Politics as usual in Hartford

It's been a few months since I've taken notice of politics in Hartford, so thanks to our freshman councilman Luis Cotto for posting his report on the 2008 Hartford Democratic Town Committee Convention at City Hall on his blog, IonHartford. According to Councilman Cotto:

Now if you’re wondering what the heck is the democratic town committee, join 90% of the city. These are an incestuous group of about 70 people that decide which democrat will help Hartford keep the following enviable distinctions:
* being the poorest city in the richest state
* having one of the top rates of asthma amongst it’s youth in the nation
* where 24% of its families are living below the poverty line
You name any negative social ill present in the city, these are the wonderful people responsible for electing the majority party that tolerates those conditions.

I have to say, it was more fun reading about it than having to be there and put up with some of the shenanigans.
A few of the highlights from Councilman Cotto's post:

• 4th District - Kelvin Roldan - another no brainer…interesting note is that former Mayoral candidate J. Stan McCauley will run for this seat as a Republican. J. Stan lost to Kelvin’s mentor, so I guess he’s making his way down the line.


• 5th District {drumroll} - by a margin of 8 votes to 5, Abe Giles won the nomination for the upcoming elections. He gave a somewhat forgettable speech but the memorable moment came when madam deputy speaker rose and said “Everyone get ready to pull up your sleeves…I’m not planning on giving up my seat.” The battle has begun. Sources told me that her fall from grace was inevitable when she backed I. Charles Matthews for city Mayor against El Alcalde this past year.


• 6th District - Hector Robles - Another lifer politico wannabee, Mr. Robles is a former police officer who seems to run every election for something…and lose. Me thinks he breaks that jinx this year with a run for Art Feltman’s old seat.


• The insane development of the fight for Democratic Registrar of Voters, that came down to a tie, with one ignorant individual attempting to change their vote to spite some

Sadly, as usual in this town, we will be stuck with the "evil of two lessers" in most of the races. It'd be far more interesting if there were Independents running. These are the types of races that we need more grassroots, independent minded people to participate and bring up the issues that need to be addressed. The fact that 'the Democratic Machine' would rather put up a challenge to the incumbent Deputy Speaker, with an unscrupulous politico and parking lot magnate, leaves much to be desired of the Democrats. What has Mr. Giles done for the city with his ghastly surface parking lots that only add to the forlorn look of Hartford? Yes, this decision makes sense.

Then of course, there's the former cop who has used his position in the Police Department to intimidate residents and community activists who have complained against his lack of community policing. I was present when he was being interviewed on the idea of community policing, along with a resident of that community; less than an hour later, that same resident reported an issue to him which he shrugged off and told her it wasn't his problem. He even once followed a community activist - in an HPD cruiser - to her house after she organized residents to meet with his supervisor. Would the city really benefit from that type of attitude in the state capitol?

And finally, while Councilman Cotto's remark says it all, the true evil of two lessers comes in the 4th District. I have to include the disclaimer that I know both men and have seen them at work, having worked with both, but most notably for one. The negatives against them have already been in print by other publications.

Just as I want to start having hopes for improving Hartford, the political powers that wanna-be fist-fuck us like Caligula at a bath house, forcing egotistical errand boys up our bleeding-hemorroided sphincter without the courtesy of applying any lubricant to their venomously calloused claw.

I feel better already.