2008 Republican 9th Assembly District Convention

Cliff Thompson Nomination

Dennis Brenner Nomination

Dennis Brenner Second

Dennis Brenner Second (2)

Michael Crockett Nomination

Michael Crockett Second

Cliff Thompson Speech

Dennis Brenner Speech

Michael Crockett Speech

Roll Call Vote

Cliff Thompson Acceptance

9th Assembly District Democratic Convention

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Last Tuesday was the Democratic Convention for the 9th Assembly district candidate. It’s about time I posted the video up here. As you probably already know East Hartford’s Jason Rojas, a current councilman, received the party nod to the displeasure of his opponent Manchester’s Joseph Hachey.

As you’ll see in Hachey’s speech in the last video he vowed to force a primary.

I’m disappointed to hear that Rojas and Hachey had a debate not too long ago that I didn’t know about. I would liked to have heard it.

Chris Stone started off the night with a short speech to mark the end of his career as the 9th District incumbent.

Stone Speech
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7748438741276118587&hl=en]

Rojas Nomination
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4500399637069983702&hl=en]

Hachey Nomination
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6196746000254677636&hl=en]

Roll Call Vote
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4211671405458851960&hl=en]

Rojas Speech
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6529104310400829275&hl=en]

Hachey Speech
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4509229249557183308&hl=en]

9th goes to Thompson, 11th Unrepresented

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The 9th House District Republican delegates met at 8PM tonight for candidate selections. As expected there were three candidates, Cliff Thompson, Michael Crockett, and Dennis Brenner, nominated.

Video will follow but Thompson won with an easy majority.  Delegates attending reported hearing Crockett hint at a primary.

As it stands Thompson will be facing either Jason Rojas, an East Hartford Councilman, or Joseph Hachey who is a previous Town Director and current resident of Manchester. The 9th district Democrats meet Tuesday at 7PM at the Glastonbury headquarters located at 2341 Main Street (which is oddly next door to the Republican headquarters at 2333 Main Street).

The 11th house district Republican delegates also met tonight at 8PM. I have no video of this event, since it was over before I got there from the 9th District convention, which is just as well because no candidate was selected to face the expected Democratic nominee Tim Larson.

Also, the Republican 3rd Senate District delegates met Tuesday night for candidate nominations to face incumbent Gary Lebeau but none were nominated. A vacancy committee is actively seeking candidates.

Joe Visconti confirmed for Congressional run at 1st district convention.

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Republican delegates from first congressional district member towns met at 10AM today at the West Hartford town hall to nominate and select their congressional candidate.

Joseph Visconti, currently serving as a member of the West Hartford Town Council, received the GOP nod with no contest in a unanimous decision.

From Joe’s Website:

Joe is a businessman, a member of the West Hartford Town Council, patron of the arts and community activist. He serves on the council’s Community Planning and Development Committee, and is the Council liaison to the West Hartford Board of Education.

On hand were two of our own Town Council members Eric Thompson and Don Pitkin as well as RTC members Paul Roczynski (Chairman), Patrick Sanzo, Dominic Fulco and Joe Kronen to serve as delegates to represent East Hartford in candidate selection.

The biggest question now is how much a challenge can Visconti pose to the incumbent Larson who no doubt has taken for granted a victory in November based on the history of the 1st congressional district. The 1st Congressional district has belonged to the democrat party since 1959 with Larson in office since 1999.

Despite the overwhelming (greater than 2 to 1) voter registration benefit the democrats enjoy it will be interesting to see if district voters of all affiliations are ready for a change of pace. Personally, I think 10 years in office is long enough when after 10 years we still have the same excessive and abusive taxation we had in the beginning with less to show for it than if we received no federal benefits at all.

From Tax Foundation:

Federal Tax Burdens and Expenditures: Connecticut Is a Donor State
Connecticut taxpayers receive less federal funding per dollar of federal taxes paid compared to the average state. Per dollar of Federal tax collected in 2005, Connecticut citizens received approximately $0.69 in the way of federal spending. This ranks the state 3rd lowest nationally, slightly higher than in 1995 when Connecticut ranked last, receving $0.68 in federal spending per dollar of taxes. Neighboring states and the federal spending received per dollar of federal taxes collected were: New York ($0.79), Massachusetts ($0.82), New Hampshire ($0.71), Vermont ($1.08) and Rhode Island ($1.00).

Video is below. Forgive the shakiness. I didn’t bring my tripod.

Convention comes to order.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8714686396364384626]

Convention reconvenes and rules committee gives convention rules report.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8084620742572198428]

Credentials committee gives delegate report.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1552698611993061091]

Ralph Capenera gives nominating speech for Joe Visconti.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2927936687511723154]

Theresa McGrath gives a seconding speech for Joe Visconti.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8070810951226226666]

Joe Visconti is confirmed and accepts the nomination.
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1652325788730864071]