The gymnasium of St. Anne / Immaculate Conception Church on Park Street was recently the venue for a true community dialogue about the history and current state of the Latino vote in Hartford. The dialogue did not dwell in the past, nor did it center on the panelists� contributions, as audience members readily joined in. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: May 22, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_052213.asp
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A not insignificant number of the 66 members of the town committee who will be choosing between incumbent chairman - and Mayor Eddie A. Perez prot�g� - Sean Arena are said to have some sort of financial connection to city hall's bountiful purse strings. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 10, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_031010.asp
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A federal judge recently shined a light on deeply flawed provisions in the USA Patriot Act by ordering the FBI to stop using so-called national security letters to demand e-mails and telephone data from businesses without a warrant, court supervision or accountability. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 17, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091707.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant suggests that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy used the Citizens' Election Program to great advantage in his winning race for governor last year. It is strange, then, that he would preside over the destruction of the landmark program and its host agency, the venerable state Elections Enforcement Commission. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 27, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_042711.asp
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Even casual observers know that Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut has invested significant time and political capital in electing John McCain president. So, it only follows that the Connecticut for Lieberman Party would be squarely for McCain, right? Wrong. It's not even for Lieberman. Not anymore. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 16, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091608.asp
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Some Connecticut officials say the idea of giving state legislatures power to �nullify� federal law sounds like the kind of thing that helped trigger the American Civil War, and that this Tea Party-ish concept doesn�t stand a chance in hell. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: December 29, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_122910.asp
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The angry outburst by Larry Deutsch at a recent Hartford city council meeting was out of order. But he did raise one valid issue. Mr. Deutsch, a first-term council member from the Working Families Party, had proposed a resolution to provide a grant to the Immaculate Conception homeless shelter. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 19, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_051908.asp
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Political activists and state officials across the country have debated how they can increase voter turnout, such as by creating a voters only lottery. This article offers two opposing opinions about voter incentives by Dr. Mark Osterloh, a Tucson, Ariz., ophthalmologist who has run unsuccessfully for governor of Arizona and for the Arizona state legislature, and by Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut's secretary of state. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 19, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101907.asp
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Ken Krayeske expresses the opinion that an active, passionate third-party registrar of voters in Hartford, a leader like Urania Petit, would be a boon to democracy. Unfortunately, a heck of a lot more people read the Hartford Courant editorial page than this column, and a few weeks back, the sinking ship editorialists at America's oldest daily newspaper surmised that Urania Petit's candidacy for registrar was a systemic redundancy. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 17, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_101708.asp
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Early voting, automatic registration, "no-excuse" absentee ballots, and better training for poll workers. Connecticut should consider these and other measures to improve the voting process, according to a panel organized by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 08, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_010811.asp
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The Freedom of Information Commission is preparing to cite the city of Hartford yet again for not following the rules. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: February 11, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_021110.asp
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In a preview of next year's statewide deployment of new voting machines, 25 cities and towns will be using the optical scan devices in the November' 2006 general election. By November 2007, 1,538 optical scanners will handle all voting in the state. Rather than pull levers for their candidates, voters will fill in ovals on a ballot sheet, similar to the process used on lottery ticket forms or standardized test answer sheets. The selection of the new machines has dragged on for years and has been highly contentious. But changes in federal law - made after the controversial vote-counting in Florida in the 2000 presidential election - have prompted the state to mothball its lever machines. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_091406.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that the U.S. Supreme Court's lamentable 5-4 decision last week to sweep away a century of practice and precedent and allow torrents of corporate money to flood elections threatens to make our political system even more the playground of the rich at the expense of the average citizen. Congress and President Barack Obama must do all they can to temper or reverse the baleful impact of the decision by the court's conservative majority. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 25, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_012510.asp
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology, one of the federal government's premier research institutions, recently issued a draft report endorsing optical scanning as the most secure and reliable voting technology. TrueVote CT, a citizens group of computer experts and professors, had urged Connecticut to go with an optical-scan machine, in which a voter marks a ballot that is then scanned by a computer, and their advice has been vindicated. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 7, 2006
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Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_120706.asp
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Vice President Joseph Biden couldn't have been more effusive in his praise of U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd. At a fundraiser for Dodd at the new Connecticut Science Center, Biden called the senator an honorable and courageous man. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 12, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/downtowndevelopment/htfd_courant_121209.asp
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Susan Campbell comments on the upcoming referendum that would approve a Constitutional Convention in the state of Connecticut. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 28, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102808_2.asp
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The death of a witness enabled Hartford state Rep. Minnie Gonzalez to turn aside one of seven allegations that she broke absentee balloting laws in 2006. But an examination of files at the State Elections Enforcement Commission shows there's a lot more to come in the case. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 14, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_061409.asp
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A woman fined $10,000 by state election officials in 2005 for absentee ballot fraud has obtained a one-week, pre-election temporary job in the office of the city registrars. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 26, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_102609.asp
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The Connecticut state House of Representatives voted in favor of a rare constitutional amendment recently that would make it much easier to vote by absentee ballot with no reason at all. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 05, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_040512.asp
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The minor political parties and lobbyists whose legal challenges overturned parts of Connecticut's historic campaign finance reform law want the state to pay nearly $4 million to cover their costs. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021011.asp
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The number of anti-Semitic incidents reported last year increased in Connecticut, but declined nationwide, according to figures to be released today by the Anti-Defamation League. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 14, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/Education/htfd_courant_031407.asp
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The Hartford City Council chambers will no longer feel so empty; Dr. Robert Painter and Attorney Corey Brinson were chosen recently to fill two vacancies on the nine-member body. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: January 31, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_013111.asp
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With the stroke of a pen last month, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law provisions that will help maintain a free, fair and vigorous press in Connecticut. An Act Concerning Freedom of the Press establishes broad and stringent protections for members of the media and their sources. Confidential sources play a fundamental role in newsgathering and have helped shape some of the biggest stories of our time. The promise of confidentiality can be essential to protecting sources from reprisals, such as the loss of a job. In Connecticut, that promise has been largely an article of faith between a journalist and his or her source. As a consequence of the new law, Connecticut now joins the ranks of a majority of states in the country with "shield laws." Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 22, 2006
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Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_082206.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author comments on state and party rules that don't allow independents to vote in the primaries. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 14, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021408.asp
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Shawn Wooden, a city resident and attorney who was active in former Mayor Carrie Saxon Perry's administration, filed his candidate committee paperwork recently to set in motion a mayoral run of his own. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 05, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_110510.asp
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Andrea Comer has joined the growing list of candidates for city council. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 08, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_060811_1.asp
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Young adults are stepping up and signing up to get involved again in the nation's political process in a way some experts say they haven't seen since the Vietnam War. According to Rock the Vote, more young voters participated in this year's presidential caucuses and primaries than in the last presidential election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 03, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_020308.asp
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Democrat Angel Arce and Republican Rico Dence are vying for the 4th House District seat that is being vacated by three-term state Rep. Kelvin Roldan. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 15, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101512.asp
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The failure to nominate a Latino for statewide office may have had an impact on the number of Latinos who went to the polls in November 2010 � a great loss for Connecticut, because a truly vibrant democracy needs involvement from all its citizens. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 07, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_100710.asp
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Former Democratic Town Committee Chairman Sean Arena, who is a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, says Democrats aren't allowed to accept Republican endorsements. He said a section of the Democrats' bylaws prohibits cross-party endorsements. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_092111.asp
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Former Democratic Town Committee Chairman Sean Arena said city Democrats met to discuss the recent cross-endorsements, following an announcement earlier this week that city Republicans would endorse a Democratic mayoral candidate, treasurer candidate and three city council candidates. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 23, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_092311_1.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra faces three petitioning candidates in the Nov. 8 election, while six Democrats, three Republicans and four Working Families Party candidates will compete for nine seats on the city council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102511.asp
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At Wish Elementary School, the sixth-graders in Sherri Ziplow's classroom participated in a time-tested American activity: trying to outsmart the "Taxman." The Taxman math game requires students to work with fractions, least common multiples and greatest common factors in an attempt to defeat the tax collector. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 24, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/htfd_courant_102412.asp
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David Baldacci, the best-selling author whose political thrillers entertain readers worldwide, recently visited Hartford to talk about his literary career and the importance of literacy. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 09, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/literacy/htfd_courant_110908.asp
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The state Supreme Court, moving swiftly, will hear oral arguments on whether Republicans should replace Democrats at the top of the ballot in November. In a lawsuit that it filed just last month, the state Republican Party argued that it should receive the top ballot line after the complicated results of the 2010 gubernatorial election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 09, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090912.asp
