Jarjura Tries To Block Lembo’s Funding in Comptroller Race
by Christine Stuart | Jul 23, 2010 2:39pm
(17) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Election 2010
(Updated) Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura equated Kevin Lembo’s race to qualify for public funds to a basketball game.
“It’s like a basketball game - the buzzer goes off and that’s it,” Jarjura said in Hartford Superior Court Friday.
Jarjura, who filed an injunction against Lembo and the State Elections Enforcement Commission Friday afternoon, is running against Lembo in the Aug. 10 Democratic primary for state comptroller.
Lembo was allowed to continue to fundraise to meet the $75,000 threshold even after last week’s deadline, Jarjura said.
Hartford Superior Court Judge James Graham held a meeting Friday with attorneys in the case and asked them to return to court Monday at 2 p.m. for a hearing in the matter. Meanwhile, Lembo has agreed only to spend $30,000 of the $375,000 public grant he received this morning. Jarjura also qualified for the $375,000 in public funds and has spent some of the money on two mailers.
Beth Rotman, executive director of the Citizens’ Election Program, said every candidate was given a “cure” period to make sure they qualified for the funds.
Since Jarjura raised an issue about the funds Lembo raised in his exploratory campaign and whether they should be counted toward the $75,000, the State Elections Enforcement Commission allowed Lembo to go out and raise an additional $6,000 buffer. Jarjura said that’s like taking a shot at the buzzer in a basketball game.
Rotman disagreed. She said all the campaigns were given an opportunity to go back out and raise money if they felt they may not have enough qualifying contributions to meet the threshold. The period they have to do this depends on when they filed the application. She said since Lembo filed on the last possible day he didn’t have much time to come up with the additional funds.
“If the Mayor of Waterbury wants to spend the public dollars of his campaign grant on lawyers and lawsuits, that is his choice,” Lembo said in an emailed statement. “I am confident that our fundraising and our application complied completely with the law, and we will continue to talk to the voters of Connecticut about the issues that are most important to them – balancing our state budget and getting our economy back on the right track.”
(17) Comments
posted by: Martha H | July 23, 2010 3:03pm
If Jarjura were elected, would he try to ban abortions in Connecticut? The FIC’s Peter Wolfgang said that Jarjura is “on the cutting edge” of anti-choice politics. What does that mean??
posted by: MAS | July 23, 2010 3:26pm
“Jarjura said that’s like taking a shot at the buzz in a basketball game.” - Doesn’t Jarjura know that a shot at the buzzer is still counted? The game isn’t over until AFTER the buzzer sounds!
posted by: David K | July 23, 2010 3:31pm
Who knows. Perhaps there is a way for a Comptroller to throw up roadblocks to health-care funding or even de-fund specific programs for women. I honestly don’t know.
But I HAVE been wondering WHY does Jarjura want this job? He ran for governor, then LG (until both Lamont and Malloy announced other running mates), then flirted with Attorney General before declaring for Comptroller. It seems to me that—above all else—he just wants to escape Waterbury.
Lembo, on the other hand, has been in the Comptroller’s office for years, then headed up the Health Care Advocate’s office. It makes perfect sense for someone with that resume to seek the office. Plus, it makes perfect sense that he should win it—he’s been routinely lauded for his intellect, analytical ability and work ethic.
As far as I can tell, Jarjura is for Jarjura alone. Every choice he’s made in this campaign season has been self-serving. Everything Lembo has done in his career has been about public service.
Easy choice.
posted by: Matt W. | July 23, 2010 4:03pm
Yes I heard that the decision on abortions was going to be left to the state comptroller this year.
I think it’s just an effort to make the race a little more interesting.
posted by: mosley | July 23, 2010 4:40pm
I checked the state constitution and under Comptroller there is nothing there that deals with abortions. Martha H, what are you smoking? Must be strong stuff.
posted by: Martha H | July 23, 2010 8:36pm
M & M,
FYI, boys:
The comptroller is co-chairman of the (SustiNet) board created by the legislature (Public Act 09-148 and Public Act 09-03 ) to oversee the most sweeping health care reforms in Connecticut history.
I’m a blogger, Jim, Not a doctor!
But I DO know that abortions are part of our health care system.
So, bully boys, put down the hookahs and do the friggin’ math.
posted by: CT Jim | July 24, 2010 9:13am
I agree with Martha,
This Jarjura is a scary character for sure and he is a affiliated with the family research council a right wing group that is rabbidly anti-choice and homophobic.
