Shortly after November’s city election, state Sen. Tom Colapietro declared that he would continue to see reelection “as long as those Republicans keep calling me names.”
Colapietro’s comment to The Bristol Press, which came during a long discussion of the budget situation, was reported within months on the Bristol Blog and later in a piece in the newspaper.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Last month, the chair of the city Republican Party, T.J. Barnes filed an election law complaint against the longtime senator for allegedly failing to establish a campaign committee within 10 days of his declaration of an intent to seek reelection.
Barnes said in a December 7 letter to the state’s Elections Enforcement Commission that he believed Colapietro violated election law and should be punished accordingly.
Colapietro said recently he was flabbergasted at the complaint.
“I didn’t announce. That’s an outright lie,” Colapietro said.
The senator said he made an offhand remark to a reporter who passed it along to readers accurately.
But, he said, he never made any sort of formal declaration of his intentions.
“Enough is enough,” the veteran senator said. “This is really ridiculous.”
“After 17 years, this is all they could find? I must be pretty pure,” Colapietro said.
He said he couldn’t believe the GOP was so desperate to nail him within something that it would force the commission to squander its time and the taxpayers’ money on a complaint that is so clearly frivolous.
Kevin Ahern, a staff attorney for the commission, wrote to the senator on December 17 that its staff would review the complaint to see if there was “legal sufficiency” to pursue it further.
He told Colapietro there was no need to take any action yet.
Ahern said that if the commission believed that it needed to gather more facts, it would let Colapietro know.
If the commission decides a violation of election law occurred, it may assign a hearing officer and schedule a date to probe the facts of the case.
State law requires that candidates for state office establish a campaign committee within 10 days of announcing their intention to run. Colapietro has not yet done so.
He said that when he makes a clear, formal announcement, he’ll follow the law as he has always done.
*******Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
77 comments:
That's all they got?
The GOP just can't bring it these days, can it ?
pretty pure hahha ..... dork
WOW!
The Republicans are really on top of things, aren't they?
Hey, didn't Johnson announce he was running on the night he got beat. Ah, but he didn't run, did he.
if this is a sign of the gop's next campaign efforts, let's not spend any money and just continue with the "nothing" that we already have.
Good job Bristol GOP.
Keep 'em honest.
Why don't the republicans tell us where he stands and what he has done regarding taxes, aid to municipalities, Wards unfunded mandates, aid to education and so on?
That is what is important, not some political bickering!
While the Senator is certainly guilty of a sub-par thought process and bad temperament in addition to being wrong on almost every issue he comes across, I must supplement my previous comment praising the Bristol GOP.
Every year we hear something similar to this in the beginning on elections cycles here in Bristol. I guess these things excite the current GOP activists (the Barne$$$$ groupies) and some of the base, but this again is much ado about nothing. Case in point; Art Ward's campaign treasurer filed the sloppiest report in election history, yet the result was still a Democrat win. So again, while the GOP is right to hold the Democrat accountable, much as the Democrats have always done two-fold to the local GOP, the results of this will be nil.
Let's see a credible and enthusiastic GOP candidate pursuing a rigorous and viable campaign, and then we'll be impressed. So far I’m not. How about you?
Tommie toupe' is GUILTY as charged!
Question:
Why can't the Republicans win?
See posted news story!
I didn’t announce. That’s an outright lie,” Colapietro said.
The senator said he made an offhand remark to a reporter who passed it along to readers accurately.
Ok - lets see how the State interprets that comment. If I was the State atty - any comment made to the press would be an official announcement.
To be "Flabergasted" one must omit a Flabergast.
We all know what it is like to be around Tommy boi when he flabergasts. He gets out of sorts and begins flabergasting to the point of embarassment to most but not to old Tommy the Flabergaster!
Even his closest unionites begin flabergasting...watch what happens if this is posted. The union flabergasters will be out in force. There will be so much flabergasting going on the snow will melt.
Maybe its time to go Tommy. Over flabergasting can cause serious health problems for those around you.
Besides, I hear old Frankie N wants you to stop flabergasting so he can have a shot at it. Bad deal when your own party wants you to stop flabergasting.
When are the Republicans going to learn "IT IS THE ECONOMY"??
It ain't formal until Tom says it's formal.
I'm sure Mr. Barnes has better ways to apply his energy, like trying to salvage a dysfunctional party.
2010 is going to be interesting...
Is this the only guy the dems have hes a disgrace. Hes a union hack who does nothing . not a man to be proud of.
C'Mon Art tell us why you aren't a teacher any more
I can see Mr. Barnes is just another Mocabee!
Here come the cockroaches again. Colapietro haters are still crawling. Nothing about the issue?Same ol crap !
1:56
I didn't know that Barnes was trying.
Does he have any idea as to how?
