Category Archives: Politics

Republican State Rep. Candidate Lanier Reaches Goal to Qualify for Public Election Campaign Funds

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Vicki Lanier

Vicki Lanier

Vicki Lanier (R) of Old Lyme has announced that in just six weeks of active fundraising, she significantly exceeded the required amount of funds and number of donors to qualify for public campaign funds to be used both in any primary efforts and ultimately in her race against any Democratic candidate this November.

Lanier’s donors have come from both statewide and the four towns with areas in the 23rd District, namely Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, Lyme and Westbrook. Lanier commented, “I am excited by the level of support we have so quickly built for my campaign effort.  My extensive experience of true civic service and real accomplishments as an elected official have prepared me for the demands of serving as an effective state assembly member. ”

She added, “With the close of the 2014 legislative session, I would also like to express my thanks to our distinguished retiring 23rd district state representative, Marilyn Giuliano.  She has done an outstanding job of balancing leadership on issues with listening to constituents and advocating for their views.”

Lanier, a life-long resident of Old Lyme, was elected to the Regional District 18 Board of Education in 2009, where she served as treasurer.  She holds a law degree from Quinnipiac University and practices family law.  She is a contributing mentor to various women’s groups and active in community efforts supporting children and small businesses.

Devin Carney (R) of Old Saybrook is also campaigning for the 23rd District State Representative seat currently held by Marilyn Giuliano, also of Old Saybrook.  Giuliano, who has represented the district since 2003, announced in February that she would not seek a seventh term.  If both Lanier and Carney continue to pursue the Republican nomination, a Primary election will be held on Aug. 12, in which only registered Republicans in the 23rd District will be eligible to vote.

For additional information on Lanier, contact vickilanier2014@gmail.com, visit her page on Facebook at “Lanier2014” and her website at www.lanier2014.com.

Linares Endorses McKinney for Governor

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John McKinney

John McKinney

State Senator Art Linares (R-Westbrook), whose district includes Lyme, has endorsed State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney to be the next governor of the state of Connecticut.

“Republicans have a great opportunity in this election to take back the governor’s office and win a number of new seats in the legislature, but we will not be successful unless we have a strong candidate at the top of our ticket, Senator John McKinney is that candidate,” Linares said, adding,  “Senator McKinney is a dynamic leader capable of taking our Party and our state in a positive new direction.”

Linares represents the 35th State Senate District in the Connecticut General Assembly, which encompasses, in addition to Lyme, the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Portland, and his hometown of Westbrook.  He is ranking member on the Banks Committee.  In his private life, Linares, 25, is co-founder of a successful, Middletown-based, commercial solar energy company.

Linares is of Cuban-American descent.  His grandparents fled communist Cuba in the 1960’s to start over in America where his father started his own business.  Linares, who volunteered for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio before running for office himself, has made it a priority to improve Republican outreach to Latino communities.

“Senator McKinney, can relate Republican values to young voters, female voters and Latino voters – constituencies we must rally to build a strong foundation for the future of our Party,” Linares said.

McKinney thanked Linares for his endorsement, saying, “Senator Linares represents the future of our Party.  I marvel at what this young man has accomplished in such a short period of time and what the future may hold for him.  I am grateful for his support and for what he has taught me about the issues important to his constituents in southeastern Connecticut.”

Republican State Rep. Candidate Carney Reaches Fundraising Milestone

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Devin Carney

Devin Carney

Republican candidate for State Representative, Devin Carney, has announced that he has raised $6,285 from 205 donors across the 23rd District, which includes Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook.  His campaign will qualify for funding through the Citizen’s Clean Election Program, which requires ‘public support’ from 150 donors in the four towns represented by the 23rd District. $5,000 in small donations is also required in order receive the $27,850 grant, which comes primarily from the sale of abandoned property in the state’s custody.

“We are very excited to have reached our fundraising goals so quickly from such a diverse group of people in the district,” Lisa Knepshield, deputy treasurer for Carney 2014, said.  “We have 95 donors from Old Saybrook, 57 from Old Lyme, 35 from Westbrook, and 18 from Lyme – from all across the political spectrum.”

Carney, a realtor and former political operative, said that surpassing the fundraising threshold so early will give him a chance to focus on the issues and meet more people.  “I am happy that I can now talk to voters without having to worry about raising money and I can bring my message of common sense, fiscal responsibility, and improving our quality of life to good people of the 23rd.”

“People know my character, know my work ethic, and know my enthusiasm to bring logical solutions to Hartford” he said, “I’m not a traditional politician and I am running because we need to get businesses back to Connecticut, keep our talented younger population in the state, make the shoreline affordable to retirees and families and, overall, help rebuild our struggling economy.”