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Susan Bysiewicz , secretary of the state of Connecticut and Brian M. O'Connell, associate professor of ethics, law and computing at Central Connecticut State University, comment on the transition to electronic voting in Connecticut. Optical scan voting is the recommended technology for the state to adopt. It is the most secure and reliable form of voting technology available in the United States today. This past November, 25 cities and towns used these new machines, and post-election audits showed that they performed extremely well. Over the coming months, the optical scan technology will be rolled out in the remaining 144 cities and towns. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 5, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_010507.asp
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A video recording of the September 29, 2009 community program, Banned Books Week Readout, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: September 29, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_09_29_2009.asp
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A bill intended to help state officials site group homes for people with mental disabilities or addiction problems originally banned members of Hartford's neighborhood revitalization zone committees � grassroots organizations commonly known as NRZs � from even commenting on proposed homes. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: April 24, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/neighborhoods/htfd_advocate_042408.asp
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The fight for the Democratic nomination for the 1st House District seat ended up in court recently, where a judge will decide whether to uphold the results of the Aug. 10 primary, name a new winner, or order a new election. The Superior Court hearing before Judge A. Susan Peck is on state Rep. Kenneth Green's lawsuit alleging irregularities in both the election and the recount, which saw his two-vote victory flip to a two-vote loss to Councilman Matthew Ritter. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 27, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_082710.asp
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As an uncharacteristically active political campaign season begins in Connecticut, the landmark campaign finance reform law that was supposed to clean it up and pay for it is headed for new constitutional challenges in federal court. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011310.asp
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A large room crammed full of powerful people (and those aiming to be) dressed in red, white, and blue, with buttons and signs galore. The party casts its votes, maybe some numbers don�t match up and a recount is needed, but the endorsements get made and the evening moves on. Reporters pushing their way through to get to the newly endorsed or to those left behind. That�s the image that comes to mind, and to an extent, that is what happened at the Hartford Democratic Town Committee Convention. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_072211.asp
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One critique of the Occupy Hartford movement has been that a number of uninformed activists � new to the area or to activism in general � attempted to reinvent the wheel; instead of immediately reaching out to other organizations in the spirit of solidarity, or simply to learn the ins and outs of local community organizing, Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: December 01, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/taxes/realhtfd_120111.asp
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A key committee voted for a bill that allows same-day voter registration, a controversial issue that for more than a decade has prompted sharp debates about potential voter fraud. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 21, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_032112.asp
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Denise Merrill, the Connecticut Secretary of the State supports the bill in front of the Connecticut General Assembly that establishes standards to ensure local registrars buy enough ballots. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051711.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling invalidating certain grants to publicly funded candidates was regrettable. It will inhibit robust political debate in elections rather than promote it. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 12, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071211.asp
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A video of the October 27, 2009 community program, Board of Education Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 27, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_27_2009.asp
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The special Committee of the Whole meeting of City Council which considered the appointees to the Hartford Board of Education offered no surprises. Rich Wareing and Cherita McIntye received yes votes from all present council members. Matt Poland and Dr. Jose Colon-Rivas both received seven votes in favor with Councilperson MacDonald abstaining. Mayor Segarra received seven votes in favor, with only Councilperson Cotto showing objection. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: February 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/realhtfd_020212.asp
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One Connecticut population expert suggests in an upcoming book that the US Census and how it is used is shortchanging Connecticut and many states like it, and may even be contributing to the partisan, gridlocked Congress that discourages faith in government. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 10, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011010.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Hartford Democrats have the opportunity to throw out the usual shopworn racial formula that has nominated 2 candidates on the city council to Latinos, 2 to African-Americans and 2 to Whites. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072111.asp
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Connecticut's reform-minded campaign finance laws, on the books since 2005, were a righteous reaction to the Rowland scandals, focused on getting tainted money out of politics. They banned campaign contributions from state contractors and the infamous ad book as a fund-raising tool. They restricted contributions from lobbyists, and they set up a landmark system of voluntary public financing of elections for the legislature and statewide offices. But a bill drafted largely in secret and passed by the state House and Senate recently punctured the reforms and opened the spillway for more private dollars in campaigns. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 04, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060413_1.asp
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A video of the March 15, 2010 community program, Campaign Finance Reform: Money and Politics in Connecticut and the Nation, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: March 15, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_03_15_2010.asp
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As the clock continued to run down on primary and general elections, lawyers sparring over the state's campaign finance reform law returned to court recently in a hurried effort to save the landmark legislation, parts of which were held to be unconstitutional a day earlier by a federal appeals court. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 14, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071410_2.asp
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The cutthroat reality of big-money politics is thinning the herd of candidates in Connecticut�s race for governor. Connecticut�s wonderful new public campaign financing was going to use taxpayer dollars to �level the playing field� and �open up the system.� Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: May 11, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_051110.asp
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Finding out who donated money to state candidates for public office could soon be as easy as online shopping, state election officials said recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 04, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_010408.asp
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Both candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the 7th House District agree that their constituents in the city's North End are not getting their fair share of state and federal aid. And state Rep. Douglas McCrory and his challenger, city Councilwoman rJo Winch, point the finger of blame at each other. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 30, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_073010.asp
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Longtime incumbent Democratic state Sen. Eric Coleman is running for reelection in the 2nd District on his record at the legislature. Republican challenger Malvi Garcia-Lennon is running on Coleman's record, as she sees it, too. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 15, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101512_1.asp
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City Councilman Matt Ritter supplied the biggest surprise at a recent debate among candidates in the upcoming Democratic Primary on August 10. A question supplied by a member of the audience had asked all challengers in the primary to explain why they thought their opponent, the incumbent, should lose his job as an elected official. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: July 22, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_072210.asp
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Leo Canty of Windsor has been declared the winner in the Democratic Primary for State Representative from the 5th District. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: August 23, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_082312.asp
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Leo Canty defeated political newcomer Brandon McGee by a single vote to win the Democratic nomination in the 5th House District, ending days of back-and-forth over two recounts and discussion about whether a revote would be required. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 21, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082112.asp
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The state Supreme Court's historic ruling legalizing gay marriage has prompted the state's Roman Catholic bishops to call on Catholics to vote "yes" on a key ballot initiative Nov. 4, 2008. The question of whether the state should hold a constitutional convention had been a low-key issue until the court's ruling ignited opponents of gay marriage. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 11, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/faithcommunity/htfd_courant_101108.asp
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Despite continued population gains in such high-growth states as Texas, California and North Carolina,Connecticut's population has remained relatively stable and the state is expected to retain its five congressional seats after a new census count in 2010. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 24, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/people/htfd_courant_122409.asp
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With less than a week left before the Sept. 13 primary, mayoral candidate Edwin Vargas has accused Mayor Pedro Segarra of exhibiting a "pattern" of unethical behavior, citing three examples over an 18-year period. Segarra's campaign dismissed the accusations, saying they lack credibility. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 07, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090711.asp
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Kevin Rennie is a lawyer and a former Republican state lawmaker urges readers to do it for Aung San Suu Kyi and Benazir Bhutto. Vote in your local election, that is, and remember your good fortune whether your candidates win or lose. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 28, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102807.asp
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Heat and vacations help make August "a terrible time to have a primary" election, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said this week. So he's going to ask the legislature to change the dates once again � to June for congressional primaries and to September for legislative primaries. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 30, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_073012.asp
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The Hartford Charter Revision Commission voted 6-1 to recommend a charter revision that includes public campaign financing at its meeting on February 20, 2013. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: February 28, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_022813.asp
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A candidate for the Hartford Democratic Town Committee's 4th District has accused a member of an opposing slate of not living in the city. Ralph Arena, a town committee member who is seeking re-election, filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission alleging that Jose A. Contreras Jr., a member of a competing slate, lives in Wethersfield. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 23, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022312.asp
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Shawn Wooden, a young lawyer beginning his first term in elected office, became the city council president recently by getting the support of three minority party members and just one other Democrat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_010612.asp
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A state court judge upheld a recent Freedom of Information Commission decision against the city recently, saying Mayor Eddie A. Perez broke the law when he convened closed-door meetings in 2008 to discuss corporate support for a new arena in Hartford. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 05, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_060509_2.asp
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A map which shows the elected officials of Hartford, the neighborhoods they represent and their contact information. Published by
Hartford Public Library
; Publication Date: March 2006
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Government/elected_officials_map.asp
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A map showing the City of Hartford Senatorial, Assembly and Voting Districts and polling locations. (PDF document, 1 page) Published by
City of Hartford
; Publication Date: July 2006
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/District_map.pdf
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Hartford�s Republican Party, in an apparent attempt to curb the growing power of Hartford�s Working Families Party, have endorsed five Democrats: Pedro Segarra for Mayor, Adam Cloud for Treasurer and Alexander Aponte, Kyle Anderson and Ken Kennedy for City Council. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: September 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_092211.asp
