuy Nguyen.
Harry added that the two are unrelated, although they have the same last name.
The deputy chief said the Secret Service was generous enough to lend police the $30,000 used in the sting operation, which occurred Friday in the parking lot of the Westfield Trumbull shopping mall. He added that the federal agency also sent two agents to make sure the money was recovered.
The FBI also participated in the operation, contributing a Vietnamese-speaking agent, Harry said. He said that the Bridgeport Narcotics Task Force contributed surveillance equipment, although the case didn’t involve narcotics.
Thuy Nguyen accepted the money and was arrested, Harry said. He said authorities subsequently executed a search warrant at Tuan Nguyen’s home and obtained the confession.
He said Thuy Nguyen initially told police that she took the monk to the Trumbull home because she was moving into it and wanted him to bless the house. But he said the initial statements weren’t entirely truthful, and police now “tend to doubt that.”
Tuan Nguyen was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $30,000 bond, the deputy chief said.
Thuy Nguyen was charged with first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $10,000 bond, the deputy chief said.
Both are due in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 18.
An attempt to extort $30,000 from a Vietnamese Buddhist monk associated with a Vernon temple was foiled by a sting operation in which Trumbull police joined with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and other police authorities, according to Trumbull’s deputy police chief.
“Another Vietnamese person got him to make compromising statements on a video and threatened to use them to destroy his temple,” said Deputy Chief Michael Harry.
Harry didn’t have the name of the Vernon temple. But the only Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Vernon is the Phap Hoa Buddhist Temple at 85 Prospect St.
Harry said the initial threats occurred Sept. 28 at a Trumbull home where the monk had gone to visit after bringing his mother to Bridgeport to visit a friend. The monk formerly had a temple in Bridgeport, and a woman involved in the incident — Thuy Nguyen, 33, of Bridgeport — was a former follower of his, according to the deputy chief.
Harry said the compromising statements were “suggestive comments” about a woman, explaining that Buddhist monks are supposed to remain pure verbally as well as physically.
Charged in the incident were Tuan Nguyen, 32, a man who lives in the Trumbull home where the initial threats were made, and Thuy Nguyen, the deputy chief said.
But he added that Tuan Nguyen confessed after his arrest and made a statement that “negates the girl’s involvement.” As a result, he said, police will ask prosecutors to revisit the charges against Thuy Nguyen.
Harry added that the two are unrelated, although they have the same last name.
The deputy chief said the Secret Service was generous enough to lend police the $30,000 used in the sting operation, which occurred Friday in the parking lot of the Westfield Trumbull shopping mall. He added that the federal agency also sent two agents to make sure the money was recovered.
The FBI also participated in the operation, contributing a Vietnamese-speaking agent, Harry said. He said that the Bridgeport Narcotics Task Force contributed surveillance equipment, although the case didn’t involve narcotics.
Thuy Nguyen accepted the money and was arrested, Harry said. He said authorities subsequently executed a search warrant at Tuan Nguyen’s home and obtained the confession.
He said Thuy Nguyen initially told police that she took the monk to the Trumbull home because she was moving into it and wanted him to bless the house. But he said the initial statements weren’t entirely truthful, and police now “tend to doubt that.”
Tuan Nguyen was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $30,000 bond, the deputy chief said.
Thuy Nguyen was charged with first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $10,000 bond, the deputy chief said.
Both are due in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 18.
Campaigning with Tom Foley, Mark Etre, Tim Ackert and Brian Motola
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| Tom Foley, Mayor McCoy, Mark Etre, Tim Ackert and Deputy Mayor Brian Motola |
REALLY? Question Conduct. Congressman John Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier
John Larson - Connecticut's First District Congressman: "Congressman Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier at the South End Democratic Club event." From the Congressman's Web site 10/09/2010.
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| Congressman Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier |
October 9, 2010
BofA Halts All Foreclosure Sales - WSJ.com
BofA Halts All Foreclosure Sales - WSJ.com: "Bank of America has decided to halt all foreclosure sales. So will other banks follow B of A's lead and what impact will the move have on the housing market?"
October 6, 2010
October 1, 2010
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