The candidate shuffle

The symbol of the 2010 
election season in Connecticut could be a bungee cord.
Seldom has there been a year with more political jumping – into races, out of races, and 
in some cases, sideways into other races.

With incumbents in the two major contests (governor and U.S. Senate) not seeking 
re-election – and some unexpected 
vacancies creating a trickle-down effect –
the race for those seats has attracted 
familiar faces and relative unknowns 
from Greenwich to Granby.

The decision by Governor M. Jodi Rell 
not to run again opened the floodgates 
for fellow Republicans, and prompted 
Tom Foley to switch his sights from the Senate to the State Capitol.

When Christopher Dodd decided that 
five terms were enough, it cleared the 
way for Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to run for Dodd’s U.S. 
Senate seat. The vacant AG slot nudged Susan Bysiewicz, the current secretary 
of the state who had been interested 
in the governor’s chair, to go after Blumenthal’s former post. Her move 
subsequently prompted a rush of 
candidates for secretary of the state.

As of mid-January, nearly 20 candidates 
had, at one point, expressed interest in 
running for governor. Eight responded 
to Hartford Magazine’s four questions 
on taxes, spending and job creation. 

– Tom Krazit

1. What would be your first priority 
upon assuming office?

2. Does Connecticut have a revenue problem 
or a spending problem? How would you deal with the current and projected budget deficit?

3. Should the state be doing more to ease the property tax burdens on cities and towns?

4. What should be done to stimulate job growth?


The Candidates:

Republicans:

	Tom Foley Tom Foley of Greenwich is the former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.
	Jeff Wright Jeff Wright is mayor of Newington.
	Mike Fedele Mike Fedele of Stamford is the lieutenant governor.
	R. Nelson “Oz” Griebel Oz Griebel of Simsbury is CEO of MetroHartford Alliance.

Democrats:

	Dan Malloy Dan Malloy is the former mayor of Stamford.
	Mary Glassman Mary Glassman is first selectman of Simsbury.
	Ned Lamont Ned Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2008.
	Rudy Marconi Rudy Marconi is first selectman of Ridgefield.

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