Poll: Maturo Wins By Landslide

Republican mayoral candidate Joe Maturo was all set to show off the results of his recent poll Monday night before his party. But was derailed. East Haven Republican Town Committee Chair Lou Crisci voiced concern.

"To what extent do we want public exposure of the polls?" he asked. (Patch was the only media rep at the RTC's monthly meeting at the Senior Center.) So Crisci suggested going over the outcome in executive session.

Some agreed with Crisci, but others, like Maturo, disagreed saying once the poll results are discussed -- even in a closed-door session -- the word would be out on the street in no time.

And that word would behoove Maturo, according to the reported outcome of his poll. In three scenarios pitched to roughly 500 registered East Haven voters (party-affiliation breakdown was not supplied for this story), Maturo soundly tromps his likely primary opponent, former Board of Ed Chair John Finkle, as well as incumbent Democratic Mayor April Capone, who's vying for a third term this November.

"I'm willing to show mine," Maturo responded to Crisci. "I don't need to go into executive session. We have a poll and we want to share it. As soon as we walk out of the room [the news will be out]. It's a small community."

Maturo is making his fifth bid for mayor; he served as East Haven's top elected official from 1997-2007, when he lost to Capone in a tight race. Finkle lost to Capone in 2009. Now the two men are expected to duke it out in a Sept. 13 primary.

After much back and forth, the committee voted to meet behind closed doors. Only three opposed, including Maturo's campaign manager, Town Councilman Paul Carbo. and Town Councilman Richard Anania.

"I felt that the press had every right to know what those poll numbers were and it wasn't anything we were ashamed of," said Carbo. "Both Republicans have a pretty good lead on Mayor Capone."

However, Maturo eventually voted with the majority.

"When I saw it was going to pass, I [decided] I'd go along with majority," Maturo said during a phone interview after the meeting.

According to Maturo, these are the results from the Washington, D.C., polling firm Stones' Phones:

In a primary race: Maturo, 52.9 percent; Finkle, 25.93 percent; either refused to or didn't respond, 20.7 percent

General election between Finkle and Capone: Finkle 52.37; Capone 42.63 percent

General election between Maturo and Capone: Maturo, 60.39 percent; Capone 36.29 percent

In a three-way race: Maturo 36.99; Capone 32.90; Finkle, 19.77

Finkle Campaign Manager Joe Zullo said polls on issues are "more reliable" than those for candidates. Still, he said, "All indicators are that the people of East Haven are ready for a change. And we're excited that we have a chance to bring that change to East Haven."

Insiders say they hope there won't be a primary because of the possibility it would fracture the party. The RTC will hold its nominating convention the third week of July (exact date not yet set, according to Crisci). It's often understood that the victor goes unchallenged onto the November ballot. But sometimes not.

Despite Maturo's poll numbers, Zullo said the party supports Finkle.

"According to our internal numbers, we have the support of the Republican Town Committee, so Joe's going to be the one that's required to collect signatures to force a primary," Zullo said in a phone interview.

Summing up the executive session, Zullo said, "I was very encouraged by this meeting. It was diplomatic. It was cordial. And I came away with a definite feeling that everyone is united in their goal to bringing new leadership to Town Hall."

Democratic Town Committee Chair Gene Ruocco called Maturo's announcement "rhetoric."

 "These are unofficial polls and I see no reason to respond because I know for a fact, in the last election [2009] they [Finkle camp] put out the same rhetoric that their candidate beat April," said Ruocco. "And April came out winning by 800 votes." He said Democrats have not yet conducted a mayoral poll and was unsure if they would.

Whether they're unreliable or just plain rhetoric, Maturo is singing.

"I feel great. That's why I'm in the race and that's why I'm gonna win," he said. "I offered to do a poll with the other team [Finkle], and if I come out 10 percent below, I'll quit the race. They would not to agree with that."