HaHaHa you ol insurance salesmaen flabbergasters.
sad part is that as dysfunctional as colapietro is, and he is, the gop can't beat his soory butt.
But as a second supplemental post on this; one must give credit for "TJ" Barnes for showing leadership. Touche' TJ!
Positively Right:
This isn't leadership. Leadership would be being able to show that there could be found a decent candidate to run. They can't even do that on the local level.
That's the kind of leadership T.J. shows. Touche ? Just another showing of the kind of leadership that the republicans are showing us. And that's why they are losers.
"In West Hartford, the 15-member guard union's contract — up for a school board vote on Tuesday — bars any new guard hired from enrolling in the increasingly costly defined-benefit pension system."
"Instead, new guards will be covered by a less-expensive 401(k)-type plan that could trim town liability by at least 60 percent, makes costs predictable and shifts the investment risk to employees. Guards already in the defined-benefit plan will stay in."
Now thats what we need here in Bristol AND the State. But Old Tommy boi and his unionites think they are entitled.
This is an issue that will be made clear to voters, who themselves, are more likely participants of 401(k) type pension plans.
The day of the defined benefit is over..its a dinosaur like any Senator Representitive or union hack who thinks it's their right.
8:56
Leadership?
You have got to be kidding!
what a loser colapietro is - couldn't even give a decent response when asked how Bristol will be in 25 years - bozo.
Pervert !!
Once again some person who lacks the guts or brains to organize blames his lot on life on unions.Well as a trade unionist myself I am getting sick and tired of carrying the load for you non-union underpaid flunkies then getting blamed for YOUR woes!!!
Fact is most union members make more money than their non-union counterparts, which in turn tells you that WE pay more in taxes that you.
So organize or SHUT UP!!!!
1:19
There are GOOD candidates out there: maybe it is the "leadership approach that precludes their getting involved and running.
Welcome to you Anti-Colapietro Cockroaches. When are you going to be of some use instead of crying about you losing to Colapietro all the time?
Hey anti Colapietro cockroach .4:22 pm.
How do you know that it's even true? Because T.J. said so ? Get serious.
January 3, 2010 3:07 PM:
Your argumant is totally warped.
1) Your union wages in most circumstances at trhis time in Connecticut are paid with our taxes.
2) In Connecticut binding arbitration allows an generally union-friendly "arbitrators" to side with unions.
3) Organized labor is a progressive, leftist concept in general (albeit I would sink as low to call it one of "cockroaches", just maybe leeches or maggots).
4) Unions in Connecticut have and are still driving private sector jobs and businesses to Right-to-Work states where unions are much less powerful.
TJ's actions show leadership. There is no question about that. Just because a Colapietro supporter doesn't care for the action of Junior, it still is an example of leadership. Letting someone else or getting someone else to file the complaint would be a lack of leadership. The fact that you (a Colapietro supporter) are lobbing critiques at Junior proves my point.
And by the way, the complaint is valid and Colapietro's is at fault. Colapietro would be best served by admitting his mistake, paying the fine or what have you and moving forward.
The Republicans should keep their eye on the donut, and not on the hole!
Why don't they look at those who win/won and follow their example?
I loved this article. It's about time some one called Colapietro out. I've never heard him open his mouth without sticking his foot in it, and he gets away with it every time. Until now. Keep on him, and show the voters what he's about. We need to elect a real senator.
4:52 As usual you are lying again. Wait'll it comes out for what it really is . A witch and an act of desperation.
Positively Right:
Did your boy Johnson file when he announced?
4:49 And you sir are a Nazi and wouild go back to slavery. But you should have the shoe on the other foot. Art!
January 3, 2010 3:07 PM:
Yes, just ask the former employees at Accurate Forging how "organizing" helped them.
January 4, 2010 11:41 AM:
OK commie.
Accurate Forging???
Is that all you got.
How about more recently SUPERIOR (non union) ELECTRIC
Those people were left with nothing!!
Should have unionized when ya had the chance!!!
January 4, 2010 4:06 PM:
OK, how about Pratt in Cheshire?
Boy that union really helped them.
Oh I guess you forgot about New Departure huh?
I guess one can't expect unbending idiots to have much of a memory (even if it's their own back yard...or former which is probably the case with you).
4:13 - war criminal - one out of 2 isn't bad.
And are the cockroaches talking issues? Nah same ol hatemongers!
Be polite, please. Be aware, too, that your words will mean more if you identify yourself. If you see a comment that should be killed, please tell me about it, including where I can find it in order to remove it. Do yourself a favor and remember that somebody can sue you, subpoena records from Google and find out who you are. So don't say something you wouldn't want to defend in court.
"This is the biggest joke on here!"
How about your Pratt friends CEO's etc.? Who told them to go where the labor is cheaper? You ?
Anon westconn:
Except that unionization is unquestionably a leftist concept (please study the history of unions and Marxism) and your comment about Cheney is just sophomoric psycho-babble.