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Police have told the "Occupy Hartford" protesters that they couldn't keep staying in tents on a city-owned parcel at Farmington Avenue and Broad Street. But the protesters � and the tents �were still there, winning a reprieve from city officials, who said negotiations are ongoing about whether they can continue sleeping in tents and whether they'd have to apply for permits. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 12, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101211.asp
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During the next four years, the city's Republican Party will work to rebuild itself and streamline its message, which has become "a broad stroke," Town Chairman Michael T. McGarry said. For the first time since 1991, no Republicans were elected to the city council this year. Instead, Working Families Party candidates won the three minority seats on the council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_111111.asp
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After a day of maneuvering on ground rules, not much was settled about how Occupy Hartford could proceed with its demonstration on a small plot of land at Broad Street and Farmington Avenue that the group has christened "Turning Point Park." Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101111.asp
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A video of the October 16, 2008 community program, Civil Liberties and the Presidential Election, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 16, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_16_2008.asp
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Adam Cloud, who replaced Kathleen Palm Devine as city treasurer in February, was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee at its convention recently. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_072211.asp
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Sen. Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic nomination, he created his own party. After the election, the party was taken over by liberals angry with Lieberman. The party is now devoted to unseating the senator. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: October 26, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_102610_1.asp
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In the closest vote of the year, the state House of Representatives voted recently to allow Connecticut and other states to join an interstate compact to elect the president by the national popular vote. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 13, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051309.asp
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Connecticut, the Land of Steady Habits, is one of those quaint jurisdictions that still compresses its voting calendar for each election to one day � a Tuesday, which is a workday for most people. The limited time for most people to vote allowed by Connecticut is an unnecessary inconvenience. It will be changed, eventually. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 09, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110912.asp
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The head of the Connecticut NAACP calls it �astonishing and heart breaking� that the legislative committee deciding on how this state�s political boundaries should be redrawn doesn�t have a single minority member. The absence of any African American or Latino lawmaker on the redistricting panel could trigger legal action by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, according to Scott X. Esdaile. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: December 14, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_121411.asp
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Connecticut had a very smooth Election Day on Nov. 6, 2012 which was a mini-miracle since Connecticut suffered serious damage and power outages as a result of Storm Sandy just a week before the election. The voter turnout of 74 percent of registered voters meant that nearly 1.6 million Connecticut voters cast ballots on Election Day. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 18, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011813.asp
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In November of 2014, Connecticut voters will consider amending the state Constitution to eliminate restrictions on early voting and allow greater access to absentee ballots. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 09, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_050913.asp
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Municipal leaders and education advocates used a lot of metaphors recently to describe state and local budget problems. But, the bottom line: We need more money from the state or we need relief from unfunded mandates. And we need it now. Education leaders argued that municipalities need more money from the state's Education Cost Sharing grants. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 04, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_050409.asp
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In a dramatic reversal, Gov. M. Jodi Rell recently announced she has signed a bill that she and her allies had previously belittled: a measure that takes away her appointment power to fill vacancies for U.S. Senate. The bill requires direct elections to choose successors for senators who leave office during their terms. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 27, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_062709.asp
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Connecticut had a voter turnout of 74 percent in the 2012 presidential election, ranking the state seventh in the nation, though lower than the state's turnout of about 78 percent in 2008 and 2004. Published by
CT Mirror
; Publication Date: November 28, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/ct_mirror_112812.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the Citizens' Election Program � Connecticut's landmark effort to remove the taint of special-interest money from elections and to reinvigorate our democracy by leveling the playing field for candidates through voluntary public financing of campaigns � still lives. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 15, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_071510.asp
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Hartford Republicans, thought by some to be on the political endangered species list, may be stirring to life. The city council asked the GOP town committee to suggest names of possible replacements for Republican councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson, who has taken an early retirement offer and is leaving at the end of 2010. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 04, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_120410.asp
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Voters recently rejected the Connecticut�s first constitutional convention in more than 40 years � after a short, fierce battle of television ads by both sides. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 05, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110508.asp
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A coalition of groups that want Connecticut to allow ballot initiatives like those in California is urging voters to approve a convention in the fall so the state constitution can be changed. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 27, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062708.asp
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City Councilman Luis Cotto, a member of the Working Families Party who is serving his second term on council, said recently he would resign effective July 31, 2012. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 15, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_061512.asp
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When the state adopted public financing of political campaigns five years ago, one of its promises was that it would create more competitive legislative elections. Prior to passage of the law, upward of 40 percent of legislative elections usually were uncontested by major party candidates. But, this year even with finance reform, fewer than half of the state's legislative races were in serious play. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 19, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_121910.asp
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At least four people were considered recently to fill two vacancies on the city council. The council will take up four resolutions, each with a different candidate's name, to fill the vacancies left by the departures of Matthew Ritter, a Democrat, and Veronica Airey-Wilson, a Republican. Sean P. Arena, chairman of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency, and Robert Painter, a former city council member, are named as candidates for Ritter's seat. Corey Brinson, a lawyer who is Airey-Wilson's nephew, and Gerald Pleasent, a former Hartford deputy police chief, are listed as candidates to fill Airey-Wilson's seat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011011.asp
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Luis E. Cotto announced re�lection campaign for Hartford City Council recently. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 23, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_062311.asp
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Mike McGarry expresses the opinion that with the demise of any real governing coalition - a mayor with five or six council votes - we look forward to a couple of tough years for the citizens of Hartford and its business community. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: June 06, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_060613.asp
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If a Hartford resident is in a Somers prison, should he be counted for census purposes as a resident of Somers or of Hartford? For ages, the U.S. Census Bureau's answer � and Connecticut's � has been Somers. But in 2010 the Census Bureau allowed states to choose where to count inmates for redistricting purposes, and a handful have opted to count inmates in their home communities. A bill to make this change in Connecticut failed in 2011 and has been proposed again this year. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 08, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_050813.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that this is what leadership looks like: Dan Malloy's commitment to Connecticut's landmark Citizens Election Program. He has stood by it during the arduous process of raising qualifying dollars to become the first candidate eligible for public funds to finance a campaign for governor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 10, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051010.asp
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Susan Campbell expresses the opinion that to celebrate Sunshine Week, we should file a Freedom of Information request. Or ask a probing question at a local meeting. Or let's request a copy of our town's emergency response plan. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 14, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_031407.asp
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Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz announced on Aug. 4, 2006 that her office had entered into contracts to replace Connecticut's lever-style voting machine with two technologies that are well-established, user-friendly, affordable and pretty secure. It's a happy ending to a story that's had some harrowing twists and turns. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 14, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Government/htfd_courant_081406.asp
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Helen Ubi�as writes that you know voters aren't happy when you find yourself in a too-close-to-call race against a convicted felon who doesn't even have a driver's license. In Hartford, the shocker was the dead heat in the city's 4th House District Democratic primary between incumbent Kelvin Roldan and petitioning challenger Angel Morales. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 12, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_081210.asp
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A two-month investigation of voting records by journalism students at the University of Connecticut has identified more than 8,500 people listed as dead who are still registered to vote in Connecticut, most long after their deaths. Although the investigation found no evidence of deliberate fraud, it uncovered numerous errors in voting and registration records kept by local registrars, and highlights weaknesses in a state voter database established in the mid-1990s, ostensibly to prevent fraud and duplicate voting. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 20, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_042008.asp
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The judge in the 5th district town committee law suit is expected to issue a ruling on February 26, 2010. It might not sound like a big deal since only 12 seats on the town committee are in play. But this is ground level politics at its best...or worst...depending on whose side you are on. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_022510.asp
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Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register and vote in the presidential primaries and 2008 presidential election. Published by
Declare Yourself
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_040308.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the campaign finance bill passed last month by the state General Assembly is so flawed that it would seriously hamper candidate debates. In addition, it imposes an unreasonable burden on companies making even modest political contributions. It should not become law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060212.asp
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A audio recording of the September 26, 2006 community program, Democracy in Action: Making an Impact, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: September 26, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_09_26_2006.asp
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The Hartford anti-blight ordinance, vetoed by Mayor Perez in March, never came back to the council for an override vote. No one could explain why the original ordinance (passed 9-0) never came back for an override vote, as required by the city charter Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: June 05, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_060508.asp
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Mike McGarry expresses the opinion that tThe charter changes on the ballot in Hartford in November 2013 only involved a few voters. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: September 26, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_092613.asp
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A slate of candidates for the town committee's fifth district whose petitions weren't completed properly should be removed from the ballot for the Democratic primary, Judge Susan Peck ruled recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 02, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030210_1.asp
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Aside from the fact that Ramon Arroyo voted twice for Jean Holloway and may or may not have violated Roberts Rules of Order and/or Democratic Party rules,and the whole ideal of one person, one vote, the Democratic town committee convention was definitely full of drama. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 12, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_031210.asp
