Albis Gets Hartford

Upon learning he prevailed Tuesday night, 26-year-old Democrat James Albis said he was “relieved” the election was over and is recharging his youthful energy for Hartford, where he will succeed longtime former state Rep. Mike Lawlor.

Albis beat Republican Linda Monaco, 50, in Tuesday’s special election for the 99th General Assembly District by 96 votes: 1,425-1,329. That’s 2,750  people out of the town’s 15,689 registered voters. Each vote cost taxpayers $11.63 (the election reportedly cost $32,000 divided by 2,750 voters).

“This is a great night for East Haven. It truly is,” said the state representative-elect. “I’m just excited to go to Hartford and start working for the people of East Haven.”

Dozens of Democrats gathered in their temporary headquarters in a modest retail space on Main Street. They munched on pizza out of a box and cookies on a single paper plate and drank room-temperature soda. They rested on folding chairs.

Lawlor, who vacated his state rep seat last month to take a job in the Malloy administration, responded to Republican criticism during the campaign that Albis was too young to go to Hartford. Lawlor said he too was in his 20s when first elected to the General Assembly and was reelected 12 times.

“He’s a smart guy but he’s also low-key and humble,” Lawlor said of Albis. “You always want to put your best and brightest in Harford. He’s no showboat.” Lawlor said he mentored Albis during the campaign and will continue to when Albis takes his old seat.

“James got into this to win,” said Democratic Party Chair Gene Ruocco. “He knocked on 2,000 doors in one of the worst winters.”

James Albis’ father stood quietly by as his son spoke to the crowd.

“I’m proud of the reasons he ran. He loves the town and feels he has something to contribute,” said the elder Albis. He said James is the first in the family to be elected to state office. His father served 12 years as the town’s probate court judge, losing his seat last year to Republican North Haven Probate Judge Mike Brandt; the two towns were merged under the state‘s consolidation. James’ mother, Jackie Albis, used to sit on the Board of Education.

“I think it’s very important for the residents of East Haven that a homegrown son will be representing them in Hartford,” said Democratic Town Council Chair James Dougherty. “I think he has a lot of energy and he’s willing to do what he needs to do in these difficult times.”

Mayor April Capone said Hartford more than ever needs someone with Albis‘ qualifications.

“Who better than a person with an economics degree from New York University to lead the state through the financial process?” said Capone. “Who better to represent East Haven than someone born and raised (here)? Who better than someone who graduated college in the last decade to help new college graduates stay in the state? The voters of East Haven said, who better than James Albis?”

Across town, Republicans were eating away their defeat at Il Salice, a catering business on Roma Street. They dined on ziti, shrimp and salad on white tablecloths. There was a table of cheese and crackers, another with desserts and also a bar.

Many folks in the room said they were surprised at the outcome. Republican mayoral candidate John Finkle was one of them.

‘I’m a little surprised,” he said. “I know Jimmy is a very nice person. My concern is that people just weren’t opting to vote against him. I don’t know. I see the taxes and am very concerned. It’s harder than people think to break the Democratic stronghold (in East Haven). I hope (Albis) remembers that his votes have to be consistent with his voter base.”

“We put up a good fight and the (voters) spoke,” said Monaco, who ran for the same elected post last November, losing to Lawlor by 819 votes: 3,770-2,951.

In her concession speech she said, “Unfortunately, East Haven’s long and deep-seated roots within the Democratic Party are not yet ready to be cut. We did make headway, however, into cutting those roots last November and we continued to do so today. It will be done.”

Monaco vowed: “We will not be knocked down. We are not going away.”

Republican Town Councilman Paul Carbo said he too was surprised that Albis bested Monaco. “I feel his inexperience … you’d think people would have recognized that,” he said.

Carbo said “how responsible could” Albis be when he had walked away from a just-won Council seat in 2007, two months after he was sworn in.

Finkle, with his eyes on November, said, “Now we gear up for the next one.“

District      Votes
D1    Albis, 330 vs. Monaco, 275
D2    Albis, 327 vs. Monaco, 344
D4    Albis, 312 vs. Monaco, 247
D5    Albis, 234, vs. Monaco, 229
1S     Albis, 37 vs. Monaco, 37
5S     Albis, 38 vs. Monaco, 14
Absentee ballots: Monaco, 183 vs. Albis, 147