I never stated being a leftist was bad. It's just contrary to the principles of free-enterprise, capitalism, free-markets and freedom in general which this country was founded on.
You definately need to do some more studying in order to make sense, which you seldom do.
6:30 ought to take a history lesson on Nazism. Thats how he thinks! It is a free country as you say, for unions as well as you!
But you only think the country is yours and that everyone should think like you. Thank god you are in the minority!
Somebody please give T.J. and these unhappy republicans something to do. There rhetoric is boring!
to 6:40 (yawn)
Plain and simple. The UNIONS killed this State and this country and Colipeotro is there rubber stamp in the state senate. He is too one sided and he is killing small business and big business with his inability to represent ALL people. We know he has no ability to think for himself so he takes his lead from the union puppetmasters. Time for change.
Boi are you union hacks flbergasting...stinks in here!
6:50 (yawn) This has what to do with the article?
Nazis like you are trying still to destroy this country......give it up and go to africa
Be polite, please. Be aware, too, that your words will mean more if you identify yourself. If you see a comment that should be killed, please tell me about it, including where I can find it in order to remove it. Do yourself a favor and remember that somebody can sue you, subpoena records from Google and find out who you are. So don't say something you wouldn't want to defend in court.
Republicans please read (if you can)
You insurance salesmen didn't mind union money did you? It didn't stink till you crooks started to rip them off.
January 5, 2010 6:50 AM:
Amen.
And Boi are you right and Boi are they dumb.
The union had NOTHING to do with Pratts decision to close Cheshire.
In fact they Had an company paid reception for employees in June of 2009 because they had their highest sales and profits EVER in Cheshire that month.
Pratt had made almost $100 million from about 1000 employees and this is the unions fault.
No this is corporate greed pure and simple and the administration should do what other countrys do when this happens. STRIP THEIR GOV CONTRACTS!!!
Let them get orders from China, Japan and Singapore and let the jobs stay here!
Krawiecki for Senator!!!
January 5, 2010 9:23 AM:
So UTC is closing it's Cheshire (Pratt) facility in the closed shop, union-friendly state of Connecticut and tranferring jobs to the Right-to-Work, non-union-friendly state of Georgia. But it had nothing to do with unions?
You need to remove your head from where ever it's stuck in.
9:51
Which one, Sharon or Ed?
Very little of that work is going to GEORGIA the vast Majority is going to SINGAPORE and JAPAN!!!
Of the work covered by the closings in CT on 5% is work that can't leave the country under current law.
So based on that about 50 jobs will be created in that right to work state which gets 4x the money from the government to create jobs than CT does.
So i guess socialism is out of the question unless you are either a right to work state or are below the mason-dixon line.
Organize or SHUT UP!!!
We are sick of supporting you!!
Mad Dog Cockayne for Senator!
T.J. Barnes for Senator!!!!
Krawiecki for Senator!!!
January 5, 2010 9:51 AM
Seems to me I remember getting fined $6000.00 dollars1 The first and actually did get fined .....not accused by a republican hack !
Oh boy skeletons are coming out in their closets? Can't wait!
Like I said dingbat. It's cheaper labor. The CEO's need bigger bonuses. They can get away with it until they figure it out.And it's nothing to do with CEO bonuses?
January 5, 2010 1:21 PM:
Private sector unions are dying on the vine. Unfortunately it's just like the companies they've either bankrupted (like GM and Chrysler) or simply destroyed (like all the steel industry...and of course New Departure and Pratt in Cheshire).
You must be on drugs. Yeah organize if you want your job to leave the state...unless of course you're a public employee. Then the unions can have their binding arbitration, extort money from tax-payers and bankrupt the state which they've been progressively doing for the last two decades thank to "education enhancement" and other scams.
Fat cat CEO wannabees like you are sucking the country dry ! Good thing everyone isn't like you cold hearted blankety blanks! Moacbee wannabees like T.J. are a quick thing of the past.
6:35 Extortionist like you have been doing that for years and you got the nerve to mention it? But you clowns always think everything you do is OK. Even if it's the same as everyone else is doing, That's why you and your kind are constant losers! Useless blaming losers.
"6:35 Extortionist like you have been doing that for years and you got the nerve to mention it? But you clowns always think everything you do is OK. Even if it's the same as everyone else is doing, That's why you and your kind are constant losers! Useless blaming losers."
What does that mean? It doesn't make any sense at all, gibberish is still gibberish if it is published.....
10:50 See how dumb you are ?
Sounds like Tommy Barnes at his best.
No wonder the republicans are losers!
And now back to the city budget!
I hope you guys keep up the T.J. leadership because it will be business as usual. Lies and more made up stories from you losers.
Actually, we democrats like TJ: he makes our life so much easier.
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