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Janet Appellof, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Town Committee's 6th District (South Hartford) said recently that eight of the 13 members of her district came to a meeting on Saturday, July 17, 2010, in which they questioned Hartford Police Officer and State Rep. Hector Robles about his pending internal investigation. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 19, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_071910.asp
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For the first time in years, the city's Democratic Town Committee broke its tradition of endorsing two African-Americans, two Latinos and two white candidates for city council. Instead, the party endorsed three African-Americans, two Latinos and one white candidate. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072211.asp
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Democrats dominated in the city's state House and Senate races, winning all of the seats by wide margins in the 2012 election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110712.asp
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Recently the Hartford Democratic Town Committee cast nominations and then votes for endorsements of candidates for mayor, city council, and treasurer. While they appeared to move away from the antiquated 2-2-2 model of endorsement regarding City Council, they also moved away from women. Out of the eight candidates endorsed � one mayor, six city council, and one treasurer � not a single one is a woman. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_072211.asp
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In Hartford, Pedro Segarra is running for mayor, and his name is on the ballot twice. One of the Segarra's Democratic opponents says the mayor's dual endorsement violates local party rules and he wants the state party to intervene. But, the dispute is also about who gets to play second political fiddle. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: October 24, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_102411.asp
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Democrats chose members of the town committee recently, with hotly contested races in several districts. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 06, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030612.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra recently garnered the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement during its nominating committee. Segarra, who took over after former Mayor Eddie Perez resigned last year, is seeking his own term. Perez left office a week after he was convicted on felony corruption charges. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 19, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_071911.asp
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President Barack Obama pull off a convincing win over his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in the recent election, and took a lot of local Democrats over the top with him. Both of Hartford�s Democratic State Senators, incumbents John Fonfara (1st District) and Eric Coleman (2nd District), easily defeated their Republican opponents, as did the Democratic candidates for all six of Hartford State Representatives seats. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: November 08, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_110812.asp
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Gov. M. Jodi Rell and legislative leaders have squeezed special-interest money from Connecticut politics. But a keystone of the sweeping campaign reforms that take effect this year � public financing of legislative races � is doing little to increase competition for the General Assembly. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 03, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060308.asp
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Rick Green opposes the Connecticut ballot question asking whether we should hold a constitutional convention, which could lead to an amendment allowing "citizen initiatives," or referendums. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 21, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102108.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Connecticut's landmark campaign finance law contains a ticking time bomb that threatens to blow it up, returning the state to a time when political corruption made it a national joke. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 23, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_012310.asp
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Mike McGarry comments that the efforts by the City Council, and to lesser degree the Mayor, to cut the budget of the Registrars' office will lead to poor service at our polling places, less outreach to potential voters and a lessening of democracy in a city that needs it badly. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: May 30, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_053013.asp
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When the statewide turnout for this fall's municipal elections was announced at an embarrassing 30.67 percent, many attributed it to the freak snowstorm 10 days earlier. But, in fact, turnout in municipal elections has been dropping for two decades, from nearly 55 percent in 1991 steadily down to 36.6 percent in 2009 to this year's anemic number. If the storm was a factor, it wasn't much of one. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_120911.asp
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A U.S. Supreme Court ruling could topple Connecticut�s system of public funding for campaigns. Connecticut�s Green Party is challenging this state�s public campaign financing law on the grounds that it discriminates against minor-party candidates and acts as an �incumbent protection� for Democrats and Republicans. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: June 15, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_061510.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Democratic Town Committee electioneering in Hartford often pushes too hard against the boundaries of the law � so much so that the secretary of the state's office may send a team to monitor the upcoming primary. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 26, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_022610.asp
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Rick Green comments that campaign finance reform is dead. Millionaire Republicans are preparing to carpet-bomb the state with campaign ads. This is no time for Democrats to proudly go down with the ship. Yet the reform-minded want gubernatorial candidate and wealthy businessman Ned Lamont to abide by some kind of spending limit? How noble. How stupid. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 26, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_012610.asp
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In Connecticut, Latinos may be shifting slowly from Democrats to independents. In Connecticut, Latinos make up about 7.5 percent of registered voters and could well make a difference in the outcome of elections. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062313.asp
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State Rep. Corky Mazurek, a Democrat from Wolcott, introduced an amendment to a budget bill last month that would have eliminated the Citizens Election Fund � the pot of cash that pays for public financing of state elections. The irony is that he wants to eliminate fund that almost beat him. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 14, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_071409.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that changes in how Connecticut votes may be on the way � and that will be a good thing if it means new rules, such as authorizing early voting, that give busy people more opportunity to vote, boosting turnout and reinvigorating democracy. But an attempt to establish an early-voting pilot program for municipal elections in a few towns this fall might be premature. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 13, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051313.asp
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Edwin Vargas, a former Hartford Democratic Town Committee chairman who serves on the city's planning and zoning commission, said that he will run for mayor in the upcoming November election. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 28, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_012811.asp
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It's hard for visitors at Naylor School on Franklin Avenue in Hartford to forget the state's deadline to register to vote. The students in Tim Clemens' eighth-grade civics class remind anyone who comes within a block of the school. The students have made it their mission to sign up as many neighborhood adults as possible. That means walking the sidewalk outside the school at 8 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. each day, and sitting at a table in the lobby of the school to greet anyone who comes in throughout the day. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 15, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101508.asp
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In the past few years, there has been a disturbing push in a number of states toward limiting the right to vote and raising barriers to participation in democracy. Not in Connecticut. When it comes to ensuring an inclusive and fair democracy that guarantees every voice is heard, the state has been a real leader and taken important steps forward. But a bill before the General Assembly that would ban the practice of electoral cross-endorsement in Connecticut would be a serious step backward, and would tarnish the state�s reputation as a leading protector of voting rights and voter choices. The legislature should reject this proposal. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 08, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_040813.asp
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In the November 2012 election, at Burns School polling place, some citizens found they could not get inside because all of the heavy doors were completely shut and no poll workers were nearby to hear knocks. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: November 06, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_110612.asp
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In this commentary, the author suggests that the jewel in Gov. M. Jodi Rell's crown is made of expensive paste. Her 2005 legislation to overhaul the financing of political campaigns is proving to be an unwieldy mess that stymies the vigorous exchange of ideas. It magnifies the fortunes of wealthy candidates as it tramples on the Constitution. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 06, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_120609.asp
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Elections raise as many questions as they answer. Case in point: the line of voters at Hartford�s City Hall at the November 2012 election. The silver lining is that people were fired up enough to wait for hours to cast a vote, knowing they could not weigh in on the ballot question or any of the candidates running for a position other than President. But, walking alongside the line that ran the length of the atrium, down the stairs, and into the basement, it was hard not to wonder: what is going on in Hartford that this many residents have not registered, moved and not updated their information with the Registrar of Voters, or have encountered some other difficulty that would require them to go downtown and spend hours to vote. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: November 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_110712.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that Richard Blumenthal is probably the best attorney general in Connecticut history. However, he should withdraw his appeal of the federal District Court's decision declaring the Campaign Finance Reform Act unconstitutional for discriminating against minor party candidates. The simpler, faster and better way to save that important law is for the General Assembly to amend it. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 11, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101109.asp
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Before the Nov. 4 presidential election, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz had predicted that 90 percent of registered voters in Connecticut would go to the polls. Like election officials elsewhere in the nation who anticipated prodigious participation, Ms. Bysiewicz was off the mark. The turnout in Connecticut was "only" 80.5 percent. But, the raw number of people who voted � some 1.6 million � was a record even though the 90 percent projection was not reached. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 22, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_112208_1.asp
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These documents, developed by Hartford Votes ~ Hartford Vota Coalition, provide information about the election of members of Democratic and Republican Town Committees in the state of Connecticut. The document is presented in English and Spanish. Published by
Hartford Votes~Hartford Vota Coalition
; Publication Date: February 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_election_to_town_committees.asp
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Connecticut has been debating three key issues: House Bill 5022 on increasing the penalties for voter intimidation, House Bill 5024 on same-day registration, and House Joint Resolution 2, which is a constitutional amendment that has passed both chambers. The constitutional amendment would eliminate the current restrictions on absentee ballots and switch to "no excuses" balloting -- meaning that no reason at all would be needed to obtain an absentee ballot. Currently, people must certify that they are away at college or out of town on a business trip, for example. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 24, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_042412.asp
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The vast majority of Americans have become mere spectators in our presidential elections; the election of our president literally comes down to 15 states � and Connecticut is not one of them. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_041711.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that an effort to change Connecticut's participation in the US Electoral College so that Connecticut's seven Electoral College votes will be granted to the winner of the national popular vote in a presidential election, rather than to the winner of our state's popular vote is misguided. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_041711_1.asp
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Eleven candidates vying for four seats on the board of education had an opportunity to let voters know where they stand on a variety of issues facing the school system recently at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 28, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/htfd_courant_102809.asp
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Despite some optimism in the days leading up to the vote, the Hartford City Council failed to fill two vacant seats recently, voting down all three candidates who had been nominated. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: January 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_011111.asp
