On Election Night, a beaming Chris Wright stood amidst a joyous crowd of Democrats celebrating a sweeping victory across the country.
Wright, who captured the 77th District’s state House seat, said he felt a little bit like Robert Redford in the 1972 classic “The Candidate."
In that movie, Redford played a dark horse U.S. Senate contender who triumphs at the polls despite a vapid platform.
At the end, Redford turns to his campaign manager, a helpless look in his eyes, and asks, “What do we do now?"
By now, though, Wright is busy finding out what he’s going to do in Hartford.
Wright, who defeated Republican Jill Fitzgerald to win the seat that state Rep. Ron Burns is giving up in northeastern Bristol, said that with “the economy not doing very well” and a budget deficit ballooning, it’s going to be a tough legislative session.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Wright said.
But Wright said he’s eager to get started even though he is “just one little cog in the wheel” of state government.
Wright said the health care system in Connecticut “needs an overhaul” so badly that it can’t be put off.
Wright said it’s going to be difficult to balance competing interests and deal with deficit “all without raising taxes” at a time when so many are struggling already.
Wright said that he’s met with fellow Democrats in Hartford and will take part in an orientation session soon that includes a mock session so that new lawmakers can understand their role.
Because his father was a key legislator, Wright said he knows the ropes pretty well, but still appreciates the effort to educate everyone.
So far, he said, he’s impressed with the caliber of people he’s met in the legislature, including a number of other newcomers.
“Everybody’s nice. We all have the same goal – to move the state forward,” Wright said.
He said that he knows he can’t do everything he’d like quickly.
“Democracy is compromise,” Wright said, and he’s ready to play his part in the process.
He said he asked to be on the appropriations or finance committee, but won’t know his assignments until next month.
With the House Democrats holding a lopsided advantage this session, rookie Democrats will have a hard time getting plum assignments, Wright said.
But, he said, whatever happens, legislators are going to pull together and try to benefit the residents of the state as much as they can.
“I will do all I can for Bristol and the people of Connecticut,” Wright said.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
8 comments:
A Democrat a "dark horse" in Bristol?
Chrissie: Daddy's coonection got you elected. You are wrong-headed and way too far to the left.
PS: I'm sure someone at the Capital can recommend a good therapist for you to discuss your dillusions.
What an embarassment! What are you people in Bristol thinking? How could you send such an ill prepared, bad of your town and our state elected official to Hartford. God help us, we face the biggest budget deficit in the history of the state and you idiots elect a left wing spender!
God help us.
November 13, 2008 7:26 PM:
I didn't think it could get worse than Tommie Toupe', but it has.
Dumb breeds dumber.
He hates to do it, but he's got to raise taxes. Oh, brother... there you go , Bristol. Just keep electing these spenders and complaining about the government taking your money. Duh!
"The Audacity of Hope" is all we have that this moron won't contribute to screwing up Connecticut worse than it already has been by these liberal Democrats.
It takes more than one man to screw up anything when it comes to our legislature. Let's stop blaming Colapietro and Wright, who hasn't even set foot in the legislative office building yet. You people are full of criticism, but do half of you vote? I would guess you don't. You'd rather sit there and complain than actually do anything. By the way, last time I checked, Mr. Burns, who happens to be a Republican, was in office during this time of turmoil, but I don't see you knocking him. They're all to blame. Stop singling out certain people to forward your own agenda!
Gee, 7:17, do you think Ron was ever outvoted? Nothing will get better til the big spenders are in the minority. That means you have to vote them out! It's easy, just color in the oval next to the candidate who wants to spend less.
How can you knock Ron?
He never did or said anything.
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