But I guess their moral compass doesnt cover corruption or spending time in a federal pen for it.
Because none of those guys had a problem with Jarjura hooking up Johnny Boy Rowland with a do nothing $100,000 a year job.
CT can never let another
Waterbury politician near any state money.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 24, 2010 12:18pm
Jarjura has been a General Assembly member, an Assistant Attorney General, and a Mayor.
Find any evidence that his Catholic views have translated into any real political legislation or reactionary government action against Wade.
What? You can’t find any!
Yes Jackie Kozin, Lembo’s spinmeister, says otherwise.
Jajura is an advisor to FIC’s pro-Catholic policies. Waterbury tried to pass legislation to become an ‘abortion free city’ that was not Jarjura’s doing and quickly killed.
What Martha H and David K are really saying is that Catholics can’t hold office and should be discriminated against within the Democratic Party.
NO? Then explain yourselves.
posted by: Martha H | July 24, 2010 7:15pm
Sorry, G-boy: your name is too offensive for you to merit a response. Try again later.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 25, 2010 7:04am
No comment necessary Martha. Catholics. Kennedy era Democrats, are told every day where they stand in the CT Democratic party—-as in “Get TF Out”.
If you don’t abort and you aren’t queer there’s no room for you at the inn.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 25, 2010 6:41pm
Here’s a link to an org chart of the Comptroller’s Office.
You can get the info for a different year by changing the year in the url link.
Find Lembo’s Assistant Controller’s position? Better yet find Lembo at all!
Where’s Waldo indeed!
Jarjura’s right. There wasn’t an assitant comptroller’s position at the time. Lembo was at best a glorified clerk who attended some meetings and retirement parties.
What’s next? Lembo runs for Attorney General and claim he was actively practicing law at the time?
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 25, 2010 7:07pm
A tasteless website from Jarjura yet it appears to be accurate.
Is it just me? What is going on this year? Bysiwiecz and her ‘active practice’ controversy, Blumenthal’s Viet Service ambiguity and PAC conference in Canada, and now Lembo’s somewhat inaccurate and well padded resume?
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 26, 2010 1:33am
Calm down Martha.
Let’s look at the recent history of the Comptroller’s Office. In 1994 the GOP ran Gene Gavin, a well qualified CPA, for the position. Makes sense right? A guy with a CPA running an office who’s main mission is financial oversight?
So what happens? The Democrat mob at the convention starts chanting “Caligula’s Horse! We want Caligula’s Horse”.
Unable to produce the horse the Democrats produced the next best thing: an out of work radiologist/x-ray technician for Comptroller: Nancy Wyman.
The unwashed pagan masses went wild and Wyman waltzed to victory.
Does she even have a college degree?
Flash forward to 2010: Let’s look at the GOP candidate:
When Lembo was working in an AIDS clinic and mismanaging campaigns in upstate New York and working somewhere deep in the bowels of the CT Comptroller’s office Jack Orculli was the CFO of designer Michael Kors International Fashion Design company. He’s got the experience and pedigree of a Finance guy. Lembo? The pedigree of a party guy who waited his turn.
Im ‘Freakonomic’ fashion the teaparty party, the GOP, doesn’t run man-in-the-street bumpkins for Comptroller. They run successful well educated business people.
The Democrats,OTOH, seem to prefer nominating inbred poltically connected monsters with very slight resumes for the Comtroller’s office. It’s the type of thing people would accuse the party of the tea party of doing.
And Lembo’s current finanicial chores? He’s got something like a staff of 5 and a $500,000 budget.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | July 26, 2010 1:42am
Orchulli’s full resume:
http://www.webackjack2010.com/index.cfm/about.htm
Lembo’s Financial Summary for 2009:
His staff and budget have doubled since he took over. The head count is still under 10 and the budget is under $1 mil. Rell was so impresed with Lembo’s work she tried to have it cut from the budget. The rabble in the General Assembly wouldn’t hear of it.
posted by: cedarhillresident | July 26, 2010 9:43am
G-boy had to laugh at all your comments…must work for Jarjura…funny. Anyone that knows Kevin or has had to deal with him on any level, know that he is a good human being! He is not part of the same old boys club! And he is for the people..not the game! He gets my vote, and he gets everyone I know votes.. because he is the right man for the job…Jarjura is delusional!