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Democratic legislative candidate Matt Ritter of Hartford sent out a campaign e-mail on April 30, 2010 touting a community group's endorsement of him in his Aug. 10, 2010 primary contest with incumbent state Rep. Ken Green, D-Hartford � but it turns out that the group is a for-profit corporation that Ritter is paying $4,000 to help him get elected. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 07, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_080710.asp
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Four years ago, the Hartford city council was figuring out its role in a new strong-mayor form of government. Then came the tumult surrounding the criminal conviction and resignation of Mayor Eddie Perez. Despite the upheaval, the council established itself as the policy arm and a full partner in city government. Now it needs some ideas. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_103011.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that as Connecticut heads into the presidential election year of 2012, with an open U.S. Senate seat also up for grabs, the state should take a hard look at the business of politics and the rules on political office. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_010212.asp
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As Connecticut heads into the presidential election year of 2012, the Hartford Courant supports Secretary of the State Denise Merrill who thinks that online registration and online voting should become the standard. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 03, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_010312.asp
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A federal appellate court issued a ruling recently on the state�s program to publicly finance political campaigns. The state�s campaign finance laws allow participating candidates to get public money if they meet certain thresholds. But a federal appeals court says that some portions of the law are unconstitutional � including the part that says lobbyists should be banned from contributing to political campaigns. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: July 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_071310.asp
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Though rain-soaked ballots jammed a handful of voting machines, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said that the new statewide optical scan system ran smoothly on its first Election Day. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 07, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110707.asp
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It has been well over a month since the Democratic Primary and, as of press time, Leo Canty of Windsor and Brandon McGee of Hartford were still waiting to hear which one of them will be the party�s endorsed candidate for State Representative from the 5th District in November�s general election. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: September 20, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_092012.asp
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Tens of thousands of dollars is being raised in an effort to persuade Connecticut voters to reject a proposal on the November 2008 ballot to reopen the state constitution. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 20, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082008.asp
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There are only 10 primaries for party nominations in the state's 151 House of Representative districts. That Democrat Ken Green, who represents the 1st Assembly District, which comprises portions of Hartford and Bloomfield, is among those being challenged is one of the surprises of this election year. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 11, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_071110.asp
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Hartford�s eight mayoral candidates met at an open forum and exhibited a diversity of speaking styles but a basic agreement on the challenges facing the city. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: May 16 - 23, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_news_051607.asp
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The National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services provides funds ($637,896) for the Immigrant Civic Engagement Initiative of which this pilot dialogue was a part. Everyday Democracy is partnering with the Hartford Public Library on this three-year initiative. The hope is that the Immigrant Advisory Group will take a leadership role in continuing the Community Dialogue work after the grant dries up. A cultural brokering program, which pairs a newcomer family with someone who acts as an advocate and mentor, is another component of this initiative. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: July 20, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/immigrants/realhtfd_072011.asp
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Kerri Provost spoke with Edwin Vargas, one of the candidates for Mayor by phone.. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_063011_3.asp
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Kerri Provost spoke with J. Stan McCauley (AKA Pastor Stan), one of the candidates for Mayor by phone. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_063011_4.asp
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Kerri Provost spoke with Mayor Segarra in person at Elizabeth Park about his views about Hartford. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_063011_2.asp
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This interview with Shawn Wooden, one of the candidates for Mayor, was conducted via email. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_063011_1.asp
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Death and Taxes. That�s all people ever seem to ask candidates about. What will the magic wand look like that they will wave over the city to make violent crime and high taxes disappear. When I interviewed the four viable mayoral candidates, I began with a question about their favorite things in Hartford. Too often, interviews, forums, and debates are framed in a negative way. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_063011.asp
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Voters scrambled to town halls across the state recently to meet the deadline for joining a political party so they could take part in Connecticut�s presidential primaries. Registrars reported that the crowds were some of the largest they have seen in decades � and that more unaffiliated voters were joining the Democratic Party than the Republican Party. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 05, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_020508.asp
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The City Council postponed action this week on a flurry of resolutions prompted by the $200,000 Corporation Counsel John Rose has spent in the last 24 months appealing decisions against the city by the Freedom of Information Commission. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: March 10, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_031010.asp
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Republican Barbara Ruhe knows she has an uphill climb to unseat state Sen. John Fonfara in the heavily Democratic 1st District. For the third straight election, the Wethersfield lawyer is facing off with Fonfara, a Hartford businessman and Democrat who is seeking his ninth term in the Senate district that features downtown Hartford, the city's South End and part of Wethersfield. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 17, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101712.asp
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Edwin Vargas Jr. once served as John Fonfara's campaign manager. Now he is trying to knock the incumbent state senator out of office. This is not the first time the two Hartford residents have faced off in a Democratic state Senate primary. Vargas challenged Fonfara in 2008, but lost by 850 votes. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 02, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_080210.asp
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Former Republican city Councilman Mike McGarry has filed formal complaints against Councilman Luis E. Cotto of the Working Families Party over the use of Cotto's office to promote an International Workers' Day event. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 08, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_040810.asp
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Former State Rep. Kenneth Green, who had taken out papers to form an exploratory committee and at one point said he was considering a run for mayor, recently put his support behind mayoral candidate Shawn Wooden. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_031011.asp
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Susan Campbell writes about Alisa Dzananovic, who recently passed her citizenship test. Dzananovic, a 26-year-old native of Bosnia who was named after the fictional Alice in Wonderland, will officially be a part of this country and she will be able to vote. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 07, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/immigrants/htfd_courant_090708.asp
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Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State voluntarily publishes a statistical report on the gender and racial composition of state boards and commissions every two years. This year�s report presents data submitted in 2011 by 175 state boards, commissions, committees and councils. (PDF document, 60 pages) Published by
State of Connecticut, Office of the Secretary of the State
; Publication Date: May 14, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Government/Gender_Race_CT_Boards.pdf
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Brandon McGee, a newcomer, is from Hartford. Leo Canty, a veteran of the teacher's union, is from Windsor. Both men want to serve in the state's legislature, but only one can. The August primary eventually ended in a tie, with both men sharing the same number of votes and a third candidate getting the balance. The primary wound up in court, which did not resolve the matter. The judge ordered a revote. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: October 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_100212.asp
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Susan Campbell writes about Banned Books Week, and celebrating the freedom to read at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 29, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_092909.asp
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Susan Bysiewicz, the former Secretary of the State of Connecticut, comments that democracy is a big, loud, messy process. In Connecticut, our Constitution and subsequent laws dictate that elections are the province of local government. So, the legal responsibility for carrying out elections falls squarely on the shoulders of our 169 municipalities. From large cities to tiny towns, all bear the same legal responsibility to plan for and execute our elections. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 20, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_112010.asp
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Susan Campbell comments on the effort to register homeless people so that they can vote in the November 2008 election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 12, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101208.asp
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A recount will be needed to determine whether political newcomer Brandon McGee pulled off a major upset in the Democratic Primary. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: August 16, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_081612.asp
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Republicans were outraged recently by a Democratic-written bill that would effectively eliminate the Independent Party of Connecticut. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 29, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_052913.asp
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Republican Town Chairman Michael McGarry has filed a petition with the town and city clerk's office seeking to force a special election in November 2010 for the city's mayor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 02, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_070210.asp
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It's been a tough year for city Republicans, who last winter lost their only seat on the city council to the Working Families Party, and had struggled in the spring to fill seats on the town committee. But the party has been working steadily to rebuild itself, and has offered up four Republicans to run for state House seats this fall. One of those Republicans is Kenneth Lerman, who will face off against Democratic state Rep. Matthew Ritter for the 1st House District seat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 09, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100912.asp
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Time is running out on exactly how the election ballot will look this November in all 169 towns in Connecticut. With towns needing to be notified of the ballot order by September 15, 2012 and overseas ballots needing to be mailed to members of the military by September 21, 2012 the state Supreme Court is moving to act quickly. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 12, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091212_1.asp
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Officials with the Greater Hartford Central Labor Council say the council won't put its support behind any of the candidates for city mayor in the fall election. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_071111_1.asp
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Ken Krayeske is an activist/gadfly/journalist/law student who says he�s having �a blast� running as the Green Party�s long-shot candidate in the First Congressional District. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: October 26, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_102610.asp
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A video of the March 21, 2011 community program, Green Ribbon Task Force Presentation of Recommendations, which was held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: March 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_03_21_2011.asp
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Two months after losing his party's endorsement, state Rep. Kenneth Green said he's feeling "very upbeat" heading into what could be his most difficult primary for the 1st District seat since his 2002 race against Barnaby Horton. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072810_1.asp
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With several city council members unsure about whom they would vote for among Mayor Pedro Segarra's five board of education nominees, council President Shawn Wooden said that he hopes to arrange individual votes for each, rather than casting one vote for all five members. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_013112.asp
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In recent years, the city of Hartford has been the only place in the state that has three registrars of voters. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: November 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_110712.asp
