Middletown Election Guide 2012

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Middletown Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. 

President

(D): The president came to Connecticut last election to stump for his Democratic colleagues, although this year he could be more busy campaigning for himself.  

(R): The former Massachusetts governor is no stranger to Connecticut, having most recently visited in May for a lucrative fundraiser.

U.S. Senate

 (D): The Democratic congressman is polling ahead of his closest party rival by a 50-20 margin as he tries to win outgoing Sen. Joe Lieberman’s seat.

 (D): The Democratic candidate for Senate has her work cut out for her as she tries to close the gap on U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s strong lead as the August primary approaches.

Sylvester Salcedo (D): The Bridgeport lawyer is known for being one of the few Asian-Americans to run for U.S. Senate in the 2012 election — perhaps now the only one since  — as well as driving to the Mexican border earlier this year to gain a some attention for his campaign.

Lee Whitnum (unaffiliated): The Greenwich resident spark some controversy when  because Gov. Malloy and Rep. Chris Murphy are "lying to the people to pander to the ultra conservative branch of the Jewish community." She announced in June that she would 

 (R): The former WWE executive tried – and failed – in her run for U.S. Senate two years ago. This year, she was the Republican favorite after .

 (R): Despite losing the party nominations to Linda McMahon, .

Kie Westby (R): , the Southbury attorney said that career politicians have had their chance to make changes. "It requires a fresh face, a fresh approach," he said. Although he hasn't officially suspended his campaign, Westby recently announced that he wouldn't submit the signatures required to be part of the Republican primary.

First Congressional District

John Larson (D): Rep. John Larson has been serving the first congressional district in congress since 1999. During his tenure, Larson has secured the defense contracts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's F-135 Engine, which were built in Connecticut in 2011.

He recently started the Connecticut with the purpose of the program being to bring what are known as "Track One” candidates together with prospective employers who are looking for a certain skill set.

Last month, he introduced "the 'Victory for Veterans' commemorative stamp, which is a .21 cent stamp that has no postage value, but can be placed on letters to show support for our veterans," according to an email from his spokesman.

John Decker (R): On his Facebook page, John Decker states that he is a "real person" and not a "career politician."

"I look forward to a time when we elect real people at home in their communities instead of re-electing career politicians interested in spending our money and in their own self-preservation," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Decker has served Connecticut as a financial advisor for the past 16 years. He recently earned his certified financial planner designation, serves on the Board of Directors of Business for Downtown Hartford and is a deacon, according to his Facebook page.

Third Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D): Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has been in Congress. She’s hoping to add another two to that tally this November. She was recently in Orange to , where she called malnutrition and obesity a "double-edged sword.”

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has been in Congress for 11 terms. She serves in the Democratic leadership as co-chair of the Steering and Policy Committee, and she is the ranking member on the Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees our country’s investments in education, health, and employment. She also serves on the subcommittee responsible for FDA and agriculture, where she oversees drug and food safety.

Congresswoman DeLauro was recently in Middletown touring small businesses, celebrating their contributions to Connecticut’s economy and hearing their concerns about the nation’s economy. DeLauro discussed federal initiatives to help small business owners, including the principles laid out in her own jobs plan. “We need to do everything possible to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and the middle-class,” DeLauro said. “Right now, Congress is not doing enough to create jobs and we have a lot of work to do.”

Wayne Winsley (R): The Naugatuck resident faces an uphill challenge against long-time incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro. Still, Winsley is optimistic and thinks it’s time for a change in the third district.

Ninth Senate District

Paul Doyle (D): With almost 20 years experience in Connecticut politics, state Sen. Paul Doyle is trying to be elected for his fourth term.

"I will try to work hard to get elected for another two years," he previously told Patch. Doyle has also served six terms as a state representative.

Doyle, who also represents Middletown, Newington and Wethersfield, said he plans to focus on another version of the , which seeks to create new jobs for small businesses, and recently toured stone fabricator .

Joseph Dinunzio (R): Joseph Dinunzio is not new to the political scene and in 2002, challenged Billy Ciotto for 9th State Senate District seat. This time, the former town council member will challenge Doyle for his seat.

"For the residents of Connecticut these are very difficult times. From economic, fiscal, and quality of life perspectives it can be concluded that we are in dire straits," he said in an email to Patch Sunday night. "The burden for this condition is absolutely and ultimately attributed to the failure of leadership."

Dinunzio said Connecticut politics need "elected officials that should and must 'tell it like it is'" and "infusion of new critical thinking and ideas."

13th Senate District

: Democratic Meriden City Councilwoman. A Mercy High School graduate, Bartolomeo has said she supports small business owners and job creation, protecting workers’ rights, ensuring access to quality health care, providing children with a superior education, controlling government spending, keeping taxes to a minimum, and assisting seniors and families with daily life.

Sen. Len Suzio (R): Incumbent who served on Meriden's Board of Education for 14 years, ran and lost against Gaffey in the November 2010 general election — and two times before, in 1998 and 1996. He is a frequent presence in Middletown, hosting breakfast meet-and-greets with taxpayers and town hall meetings with constitutents, most notably for his work to cap and and a vocal supporter of package.

100th Assembly District

(D): Received the unanimous Democratic nomination at the local convention. Lesser is serving his second term for the residents of Durham, Middlefield, Rockfall and Middletown; however his district will change come January when city House representation will fall from four to two due to the of Reps. Gail Hamm (D-34th) and Christie Carpino (R-32nd) districts.

(R): Two-term Middletown common councilwoman offered many facets of her platform to some 43 members in the audience, including implementing a cap on the gas tax, halting projects like the New Britain Busway, eliminating $15 million to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in tax credits, promote private purchases of hospitals, repealing the Dream Act (allows illegal residents to attend colleges and pay in-state tuition), implementing a new law for boards of education to be a separate taxing district, reinstating the death penalty, repealing the transvestite/transsexual bathroom bill; eliminating same-day election registration; and disallowing government votes after midnight and holding legislative public hearings at night.

33rd Assembly District

(D): Serra has been representing Middletown since 1992. He serves as House Chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Aging, and led the floor debate on legislation (HB5440) approved by the House of Representatives to enhance the rights of grandparents seeking visitation rights with their grandchildren.

(R): Ran unsuccessfully in November for the Middletown Board of Education. Grippo, a longtime resident and mother of two children, is an 18-year insurance executive and an extensive background in litigation, marketing and public relations. She is an accomplished speaker and was selected from pool of more than 100 candidates to serve on a corporate business resolution team. During that time, she helped initiate and incorporate visible and effective diversity and inclusion training.

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