McDonald's competitor drops out of race

the republicans seem weaker in stamford than i ever recall them being. it's very sad to see them not challenge for almost all positions.

dasher wrote:

the republicans seem weaker in stamford than i ever recall them being. it's very sad to see them not challenge for almost all positions.

They talk a good game, but when it comes time to "put up or shut up", where are the candidates?

It's far easier to stand on the sidelines and criticize than to get into the game and have to be held responsible for making decisions.

Publius has hit the nail on the head.
They seem to want others to sally forth to fight the evil dragons whilst they cower behind their curtains.

They should now plan on keeping their mouths shut for the next two years about anything that happens on the state level. If you won't offer an alternative then you can't complain about what happens.

Republican/Democrat its all the same, Bigger Government.

dasher wrote:

the republicans seem weaker in stamford than i ever recall them being. it's very sad to see them not challenge for almost all positions.

The GOP has become a ghost party in Stamford, and Chairman Munger should be ashamed of himself.

He has had two years to groom and field candidates.
Mr. Pierre-Louis may have been flattered by the nod, but should candidly never have accepted it considering his other obligations. They did not just arise.

Blau is unknown to me, but there is reason to doubt there is much money or many hands from the GOP backing him. That district was a sinecure of the Truglia family, who served it for many years. The late Tony, and retiring Christel, were independent enough to stand on their own, not bowing to the local party powers, ever. It will be interesting to see how independent her nominates successor proves to be.

The district with no GOP candidate where one could win is Tong's. Let's face it, Donny Scherer didn't campaign very hard two years ago, and Tong did. But he's beatable.

Stamford Democrats enjoy a leader who treats the chair like a full time job, and is extremely resourceful as a money-raiser and campaign organizer. Recruiting candidates is also full-time.

Until the local GOP gets a leader ready to play as hard, it's out of the game, waiting to pick up the crumbs. There aren't many.

Vox Pop wrote:

<quoted text>
Stamford Democrats enjoy a leader who treats the chair like a full time job, and is extremely resourceful as a money-raiser and campaign organizer. Recruiting candidates is also full-time.
Until the local GOP gets a leader ready to play as hard, it's out of the game, waiting to pick up the crumbs. There aren't many.

But there could be. i can think of one right off the top of my head.

My guess is it isn't just getting the right leader; it's also dealing with the fractiousness of the party, which goes back as long as i can remember.

Publius wrote:

<quoted text>
But there could be. i can think of one right off the top of my head.
My guess is it isn't just getting the right leader; it's also dealing with the fractiousness of the party, which goes back as long as i can remember.

Come on, you remember when the West Side and North Stamford Dems were on one end..and the middle of town, Pulaski Club and East Side Dems were on the other!
Talk about smoke-filled rooms!
Who ever thought Kuczo would oust Giordano by SIX VOTES in a mayoral primary?
Both sides have had their share. Right now it's the GOP's turn.

Vox Pop wrote:

<quoted text>
Come on, you remember when the West Side and North Stamford Dems were on one end..and the middle of town, Pulaski Club and East Side Dems were on the other!
Talk about smoke-filled rooms!
Who ever thought Kuczo would oust Giordano by SIX VOTES in a mayoral primary?
Both sides have had their share. Right now it's the GOP's turn.

And i remember when someone brought the Pulaski, East Side and North Stamford groups together and shut out the West Side.

But the Dems always put up candidates, except for Town Clerk. A party HAS to field a slate of candidates, even if it has to draft them to "take one for team".

I understand nobody wants to run against Fox, Shapiro or McDonald, but you said it yourself: how can they let the Tong seat go uncontested? That is just disgraceful.

What an opportunity for the Green Party to put up a slate.

Vox Pop wrote:

<quoted text>
The GOP has become a ghost party in Stamford, and Chairman Munger should be ashamed of himself.
He has had two years to groom and field candidates.
.

Btw, i'm not sure that is a fair swipe at Chris Munger, who is a real gentleman who took on a tough mayoral battle and acquitted himself very well.

But he lacks the political experience to be town chairman. I don't know if he fully understood what is necessary to do the job well.

if the GOP were smart it would look for someone with a profile similar to the Dem chair.

if this is a sign for next year, then democrats will keep their mayor and dominate the city reps even more than they do now. local gop should be upset about this effort. i agree with someone from above about the repubs needing leadership

Publius wrote:

<quoted text>
...I understand nobody wants to run against Fox, Shapiro or McDonald, but you said it yourself: how can they let the Tong seat go uncontested? That is just disgraceful.
What an opportunity for the Green Party to put up a slate.

Brace yourself, I'm going to agree with you - on everything you've said - except for the Green Party, and a little on the GOP Chairman.

Tong's district can be a sinecure for any Reoublican willing to campaign. It was for Judge Bingham, and for Congressman Shays, among others. It was Sherer's to lose, and he lost it to a man whose career allowed him to door-to-door the district TWICE. Tong earned the win last time, this time he coasts.