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A city lawyer and former city council member were named Monday to fill two vacancies on the city council. Robert Painter, 77, who served on the panel for six years as a Republican but has since switched political parties, replaces Matthew Ritter, a Democrat. Ritter resigned earlier this month and was sworn in as a state representative. Corey Brinson, 30, a city attorney and a Republican, was chosen to replace Veronica Airey-Wilson, who retired last month. Brinson is Airey-Wilson's nephew and is now the youngest member of the council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 25, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_012511.asp
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A video of the August 24, 2011 community program, Hartford City Council Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: August 24, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_08_24_2011.asp
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Last week, Mayor Pedro Segarra appointed himself and five others to city�s board of education, replacing five appointees of former Mayor Eddie A. Perez. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: January 23, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/jcohen_012312.asp
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A video of the August 30, 2011 community program, Hartford City Treasurer Primary Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_08_30_2011.asp
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City clerk John Bazzano told a Superior Court judge recently that his office delivered 79 absentee ballots to the registrar of voters in the 5th state House district Democratic primary. But only 78 ballots were counted, according to election officials. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 31, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_083112.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Hector Robles, who falsified department pay records, refused to act honorably and resign as a Hartford police officer after he got caught. So Chief Daryl K. Roberts did what he had to do: He terminated Mr. Robles this week for "a flagrant violation" of the department's code of conduct. Now Mr. Robles should resign the other office of public trust he has sullied � that of state representative from the 6th District in Hartford. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 06, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/crime/htfd_courant_110610.asp
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The city council recently approved Mayor Pedro Segarra's five nominees for the board of education, though some members expressed concern about the candidates' potential for conflicts of interest. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_020212.asp
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The Hartford city council's Working Families Party membership has rallied around Joel Cruz, a Hartford native, to replace Councilman Luis Cotto, who has said he would resign July 31. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 20, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_062012.asp
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Signaling that it wants greater fiscal accountability as the city faces a projected $70 million deficit next year, the city council recently voted to override Mayor Pedro Segarra's veto of a proposal calling for a freeze on all overtime pay and hiring that exceeds the city budget unless approved by the council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 08, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_040813.asp
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The city has spent more than $200,000 in the past 18 months appealing state Freedom of Information Commission rulings that documents must be made public. Because of that, the city council has asked Mayor Eddie A. Perez not to authorize any more FOI appeals without first getting council approval. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 15, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_041510.asp
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Last week's Democratic town committee election cost $64,868, Olga Vazquez, the Democratic registrar of voters, said recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 14, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_031412.asp
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The Democratic town committee must hold another election to choose a chairman under a ruling issued recently by a state party panel. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 30, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_033010.asp
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The dispute over who, if anyone, won the recent Democratic town committee chairmanship was heard March 25 by a three-person panel made up of members of the Democratic State Central Committee. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 18, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_031810.asp
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Georgiana Holloway was elected Democratic town chairwoman recently. Maybe. That's because, Ramon Arroyo, the temporary chairman elected by the town committee to oversee the election, cast a vote for Holloway during the roll call vote, and when that vote ended deadlocked at 33-33, voted for her again to break the tie. Arroyo's decision to cast another vote was disputed by Sean Arena, who was seeking a second term as town committee chairman and who called the election a "farce." Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 12, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_031210.asp
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A disputed election for chairman of the city's Democratic town committee is headed for a formal party hearing. At issue is whether Ramon Arroyo, who was temporarily elected chairman and who oversaw the vote, was within his rights to vote twice for the apparent winner, Georgiana "Jean" Holloway. Arroyo's second vote broke a 33-33 tie between Holloway and Sean Arena, who was seeking a second two-year term as chairman. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_031310.asp
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Jean Holloway has been elected chairwoman of the Hartford Democratic Town Committee. Again. Holloway thought she had won the seat at the first vote March 11, but the election was disputed when temporary Chairman Ramon Arroyo cast a second vote for Holloway to break a 33-33 tie with Sean Arena. Arena was seeking a second two-year term as chairman. The question of whether Arroyo could cast a second vote � one as a committee member and one as temporary chairman to break the tie � was appealed to a dispute resolution panel of the Democratic State Central Committee. That committee determined that the whole election should be done again. The second vote was held recently, with Holloway winning 33-32. The tiebreaker this time was state Rep. Hector Robles, who voted for Arena in March but abstained this time. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 08, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_040810_1.asp
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The Hartford Democratic town committee primary is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The election involves the 4th, 5th and 7th districts, each having two challenge slates. ballot. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_022810.asp
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City Democrats have chosen Marc A. DiBella to lead the town committee. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 22, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_032212.asp
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Three Democratic candidates who are challenging incumbent state representatives and the city's registrar of voters won their party's endorsement recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 24, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_052412.asp
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Folks who want to run for mayor, city council, and other offices are making it known to the city�s Democratic Town Committee. That committee provided a letter that it sent out recently to people who, at the time, had expressed an interest in running. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: May 19, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_051911.asp
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City Democrats headed to the polls Tuesday, September 6, 2011 to choose six city council candidates, one mayoral candidate and a treasurer candidate. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_090911.asp
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The city's Democratic Town Committee has endorsed three candidates for the November 2013 school board election, when four seats will be open for four-year terms during a crucial time for Hartford education reform. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 23, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/htfd_courant_072313.asp
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A slate of 15 Democrats swept to victory recently in a three-way race for seats in the Democratic Town Committee's 7th District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_030712.asp
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Considering Hartford's rocky fiscal condition, city officials have no choice but to economize anywhere savings can be found. That includes the wasteful, hydra-headed registrar of voters' office, which must be reformed and streamlined and cut down to proper size. Hartford needs only one registrar. It should be a nonpartisan, professional, appointed position. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090712_1.asp
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The Hartford Federation of Teachers, Local 1018, recently announced its endorsement for Democratic Mayoral Candidate Edwin Vargas. Vargas proudly worked as a teacher in the Hartford Public School System for over a quarter century and expressed his enthusiasm for the endorsement. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 08, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_090811.asp
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After losing all three seats on the City Council to the Working Families Party, the Hartford G.O.P. took stock and decided to make major changes that would make the party competitive again. The apparent weaknesses were evident: a small town committee, few younger people and a lack of diversity. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: June 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_060712.asp
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The GOP registrar of Hartford said the Democrat-controlled city council hasn't given him enough money to hold the primary. Salvatore Bramante said there won't be enough cash left after the Democratic Town Committee election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030712.asp
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The city of Hartford filed a 35-page memorandum in Superior Court recently explaining why it should not be forced by the Freedom of Information Commission to waive a $27.50 fee it wants to charge a small nonprofit publication for copies of documents related to a prison suicide. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: May 04, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_050410.asp
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Trude Johnson Mero, a no-nonsense matriarch of Hartford politics who mentored generations of Democrats at her kitchen table, died recently of complications from diabetes. She was 85. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 24, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072413.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra has put himself in a comfortable position as he gets ready for the upcoming Democratic nominating convention. His strongest opponent stepped aside three weeks ago in an agreement brokered by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, leaving Segarra a clear path to the party endorsement. And in a city dominated by Democrats, Segarra appears to be the odds-on favorite to win in November, too, barring a primary battle. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 20, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072011.asp
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In a sharp change of plans, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said recently night that he will seek a full term for the office he stepped into last June. Segarra had been expected only to finish the term of Eddie Perez, who resigned after being convicted on five felony counts in a corruption scandal involving bribery and extortion. Since taking over on June 25, Segarra said he has been looking for a competent administrator who could be the next leader of the city. He decided it should be him. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 21, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_112110.asp
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Mayor Eddie A. Perez ratcheted up his campaign against "racist comments and hate speech" posted by readers on Courant.com by holding a protest outside the newspaper's Broad Street headquarters. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 21, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062108_1.asp
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In an open letter, Mayor Eddie A. Perez asks The Hartford Courant to immediately ban what he describes as racist comments and hate speech on the discussion forums on the newspaper's website. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 17, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/crime/htfd_courant_061708.asp
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A video of the September 7, 2011 community program, Hartford Mayoral Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: September 7, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_09_07_2011.asp
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Those who follow Hartford city politics have learned to expect the unexpected: twists and turns, strange bedfellows and even the occasional scandal. But the announcement that mayoral candidate Shawn Wooden was dropping out of the Democratic primary seemed to catch even the most connected insiders by surprise. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071011.asp
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This critique of Mike McGarry�s columns by the minority leader of the Hartford City Council, Councilman Larry Deutsch, suggests that the difference between the Republican and Working Families Party isn�t a difference of philosophy, but of ideas. For years McGarry�s Republicans � like Republicans on a national level � have been the party of �No.� At a local level, McGarry�s unceasing negativity is on par with his party�s national leaders. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 27, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_102711.asp
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The Hartford Police Union recently put its support behind Adam Cloud for city treasurer in the upcoming election. Cloud currently serves in the role and is running for his own term Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 26, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_082611.asp
