West Hartford Lawmaker Seeks Statewide Office
by Christine Stuart | Dec 16, 2009 4:29pm
(9) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Election 2010
Former West Hartford Mayor and three-term state Senator Jonathan Harris announced Wednesday that he will form an exploratory committee to run for statewide office in 2010.
With six constitutional offices, Harris said he’ll be running with an eye toward Secretary of the State.
Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, who is also a Democrat, has been traveling the state laying the foundation for a run for governor.
Harris, who currently co-chairs the legislature’s Public Health Committee, said in a phone interview Wednesday that he wants to be in the mix during this “game changing moment” and do for the entire state what he was able to accomplish for his constituents in Bloomfield, Farmington, Burlington, and West Hartford.
One of those accomplishments includes the development of Blue Back Square, a mixed-used residential and retail center behind West Hartford Town Hall. As mayor Harris oversaw the planning and development of the property, which has since created over 600 permanent new jobs and generated $6.4 million in new tax revenue each year.
“I want to be part of the team that will rebuild a strong economy, create good jobs and change the way we’re doing business,” Harris.
In 2007, as co-chairman of the Human Services Committee, Harris helped negotiate a compromise between lawmakers and stakeholders over the distribution of contraception for rape victims.
“Despite the deep-seated feelings and beliefs, we brought all sides together, listened and acted,” Harris said in a press release. “The result was a law that not only provided care and protection to victims of rape, it provided the basis for a better system of evidence collection to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are caught and brought to justice.”
Harris, who is in his legislative office five to six days a week, said he hasn’t decided yet whether he will give up his senate seat. At the moment, “I’m just exploring other opportunities,” and will make a decision about the senate seat in the future.
Harris is the fourth Democratic candidate exploring a possible run for Secretary of the State. He said he will file the paperwork in January.
State Rep. James Spallone, D-Essex, Rep. Kelvin Roldan, D-Hartford, and
Gerry Garcia of New Haven have also filed the necessary paperwork to run for Secretary of the State.
(9) Comments
posted by: ACR | December 17, 2009 2:47am
Drives a non-union made car but votes with them.
His hypocrisy is both predicable and unmistakable.
No class either - wears a hat indoors.
posted by: DemLady | December 17, 2009 10:40am
ACR: What a ridiculous post. I don’t think the kind of car he drives ought to be your focus. Ask any one at the Capitol, Jonathan is one of the hardest working legislators we have. Look at his record and what he has done for his constituents. He cares deeply for the people he serves and is very well respected. Oh, and by the way I have never seen him wear a hat inside.
posted by: ACR | December 17, 2009 1:20pm
>>I don’t think the kind of car he drives ought to be your focus…
Of course you don’t!
It exposes him as the ideological fraud he is.
Standing around wringing his hands in concern but otherwise doing not a blessed thing about jobs in Connecticut while driving a vehicle with little or no CT content.
Odd seeing as after defense and aerospace products the next in line for manufactured products here are OEM automotive components.
Virtually all domestic nameplate vehicles have some, as do most European.
In fact there’s often CT content in Eurocars that never see our shores at all, such as the Fiat based Russian Lada, VW owned Seat and Skoda, as well as many others.
So while he no-doubt relies on them for support, does Harris support his own state’s union workers?
Nope.
Oh? He doesn’t know what people make here?
Then why not, and what’s he doing in office in the first place?
posted by: ACR | December 17, 2009 1:22pm
>>Oh, and by the way I have never seen him wear a hat inside.
I have.
posted by: CT Jim | December 17, 2009 4:26pm
I had never thought that I would agree with ACR at all, ever, but on this issue ACR has some points correct.
Although he has voted with unions on some issues (mostly when everybody else has) he has been far from helpful to union causes and sometimes seems to be irritated by unions.
The unions do notice this and will take that into account when endorsements come around and members get mobilized.
posted by: ladybug2010 | December 31, 2009 7:32pm
I am totally with you ACR on the buying American cars. It annoys me to no end how people have abandoned our American auto workers.
Unfortunately, I would venture to guess that less than 1/4 of our legislators in this state, in congress and in many other states except maybe Michigan - own American made cars let alone cars made by American union workers. So, if you care that much about it you should go to http://www.uaw.org and look up the cars made by union members in this country and tell all your friends - because I bet most of them don’t drive these cars either. It’s a sad state of affairs, but go for it if it really matters to you and isn’t just a way to bag Senator Harris. You might also try and find an American made hat somewhere so you can give it to the Senator the next time you see him wearing a hat indoors - what ever that means….
posted by: lothar | December 31, 2009 9:10pm
With all due respect to the union members who build American cars, it’s only been about a year since an American company brought a car to the market that gets even a reasonable measure of miles per gallon. And that’s the Aveo, which I believe is in the 40s on the highway. Apparently Ford is rolling out some new Focus models that get mpg in the 30s. But even that is no longer enough. Toyota and Honda have been making cars that get 30-something mpg for many years. If you want people to drive American made vehicles, Ford and Chevy are going to need to actually compete against Prius, Civic, and Corolla.
I have high hopes for the Volt. I can’t wait for it to hit the marketplace. But if it’s a $30,000 vehicle it’ll be out of my price range anyway.
Our insatiable desire for energy is the reason why we need to project so much influence around the world. Whether it’s economic imperialism or simply market stabilization, we’re still required to put our people in harm’s way. Why? Because those American corporate brain trusts have sat on their hands hoping to continue extracting resources the same way forever and thereby lining their pockets. It’s a vicious cycle and the blame certainly cannot ever be left at the feet of a member of the CT General Assembly who opts to drive a Prius or whatever.
And aren’t Republicans all about free market worship? Unfortunately the free market has spoken about America’s former obsession with SUVs.
Let’s hope it turns around with the new models.
posted by: ACR | January 1, 2010 12:24am
>>With all due respect to the union members who build American cars, it’s only been about a year since an American company brought a car to the market that gets even a reasonable measure of miles per gallon.
Actually - the American car manufacturers have dozens of `em and the Aveo is Korean.
Further, for reasons that unclear to me; the 9 engines available in Europe become 2 when a car’s going to be built an sold here.
posted by: lothar | January 1, 2010 2:08pm
Hey I didn’t realize Aveo was made in Korea… yikes. So that’s another one that our people don’t build, though it is credited to an American company. The 2008 Focus combined city/hwy mpg is 28 and Aveo’s is 26/27. Seems low based on the feedback I’ve heard from folks who drive them - Aveo supposedly performs in the high 30s low 40s on the hwy, and 08 focus (and newer) gets high 30s on the hwy.
But I guess it comes down to our own definitions of “reasonable” mpg… mine might be higher than yours. Insert word “acceptable” or “desirable” and that’s probably better.
You’re in the car biz aren’t you? I’m not an expert obviously, but i just wish our manufacturers had woken up a lot sooner.
