Politics in Bristol next year

Though the race for the White House will naturally overshadow the rest of the political world, voters will have to pick more than just a president in 2008.
Topping the list of political contests in Bristol are a handful of state legislative races, some of which have proven hotly contested in recent years.
But rapid change in recent years has led to changes in the power base of both parties.
“For the Republicans in town I believe that the party will build around [state Rep.] Ron Burns, [city Councilor] Ken Cockayne and [state Rep.] Bill Hamzy,” said Art Mocabee, the GOP’s city chairman.
He said the Democrats “will obviously try to build around” Mayor Art Ward, the newly elected Democratic leader.
At this point, neither state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat representing the 31st District, nor any of the state House incumbents has mentioned plans for seeking reelection.
But there’s been no sign that any of them are ready to step down voluntarily yet.
Two of Bristol’s House members – Democrat Frank Nicastro in the 79th District and Republican Ron Burns in the 77th District – are freshmen and perhaps more vulnerable than incumbents with longer track records. Burns, whose district leans Democrat, is likely to face the toughest challenge.
In two other House districts that include portions of Bristol, the incumbents have been in office since 1994. Democrat Betty Boukus in the 22nd District and Republican Bill Hamzy in the 78th District are both pretty entrenched.
Colapietro, a former factory worker and union official who won the office in 1992, has faced bitter campaigns the past two elections. Nicastro and Burns defeated incumbents in 2006 to capture their seats.
Connecticut’s presidential primary in the coming year may prove more important and interesting than it has in years.
Hoping to grab more attention from candidates, the state moved its presidential primary to February 5, early compared to previous years but not this time around.
On primary day, candidates will be competing in primaries in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah. There are caucuses the same day in Colorado and North Dakota.
At this point, Connecticut’s Democratic primary may not generate much competition because the state’s senior senator, Chris Dodd, is among those in the running. Dodd has considerable support in his home state, but lags badly in national polls.
But the GOP field is wide open so Republican voters may have an array of choices at what could prove a critical time in the race.
Mocabee said he sees “today's front runner being the last to finish in the end.”
With no incumbents in the race, Mocabee said, he thinks “the Republican nomination will come down for president and vice president between [former New York City Mayor Rudolph] Gulianni, [former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt] Romney, [former U.S. Sen. Fred] Thompson and maybe Ron Paul.”
“Mr. Paul's popularity is rising fast,” Mocabee said. “People need to read about this man, I think they will be pleasantly surprised.”
Connecticut’s junior senator, independent Joe Lieberman, has endorsed the presidential bid of U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican. Whether that will help McCain in Connecticut is uncertain, particularly given Lieberman’s long history in the Democratic Party.


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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com