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The Hartford Police Union recently announced its endorsement of Mayor Pedro Segarra. Segarra is running for his own mayoral term in the fall 2011 election. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 07, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_090711.asp
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Several of the Hartford's key political seats will be contested in the August 2012 primary election. Two Democratic challengers will run against the party-endorsed candidates for state representative in the 3rd and 6th Assembly Districts. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 20, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_062012_1.asp
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It appears unlikely the city's registrars of voters will receive the additional funds they requested to help run the polls on Nov. 6, 2013. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 19, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101912_1.asp
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The city's Democratic and Republican registrars of voters recently defended their decision to spend more on running elections than they were allotted by the city council, saying they're obligated by the state Constitution to hold fair elections regardless of the cost. Salvatore Bramante, the Republican registar for 18 years, had said that the city may have to cancel the April 24 Republican presidential primary because it didn't have enough money to hold. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 09, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030912_1.asp
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The city's registrars of voters, who for months have requested additional funding to help offset budget overruns, may finally receive some relief. But, under a new proposal by Mayor Pedro Segarra, the registrars would still have to cut their budget. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 15, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_031513.asp
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A video of the program, Hartford Registrars of Voters Primary Candidate Forum, held on July 18, 2012 at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: July 18, 2012
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_07_18_2012.asp
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The city's registrars of voters are seeking additional funds that they say they need to run the Nov. 6 general election. Salvatore Bramante, the city's Republican registrar, and Olga Iris Vazquez, his Democratic counterpart, submitted a request for funding to the city council last month, saying the issue is "urgent, as current departmental funding is insufficient to support the event in the manner required by law." Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 05, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_100512.asp
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The city's registrar of voters office said it does not have enough money to run the November general election. Salvatore Bramante, the Republican registrar of voters, sent an e-mail to Urania Petit, the Working Families Party registrar, recently saying there are "no funds available" to run the election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090612.asp
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Whether an absentee ballot should have been counted that was cast by a person who died a day before the Aug. 10 election is among the issues that could decide the outcome of the contested Democratic primary for the 1st House District. A hearing will begin Friday at Superior Court in Hartford on incumbent state Rep. Kenneth Green's lawsuit challenging a recount in the primary. The recount gave city Councilman Matthew Ritter a two-vote victory, reversing the two-vote margin Green held on the night of the election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 26, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_082610.asp
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Hartford Republicans will field no candidates for the November 2013 school board election, town party chairman Michael McGarry said recently. That's a bleak bit of evidence of the local GOP's sorry, withering status in the city. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 25, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/htfd_courant_072513.asp
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With less than a week before the city's Democratic Town Committee election, a resident has filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission alleging illegal handling of absentee ballots. Evelyn Cruz filed a complaint accusing another resident, Clorinda Soldevila, of hand-delivering three absentee ballots to her home on Bond Street, and then picking up those ballots and delivering them to city hall. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 29, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022912.asp
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The city and its registrars of voters are seeking to dismiss a two-decades-old federal court order requiring the registrars' office to take extra precautions so residents � particularly those of Latino background � aren't unfairly purged from the registered voters list. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 11, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071113.asp
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A video of the program, Hartford State Representatives Candidate Forum, held on July 31, 2012 at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_07_31_2012.asp
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A video of the October 28, 2010 community program, Hartford State Senators and Representatives Candidate Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_28_2010.asp
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A video of the Hartford State Senators and Representatives Candidate Forum held at the Hartford Public Library on October 15, 2012. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 15, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_15_2012.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra is in a strong position to continue leading the city. But, there's another battle brewing -- about who will lead the city council. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: November 04, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_110411.asp
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Although she did not receive her party's endorsement, Olga Iris Vazquez, the city's Democratic registrar of voters, was elected to another term in the August 2012 primary. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 15, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081512_1.asp
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Every ten years, the boundaries of Connecticut's House, Senate, and Congressional districts are adjusted based upon population changes reflected in the U.S. Census. These changes have resulted in the need to reconfigure the city's voting districts. This map shows the new districts. Also included are a list of polling places. Published by
Hartford Registrars of Voters
; Publication Date: January 2012
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_2012_voting_districts.asp
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Tuesday, November 6th, 2013 was election day, and Kerri Provost provides a guide to the candidates and ballot questions. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: October 31, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_103112.asp
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A video of the November 18, 2009 community program, Hartford's Boards and Commissions, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: November 18, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_11_18_2009.asp
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Recently the effort of Hartford Democrats to challenge their party's endorsed candidates for mayor, city council, and other offices went down to the wire because the city's Democrats have a party in flux. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: August 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_081111.asp
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Pedro Segarra was sworn in as the Hartford's mayor recently, beginning his first elected term in office. But, a fight over control of the city council dragged on until the bitter end. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: January 03, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_010312.asp
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This is Ken Krayeske�s testimony to Hartford�s Charter Revision Commission from Wednesday, February 20, 2013. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: February 21, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_022113.asp
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Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra announced recently that his campaign has knocked on over 30,000 doors since July 1, 2011 and have reached every neighborhood in Hartford. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_081711.asp
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Hartford's registrars of voters office � which was nearly $120,000 over budget with about two weeks to go in the 2012-2013 fiscal year � was recently ordered by the city finance director to stop spending money. Not another penny. Not even for payroll. The real, permanent problem is the tripartite nature of the office. There should not be three registrars; there should be only an efficient, nonpartisan one. Hartford's charter revision commission has recommended just that. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_061813.asp
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Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative, a grass-roots, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to bringing initiative and referendum to Connecticut, has worked since January, 2010 to identify candidates in the November election who support giving Connecticut citizens the right, through petition, to put questions on the ballot � a right enjoyed by citizens in 31 states. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101310.asp
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This website provides the text of the Federal Act the purpose of which is to establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission to assist in the administration of Federal elections and to otherwise provide assistance with the administration of certain Federal election laws and programs. Published by
Federal Election Committee
; Publication Date: 2002
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_2002.asp
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The Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the Supreme Court majority opinion on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the landmark legislation that lowered barriers to voting for racial minorities across the land, has eviscerated the Act. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 01, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_070113.asp
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Before this extraordinary election year is out, Americans are going to hear more about the Hispanic community. Nationwide, there are 46 million Americans of Spanish-speaking descent, or 15 percent of the total U.S. population, and Hispanics are expected to grow to 102 million, or almost 25 percent of the population, by 2050. In Connecticut, Ramirez found that the number of Hispanic voters grew from 2,535 in the 2004 presidential primary to 20,236 this year. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 02, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030208.asp
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Creation of paper records and use of optical scanner systems are some of the issues raised as the state of Connecticut moves forward with plans to phase out lever machines and begin electronic voting by 2006. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 25, 2005
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_042505.asp
Related Link(s):
TrueVoteCT
;
Federal Election Commission: Help America Vote Act of 2002
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When Hartford police detectives went to the Open Hearth recently, they got permission to confirm the whereabouts of 17 registered sex offenders who listed the Charter Oak Avenue emergency shelter as their residence. But a half-block away at the Stewart B. McKinney Shelter on Huyshope Avenue, officers were denied entry in their attempt to locate 43 registered sex offenders who listed that facility as their home. The officers resorted to waiting on the sidewalk to interview people as they came and went. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 06, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_040608.asp
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After a bitter debate that has lasted more than a decade, the state House of Representatives voted recently to allow citizens to both register and vote on Election Day. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 27, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_052709.asp
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Overriding a veto by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the state House of Representatives recently approved a bill that safeguards the state's landmark program of public financing for political candidates. The 106-30 vote clears the way for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dannel Malloy to access to $6 million in public campaign funds. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081310.asp
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After more than five hours of debate, the state House of Representatives voted recently for the controversial Election Day voter registration bill that has a long history in the state legislature. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 30, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_043012.asp
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After eight terms and 16 years representing Hartford in the state House of Representatives, Democrat Ken Green is facing perhaps his greatest challenge ever for re-election from Hartford City Councilman Matt Ritter, whose father Thomas Ritter is a former Speaker of the House. The two face off in a primary on Aug. 10, 2010. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: July 27, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_072710.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the General Assembly might have come up with a better fix than it did for constitutional flaws that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently found in Connecticut's program for publicly financing campaigns. But because the court dumped the eviscerated law on the legislature for fixing so close to an election, lawmakers had to act with haste to make the court-ordered improvements and restore fairness to the public financing program. They were right to override Gov. M. Jodi Rell's veto of the imperfect product. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 17, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081710.asp
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New England has a lot at stake in the 2010 Census, not just in terms of federal dollars for dozens of programs that support education, housing and healthcare services, but the results may also have an impact on the region�s clout on Capitol Hill. Published by
