Tuesday Ticket – July 17, 2018

Spotlight on the 9th Senatorial Democratic Primary Race. Two House Members Battle it Out. Why it Matters? Campaign Links to Live By.

This week’s Tuesday ticket, we take a little deeper dive into a primary race on the Democratic Party for the right to be the party’s candidate in the November general election.

• The primary is taking place because the current occupant of the seat, Sen. Paul Doyle, chose to give up the seat to run for Attorney General. Democrats have held the 9th Senate seat for decades.

• The 9th Senatorial District includes the communities of Cromwell, Middletown, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield.

Two House Members Will Battle it Out

• The 9th district Democratic primary will be between 2 veteran House of Representatives members who are have decided they like the view from the upper chamber better than their current job.

• State Rep. Tony G and State Rep Matt Ritter will face off.

• He is some background on both democratic candidates:

• • State Representative Matt Lesser
    • Serving his fifth term in the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the City of Middletown.
    • Rep Lesser is co-chair of the Banking Committee and serves on the Government Administration & Elections and Insurance and Real Estate committees.
    • He is a progressive leader in consumer protections, voting rights, the environment and paid family leave.

• • State Representative Tony Guerrera
    • Rep Guerrera was elected to the legislature in 2001 to represents parts of Wethersfield and Newington.
    • Rep Guerrera is House Chair of the Transportation Committee and is a member of the Banks and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
    • He is a leader in improving and expanding the state’s transportation infrastructure and providing fair wages for working families.

Why it Matters?

Whoever wins the democratic primary race, will face off against endorsed republican candidate, Edward Charamut or 19 year-old UCONN student, Tyler Flanigan.

• Here is some background on both republican candidates:
  • Edward Charamut
    • Republican Town Council Minority Leader Ed Charamut is the endorsed republican candidate in the 9th senatorial district.
    • Charamut is the former Open Space Committee Chair, a longtime local volunteer and owner of an insurance firm.

• • Tyler Flanigan
    • Flanigan is a UCONN law student from Wethersfield with a strong resume of working for GOP state level players around the country.
    • His main focuses is the opioid epidemic, education, veterans and the economy.

• The race is important because all the State Senate races are important when the state senate is tied 18 to 18 like it is now. Any change in any district shifts the balance of power.

• For the Democrats the winner of this race will have pressure to hold that seat.

• As we mentioned above, the D’s have held that seat for a long time and have to be thinking that this is a seat that they are counting on winning again and holding this seat. They simply cannot afford to lose this seat.

Campaign Links to Live By:

CT builds its budget reserve — as post-election deficits loom large

SEEC defers action on campaign grant for Obsitnik

Herbst wants to ‘dismantle and upend business as usual’ as governor

Seniors Pin Down Lamont

The Connecticut Economic Digest