Third parties can skew outcomes. You remember knocking heads with John L. Santariga's "Upset Taxpayers." and the sabots Lillian Fillardo would throw into the works.

No disrespect to Mr. Munger, but when you want to knock heads with the eminent Ms. Camhi's team, you can't show up with T-ballers. You need a full squad, ready to take lumps and full of hope to grow. He needs a plan, a money raiser, and people who will stick together.

Esposito was disliked by his own party, and would likely have lost to Goldstein, had the rift among the Dems over Serrani not been so wide. Splits within parties are always possible.

Vox Pop wrote:

<quoted text>
Brace yourself, I'm going to agree with you - on everything you've said - except for the Green Party, and a little on the GOP Chairman.
Tong's district can be a sinecure for any Reoublican willing to campaign. It was for Judge Bingham, and for Congressman Shays, among others. It was Sherer's to lose, and he lost it to a man whose career allowed him to door-to-door the district TWICE. Tong earned the win last time, this time he coasts.
Third parties can skew outcomes. You remember knocking heads with John L. Santariga's "Upset Taxpayers." and the sabots Lillian Fillardo would throw into the works.
No disrespect to Mr. Munger, but when you want to knock heads with the eminent Ms. Camhi's team, you can't show up with T-ballers. You need a full squad, ready to take lumps and full of hope to grow. He needs a plan, a money raiser, and people who will stick together.
Esposito was disliked by his own party, and would likely have lost to Goldstein, had the rift among the Dems over Serrani not been so wide. Splits within parties are always possible.

And we agree that the Republicans need a full-time, politically savvy leader with good people skills, fund raising capability, and considerable personal resources.

p.s., i was just kidding about the Green Party.

a republican friend said that munger was voted in as chair earlier this year so it'll be almost two years before they change leaders unless they oust him early

publius, you're right about the opportunity for other parties right now. maybe the independents from last year will make another go of it

sorry to sound corny but it seems a bit unamerican to have only one party supply candidates and win all of the elections

Munger inherited an incompetent mess from McCabe. These things are not built into powerhouses over night. The Republican Party struggled for a long long time before he became involved. And if Munger decides to run for Mayor this time around, he will win. He would have won last election if he had gotten in the race sooner, but he didn't because the old incompetent leadership couldn't find a candidate after waiting too long to see if Mike Pavia would finally run.

shs grad wrote:

a republican friend said that munger was voted in as chair earlier this year so it'll be almost two years before they change leaders unless they oust him early
publius, you're right about the opportunity for other parties right now. maybe the independents from last year will make another go of it
sorry to sound corny but it seems a bit unamerican to have only one party supply candidates and win all of the elections

One of the significant tax issues in Stamford has been the inability of our state delegation to address the educational funding formula to bring in a more equitable amount to Stamford. The state delegates respond that they lack the voted to change the formula. The Republicans have claimed that is because the local Democratic legislators are afraid to buck their party leadership.

It's an interesting discussion that reflects the complexity of the democratic process.

BUT ...how can the Republicans complain about it if they don't even run candidates?

It may not be unamerican, but it is certainly a dereliction of duty by the Stamford GOP. how can you pop up every four years with a mayoral candidate if you don't contest the rest of the positions?

This year the hot topic is the Board of Ed. Listen carefully: do you hear Republican candidates campaigning? Can you name them?

i have not heard about any candidates for the board of education

if munger plans to run for mayor next year, then i think he should announce soon. he's not going to win if he waits until next year

I can't believe that Munger could not find an opponent for Tong! I remember when Ellen Camhi did not bother to have a candidate for that district because it leaned so heavily Republican. I don't think it's changed that much and Tong is cruising this time (he's not working hard the way he did two years ago). Munger should have found a candidate for this race. Is he just throwing in the towel everywhere? Is Munger a Democrat?

I think it's more suprising that New Canaan didn't find a Republican to run against Tong since part of the district is in New Canaan and that's where most of the Republicans are.

Gov Center wrote:

Munger inherited an incompetent mess from McCabe. These things are not built into powerhouses over night. The Republican Party struggled for a long long time before he became involved. And if Munger decides to run for Mayor this time around, he will win. He would have won last election if he had gotten in the race sooner, but he didn't because the old incompetent leadership couldn't find a candidate after waiting too long to see if Mike Pavia would finally run.

McCabe's leadership was, to put it kindly, compromised. But Munger has had time, and not much success with it so far.
"Personality" versus party was the political problem (but far from the only one) with Esposito. The party didn't like him, but had no one else. It didn't grow.
There has been a trend amond both parties in recent years for "lead" candidates to open and run their own heaqdquarters instead of a party-wide effort from the start.
Speaking of candidates - deafening silence from whomever (?) the GOP is running for the BOE. What's wrong with them???...A golden opportunity to define themselves washed away Tuesday night.