Carney is a lifelong resident of Old Saybrook and grandson of Art Carney of Hollywood and Westbrook fame. Representative Marilyn Giuliano, who has represented the district since 2003, currently holds the seat.  The Old Saybrook Republican announced in February that she would not seek a 7th term.  She has thrown her support behind Carney.

For more information, contact Melissa Bonner at carneyfor23pr@gmail.com.

Giuliano, Sponsors Workforce Development Bill, Legislation Will Provide Apprenticeship Opportunities For Teens

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Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, who represents the 23rd district

Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, who represents the 23rd district

A  proposal aimed at creating apprenticeships for teens passed the state House of Representatives late Friday night, and state Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, an ardent proponent of the measure, was a key supporter.

Giuliano (R-23), an Assistant Republican Leader, said, “This bill will link business people to teens all throughout the state of Connecticut, in an effort to cultivate real life job skills in our youth.”

“I was approached by several successful business owners within the marine, retail, manufacturing and hospitality industries, all of whom were willing and eager to invest in teens seeking career training.  These business owners believed in this apprenticeship concept and felt that creating a career ladder for our youth would be an invaluable investment in the future of our teens. This bill helps us develop teens into trained young workers,” said Giuliano.

The bill, House Bill 5559, was modeled after the Step Up Program instituted by the CT Department of Labor to focus on career development and apprenticeship opportunities.  The Step Up program helps small businesses hire unemployed adults and expand the workforce.

The bill now awaits approval in the Senate.

Editor’s Note: Giuliano represents the 23rd district covering Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook

Emily Bjornberg of Lyme Declares Democratic Candidacy for 33rd State Senate Seat

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Emily Bjornberg, State Senate candidate. Photo by Jerome Wilson.

Emily Bjornberg, State Senate candidate. Photos by Jerome Wilson.

With three 2012 election rivals and the district’s former 20-year Democratic senator looking on, Emily Bjornberg of Lyme Monday declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 12-town 33rd State Senate District. Bjornberg will challenge the first term incumbent elected in 2012, Republican State Senator Art Linares of Westbrook.

About 50 friends and supporters turned out for Bjornberg’s announcement at the Deep River Town Landing on the banks of the Connecticut River. Bjornberg, 33, was joined by her husband, Jason, an Iraq War veteran, and children Elliot (age 7), and Anna (age 4).

But it was the other participants at the announcement that signaled district Democrats have united behind Bjornberg in an effort to reclaim the senate seat. There was former ten-term State Senator Eileen Daily of Westbrook, who had represented the district for two decades before her retirement in 2012, and two former candidates who faced off in an August 2012 primary for the nomination to succeed Daily, former state Rep. James Crawford of Westbrook, and longtime party activist Mary Ellen Klinck of East Haddam. Crawford won the nomination in the primary.

Also standing near the podium was Haddam First Selectwoman Melissa Schlag. Elected as first selectwoman as a Democrat last November, Schlag had run an aggressive campaign for the senate seat in 2012 as the nominee of the Green Party. Linares, at age 24, won the seat in 2012, defeating Crawford on a 23,915 to 21,251 vote. Schlag received 4,317 votes as the Green Party candidate.

Endorsement of Bjornberg's candidacy by Haddam First Selectman Melissa Schlag, a ranking woman office holder.

Endorsement of Bjornberg’s candidacy by Haddam First Selectman Melissa Schlag, a ranking woman office holder.

Schlag Monday pledged to actively support Bjornberg in the challenge to the incumbent Republican. “We’re all together again,” she said. Klinck said Bjornberg was “a true social justice Democrat,” who would appeal to young people in the campaign. Daily described Bjornberg as “a very sound Democrat with a huge social conscience that we can all be proud of,” while Crawford said Bjornberg would bring the Linares record on various issues “into the daylight.”

Former State Senator Eileen Daily endorsing Bjornberg's candidacy for her former seat.

Former State Senator Eileen Daily  (extreme left, back row) endorsing Bjornberg’s candidacy for her former seat.

Bjornberg is from the Reynolds family that owns and operates the Reynolds Subaru dealership in the Hamburg section of Lyme. She has worked for the past eight years as Director of Youth and Family Ministries for the Deep River Congregational Church, and is also active with the Lyme Land Conservation Trust.

Bjornberg pledged an active campaign for the Nov. 4 election, citing education, the environment, and the economy as the three top issues.. “I will be a strong voice for our region in the majority caucus, where important policy and legislative decisions are made,” she said, adding “we can no longer afford to be represented by a senator who did not receive a majority of votes in the last election, and who routinely votes against legislation that will benefit our towns.”

Bjornberg is expected to receive an uncontested endorsement for the Democratic nomination at the district nominating convention on May 19. Linares is expected to be nominated for a second term by district Republicans at a May 12 convention. The 33rd Senate District includes the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Portland, Westbrook, and portions of Old Saybrook.