Archive - Jan 17, 2010
Harmful New Disruptions to an Election In‐Process
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 21:39Colin McEnroe has an interesting blog post up about the latest flap about whether Susan Bysiewicz is legally qualified to be Attorney General.
Colin focuses on her comment about her ‘staff’. I think this is a non-issue. Clearly, she should be speaking with her campaign staff about this. It would also seem clear that the staff of the person in charge of running elections should have an opinion about this. For that matter, staff does not necessarily mean paid staff in a campaign.
More importantly, people are starting to point to the Connecticut Constitution which states “Every elector who has attained the age of eighteen years shall be eligible to any office in the state”
Colin writes:
The problem is that the AG statute is in conflict with the Constitution. So, to prevail in that way, Byswiewicz would have to seek to have the statute struck down, which would take time and be messy and call attention to this whole issue of her qualifications.
To which I replied on his blog that
The Connecticut Constitution does seem pretty clear in favor of Ms. Bysiewicz. However, I don’t view her seeking to strike it down as being messy or detrimental. It would keep her name in the spot light. It would show her as fighting for the people of Connecticut and not beholden to the lawyers’ lobby. I suspect she would easily prevail and she could then use that as an example of her qualifications.
Even more importantly, it will take the focus off of how on January 5th, her campaign sent out a press release about filing an amicus brief in Green Party of Connecticut v. Garfield in which she said,
“Now, we risk not just falling backward, but creating harmful new disruptions to an election in‐process. For that reason, it is vital that the Court hear from someone this law directly affects, an actual candidate who has pledged to participate in the Citizen Election Program in 2010."
Then, while the Second Circuit was hearing oral arguments, announced that she would not participate in the Citizen Election Program in 2010.
Ms. Bysiewicz’ decision not to participate in the Citizen’s Election Program is a harmful new disruption.
This Week in Woodbridge
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 10:55This is the third week that I am writing a This Week in Woodbridge entry. During the past few weeks, my thoughts about this column have been slowly changing. Initially, I was reading through the regularly scheduled events listed on the Woodbridge Town Website, and supplementing it with additional information that I’ve been receiving. Now, I’m putting that information in the
Woodbridge Citizen Calendar. I’m also reading through the Woodbridge Town Library Calendar. People with other information about what is happening around Woodbridge are encouraged to send information to editor at woodbridgecitizen.com. This column will continue to evolve as more information becomes available.
On Sunday evening, Ridgefield First Selectman and possible Gubernatorial candidate Rudy Marconi will be the guest on Woodbridge Resident Fiona Hynes' Internet base radio show. In previous shows, Fiona has interviewed former Stamford Mayor and possible Gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy, and in 2008, State Representative Candidate Marc Garofalo. Additional candidates and elected officials are being lined up for future shows and candidates and elected officials are encouraged to contact Fiona’s parents to schedule an appearance.
Monday, the library, the schools, and town offices are closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Residents are encouraged to find ways of participating in a day of service. In the evening there will be a benefit concern for relief efforts in Haiti at Woolsey Hall on the Yale Campus in New Haven.
Tuesday there will be no school at Beecher Road as the teachers participate in teacher workshops. However, there will be arts, crafts and stories for children four years and older at the town Library. In the evening, there will be a panel on getting organized at the town Library. The Woodbridge Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting and the GATA subcommittee of the Cable Area Council 2 will hold its monthly meeting.
Wednesday there will be events for toddlers at the library during the day, and a career networking meeting at the library in the evening.
Thursday there will be a music program for pre-schoolers at the library in the morning and a book discussion about Jane Eyre in the evening. The Woodbridge Board of Selectmen’s Investment Sub-Committee Meeting will meet at town hall at 5 PM, followed by the Board of Finance at 6 PM and the Conservation Commission at 7 PM.
(Cross-posted at the Woodbridge Citizen.)
