Monaco Gets the Republican Straw

She's just put away her campaign signs from the November election, but it looks like they'll soon be making a second appearance as Republican Linda Monaco tries again to join the state legislature. She had waged a strong but  against Democratic state Rep. Mike Lawlor this year, and now the longtime  as he resigns to take a .

A special election for Lawlor's replacement -- which will cost taxpayers more than $30 grand -- will likely be held next March.

East Haven Republicans seem to be all for Monaco taking a another stab. At their Monday night meeting inside the Senior Center, 31 of 35 eligible town committee members in attendance voted in a straw poll to rally around Monaco in her quest for the 99th State District seat. (The town's 3rd District will not vote because it's represented in Hartford by Republican Vinnie Candelora.)

"Linda ran a heck of a campaign and I think it's only fair to give her another shot at it," Ben Mazzucco said right before the poll was taken. Party Chair Lou Crisci said the town committee will caucus Jan. 11 when a candidate -- presumably Monaco -- will be officially endorsed.

After the vote, Monaco, 50, thanked the room saying, "To know I have your support going forward is overwhelming. This time I look forward to a rousing victory."

Democrat James Albis, 26, community development coordinator for East Haven, said he plans to run, though his party has not yet convened to gauge support.

Democratic Town Committee Chair Gene Ruocco said while Albis is a strong contender, the party will hear from all who are interested in getting the nomination at its Jan. 3 meeting.

The special election for Lawlor's seat will likely be held the first or second Tuesday in March, said Republican Registrar of Voters Donna Norman. In her 55 years living in East Haven, she said there's never been a special election. Norman said it will cost the town $30,000-$34,000. Money that is not in the registrar's $141,270 budget.

"We're going to have to go to the Town Council begging for money," she said.

"This is [like] a general election," said Norman. "We have to hire everybody and it's a regular full day."  That means poll workers, assistant registrars, moderators, ballot clerks, absentee ballot counters and so on. And ballots cost the same for a single election as for a multiple, she said.

There will be a small savings since the 3rd District is not included.

No endorsements can be made or money donated until Lawlor officially resigns, vacating his seat. That will happen on Jan. 5, when Gov.-elect Dan Malloy is inaugurated. Very shortly afterwards, the new governor is expected to set the date of the special election.

"Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor gloom of night"

Winter campaigning will be rough. It's a much shorter season, not even two months, than in a general election. It also comes in the midst of the municipal and presidential and Senate races, so there's distraction. And it can be prohibitively cold outside.

"It's all new to us. Nobody's campaigned in the winter," said Carl Ruggiero, Monaco's campaign manager this time and last. Ruggiero served on the Town Council from 1991-2007.

Asked about going door to door in frigid temps and on icy streets, Monaco, who has a private law practice on Hemingway Avenue, nearly recited the mailman's creed of "neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor gloom of night."

"The weather is not going to stop me. We're going to continue our door-to-door campaign," she said. "I have a winter coat. I have hats. I have boots."

But, she conceded, "the ice thing" might be a deterrent so in that case, she'll use the phone more than her feet.

She said she'll have the same campaign team as she did for the 2010 election: campaign co-managers Ruggiero and husband, Gene Monaco; press secretary Lynne Bohan; and treasurer Robert Smith, Monaco's law partner. Plus Monaco said she'll bring on a few more because of the short campaign period.

Despite the cost and other drawbacks of the special election, Ruggiero said he's psyched.

"I'm getting very excited about it. The juices are starting to flow again," he said. "I'm feeling my oats again. I guess politics gets in your blood and it's hard to get it out."

"There is no behind-the-scenes fight"

Speaking of another upcoming election, mayoral candidates John Finkle and Ken McKay made a plea to the town committee Monday evening.

"There are a lot of rumors," said Finkle, former school board chair. "A lot of discussions. Don't listen to the detractors. If there are questions, please come to us."

Finkle was talking about the stuff he said he hears at places like Dunkin Donuts, The Deli, The Rib House, that he and McKay are vicious enemies; that they hate each other.

"It was getting out of control," said McKay, a town councilman.

"There is no behind-the-scenes fight. I don't want our mutual friends to think, 'Oh, my God,'" said Finkle. "The last thing we want to do is divide this room."

The rivaling mayoral candidates said they plan to campaign in a "clean and courteous manner." They vowed to remain friends no matter the outcome.