FRANKSMITHSAYSNB EDITORIAL:
The Democratic Primary campaign for State Comptroller is winding down with Mayor Mike Jarjura being the front runner in the upcoming primary against Kevin Lembo.
Jarura is in his fifth term as Waterbury's Mayor and served, before becoming mayor, ten years as a state representative. He has turned around the city that was once in a financial disaster. Yes: it was at the brink of bankruptcy with nearly a $100 million dollar deficit--turning this city from junk bond status to an A-rated bonds.
That experience will be just exactly what the State needs in its comptroller's office.
Unfortunately, his opposition candidate offers little experience as a chief of staff for New York's Lt. Governor, and with the dismal financial condition New York currently faces with furlough days, layoffs of state employees and huge tax hikes looming in the near future, is this really the type of experience we want for our state comptroller?
This high State office needs the great experience that Mayor Jarjura offers without question.
The people of Waterbury have shown they overwhelmingly appreciate the work Mike Jarjura has done for that city by re-electing him 7 times. It will be a positive achievment for Connecticut to have a man like this use his expertise to do the same for the state.
ReplyDeleteHe has my vote for sure!
Connecticut's openly gay Health Care Advocate, Kevin Lembo, is running for the office of State Comptroller.
ReplyDeleteKevin has been endorsed by Love Makes a Family PAC, the Democratic Party and MAJOR PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS around Connecticut.
Kevin resides in Guilford with his spouse, Charles Frey; they have three children.
They were talking about Lembo on the radio today and they were laughing at Lembo's ridiculous claim that as the state's health care advocate, he reduced health care costs in Connecticut, when according to the story, he presided over the largest increase in health care premiums in state history.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure being endorsed by every progressive (radical fringe group) organization in the state is something that is going to help Lembo, except among the minority of radical extremists that believe socialism is something to be embraced.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Democratic Underground:
ReplyDelete"Kevin Lembo Needs Our Help
Kevin is a 'progressive' and a gay person who is a candidate for CT State Comptroller."
Glenn Beck at CPAC: "‘Progressivism Is a Cancer in America’"
By David Weigel
“Progressivism is a cancer in America,” said Beck, “and it’s eating our Constitution — and it was meant to eat our Constitution.”
Saying we need another "progressive" in our state government is like saying we need more cancer.
Clearly the Democratic Party in Waterbury is pleased with Mayor Jarjura, they have elected him 5 times!
ReplyDeleteJarjura has the accomplishments to prove he is the best man for the job. He turned a bankrupt city around and the fact that the people re-elected him 7 times speaks volumes about his ability.
ReplyDeleteHis opponent has nothing to show for any meaningful accomplishments besides a claim that he kept our health insurance costs low, and the fact that he is endorsed by every major radical "progressive" organization in the state.
If you think your health care costs are acceptable and you embrace radical extremist views like those held by "progressive" organizations, then Lembo is your man, otherwise you should consider going with the candidate with proven leadership ability, and that is Mike Jarjura.
Here's what the Courant has to say about Jarjura:
ReplyDeleteMichael Jarjura
Jarjura is a five-term state legislator from Waterbury who was elected mayor in 2003 after a string of political corruption scandals left the city on the brink of bankruptcy.
As a legislator, Jarjura argued in favor of the creation of a state oversight board empowered to impose strict fiscal measures on Waterbury and three other, nearly insolvent cities. His election as mayor coincided with the imposition of those measures on Waterbury.
"I don't minimize the support I received from the oversight board,' Jarjura said. "But the day-to-day changes had to be here in the mayor's office. There was tremendous chaos, confusion and demoralization in the city. All departments had been affected."
Jarjura said he inherited a $100 million Waterbury deficit and his administraton has since pushed through an unbroken string of balanced budgets. Over the same period, he said, the city's bond rating has improved from junk to A. While the state was spending its rainy day fund, Jarjura said, he helped build a $21 million fund in Waterbury.
Jarjura grew up in his family's produce business and worked briefly as an assistant state attorney general after graduating from the University of Bridgeport's law school. He was first elected to the General Assembly in 1992.
So basically Jarjura was returning the city's bond rating from "junk" to an "A" rating while the Democrats like O'Brien, Tercyak and DeFronzo in our legislature were busy destroying the state's rating by running it down from "AAA" to "junk," is that right?
ReplyDeleteI could see where the Democrats would think that Jarjura is working against their overall plan by restoring fiscal responsibility--2 words Democrats rarely understand!
Don't forget the 30% income tax O'Brien, Tercyak, Defronzo and their radical cronies tried to pass onto businesses in the state. No wonder our state's largest employer (UTC) wants to leave the state in a big hurry.
ReplyDeleteThank God for Governor Rell who vetoed their nonsense and saved the day! I heard she was urged to do so by her Lieutenant Governor while he was busy sitting on his shelf!
I wonder where Sherwood stands on this election? We haven't heard a peep out of him since he met his Waterloo over the school budget and his attempt to make the taxpayers pay for a lawyer to sue the mayor???
ReplyDeleteFor Democrats the choice should be simple. Mayor Jarjura will bring responsible management to the office of the Comptroller similar to the way he saved Waterbury.
ReplyDeleteHis opponent is clearly running to push his own radical agenda. Why else would he be touting the fact that he is endorsed by every radical "progressive" movement in the state, as if it is a "badge of honor" to be a radical?
Stop the radicals from destroying this state completely and vote for Jarjura to return responsibility to the office that controls all of our money!
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI wonder where Sherwood stands on this election? We haven't heard a peep out of him since he met his Waterloo over the school budget and his attempt to make the taxpayers pay for a lawyer to sue the mayor???
August 7, 2010 6:11 PM
maybe, just maybe he blessed us all by moving out of town?