The Hartford Business Journal
; Publication Date: June 14, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/hbj_061410.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that if Connecticut's leaders want to change the political environment of non-inclusiveness, they should offer and support citizen empowerment laws that promote democracy and citizen participation. These laws have been around for a long time and have been legislated by many states across the country. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 04, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_050408.asp
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Our 2010 statewide primary season has come and gone, and although millions of dollars were spent on ads for or against candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and other offices, less than one in four (24.88 percent) registered Connecticut Democrats showed up to cast ballots Aug. 10, while less than one in three (29.59 percent) Republicans turned out for the primary. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082810.asp
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Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz has suggested several initiatives to increase voter turn-out in Connecticut, and the Hartford Courant supports them in this editorial. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091410.asp
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Experts warn against repairing Connecticut's campaign finance reform system on the eve of the 2010 elections. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: January 19, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_011910.asp
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Rick Green comments that when � and if � this voting mess settles down, the story of Dan Malloy's apparent victory over Tom Foley in the governor's race will be a tale of the "two Connecticuts." Foley's popularity lies in the suburbs. Malloy owes his victory margin � if it holds up � to voters in the cities. On election day, Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport delivered astounding and unexpected knockout punches to the Greenwich Republican's chances in the race for governor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 05, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110510.asp
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A video of the May 5, 2009 community program, Immigrants and the Power of the Vote, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: May 5, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_05_05_2009.asp
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Democrat John Fonfara and Republican Barbara Ruhe have faced each other before in a race for the 1st Senate District seat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102510.asp
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The dust has yet to settle on the recent Democratic town committee primary and probably won't for at least a few days until a recount is completed in the 4th District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 04, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_030410.asp
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On the surface it would seem that 13 candidates vying for four seats on the Hartford Board of Education would make for a pretty competitive race with lots of possibilities. But in Hartford, where the Democratic Party rules, that is not likely to be the case. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 23, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102309.asp
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Hartford blogger Kevin Brookman and Hartford City Council President rJo Winch planned to form a slate together to run in the fall 2011 primary. Together, they�d run with mayoral candidate Edwin Vargas. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_072211.asp
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Hartford may see unintended incidents of voter suppression during this coming election, Nov. 6. Why would there be voter suppression in Hartford? Because, unless the registrars' office properly staffs the election, a number of polling places in the city could be full of confused, unhappy voters. Redistricting will find voters at the wrong polling location. Many new voters will need help. And hundreds of non-registered citizens demanding a ballot are expected to turn out. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 26, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102612.asp
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Testimony concluded recently in a lawsuit filed by a slate of candidates hoping to represent the city's fifth district on the Democratic town committee. The plaintiffs charge that Olga Vazquez, Democratic registrar of voters and a member of the opposition slate of candidates, broke the law by accepting incomplete signature petitions and completing them herself. The lawsuit also says that Vazquez completed the forms after the deadline passed for filing them. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 24, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_022410.asp
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Incumbent state Rep. Hector Robles easily fended off three write-in candidates in the 6th House District race to win his second term, according to unofficial results. Robles, a Democrat who was fired recently from his job as a city police officer, said his top priorities would be job growth, property tax relief for home and business owners and closing the education achievement gap. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 03, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110310.asp
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Democratic incumbent Kelvin Roldan, who narrowly won the August primary, faces two challengers in the Nov. 2 election in the heavily Democratic 4th House District. Roldan, who is seeking a third term, eked out a 5-vote primary victory over Angel Morales, an unemployed convicted felon who claimed that Roldan was out of touch with his constituents. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102510_1.asp
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This Courant editorial reviews a new permanent exhibit at the Old State House. It is just what the downtown Hartford landmark needed to rejuvenate it as a destination spot. The attraction puts the "story" back into history and the past into proper context. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/documents/History/htfd_courant_091406.asp
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Rick Green comments on the effort to pass a state referendum that would require a Constitutional Convention. Supporters want a convention in order to to amend the constitution to allow for something called "direct initiative," whereby citizens could petition to force a vote on pretty much anything they want. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 23, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_092308.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision should be impetus for Connecticut to count incarcerated persons as residents of their last legal home addresses, not the prisons, for redistricting purposes should be an impetus for Connecticut to follow suit. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_070212.asp
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Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation to allow military voters to cast ballots over the Internet. The intention of this legislation is well-meaning � Connecticut does need to improve the voting process for military voters � but Internet voting is not the answer. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 22, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_032213.asp
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What do Sen. Barack Obama, commentator Bill Moyers, actress Lynn Redgrave, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Charles Townes and novelist Marilynne Robinson have in common? All are members of the United Church of Christ, and all spoke to the UCC General Synod last June in Hartford. Now the presence of one of those speakers, Sen. Obama, has resulted in the Internal Revenue Service investigating the tax-exempt status of the denomination. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 02, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/faithcommunity/htfd_courant_030208.asp
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Connecticut's voluntary public campaign financing system appears to be living up to one of its key goals: giving voters more choices at the polls. Figures from the secretary of the state's office show that this year's percentage of uncontested state Senate and House races (29 percent of the total of 187 seats) is lower than in 2008, when 32 percent of the races had only one major party candidate running for the House or Senate seat. This year's percentage is the lowest since 1998. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 02, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_070210.asp
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A Democratic State Central Committee panel convened to hear a dispute over the Hartford Democratic Town Committee chairman's election has ruled that the town committee must vote again. The decision rescinded the vote to elect Jean Holloway as the new chair, replacing incumbent Sean Arena. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 30, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_033010.asp
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Joel Cruz was officially sworn in as the ninth member of the city council on August 13, 2012. The appointment takes effect on August 16, 2012. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 13, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_081312_1.asp
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When the Working Families Party began in Connecticut, it was a one-man operation in a windowless, 10-by-10-foot "cell" in Bridgeport, its executive director, Jon Green, recalled. A decade later, the fledgling political party has developed its clout, electing its own candidates to public office, including three members of the Hartford City Council. Green will leave his post next month to take a job with the national Working Families Party, based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 12, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021212.asp
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A federal judge ruled recently that the state can no longer distribute so-called "trigger" payments to eligible candidates because those payments have been held to be unconstitutional. Trigger provisions released supplemental campaign grants to publicly financed candidates who are widely outspent by privately financed opponents or are the subjects of special-interest attack ads. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 11, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081110_3.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that Connecticut, not so long ago known as "Corrupticut,� can't afford to lose its system of voluntary public financing of state election campaigns, which is designed to keep the often-baleful influence of special-interest money out of politics. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 29, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082909.asp
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A Superior Court judge has ordered a new election on Oct. 2, 2012 in the deadlocked Democratic primary for the 5th General Assembly District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 19, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_091912_1.asp
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A judge has upheld Hartford City Councilman Matt Ritter�s two-vote victory over incumbent Ken Green in a Democratic primary for state house. Unofficial results from the August 10 Democratic primary showed incumbent state Representative Ken Green with a two-vote lead over Hartford City Councilman Matt Ritter. But a mandatory recount left Ritter the winner by two votes. Green then filed suit, saying that the election was full of errors by poll workers in Bloomfield and Hartford. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: September 09, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_090910.asp
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Superior Court Judge A. Susan Peck ruled recently that city Councilman Matthew Ritter is the winner of the 1st House District primary. The ruling brings an end to state Rep. Kenneth Green's eight-term hold on the seat, which encompasses parts of Hartford and Bloomfield. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 09, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090910.asp
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A much-anticipated U.S. Supreme Court elections decision recently had the effect of endorsing a key portion of Connecticut's campaign finance law, but failed to address unresolved disputes over two other parts of the law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062811.asp
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Steve Carver, president, publisher and chief executive officer of The Hartford Courant, writes about the changes the company is making to rid the online comment board from hateful speech and derogatory comments. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 29, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062908.asp
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Kenneth Kennedy appears to have lined up the votes necessary to become the city council's next president. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_111711.asp
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City Councilman Kenneth Kennedy sent e-mails recently to the Hartford Democratic Town Committee and other city Democrats informing them that he would not be accepting the Republicans' endorsement. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 26, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_092611.asp
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Mike McGarry asserts that in a raw grab for power, using supposed savings as an excuse, Shawn Wooden wants to take away confidential Council Assistants from individual Council persons. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: March 21, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_032113_1.asp
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Deputy Speaker Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey, the first woman of color in Connecticut to rise to legislative leadership, announced recently that she would be retiring from the legislature when she completes her 10th term in 2012. Published by
Northend Agent's
; Publication Date: December 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/northend_agents_122111.asp
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It�s not too surprising that Americans For Prosperity, a national conservative activist group begun with lots of seed money from right-wing mega-billionaires David and Charles Koch, has now opened up a branch in Connecticut. After all, Connecticut is always at or near the top of the list of states with the wealthiest citizens and has been a happy hunting ground for money-hungry candidates and campaigns of every philosophical hue. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: October 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_102111.asp
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Leo Canty, who won the Democratic nomination in the 5th House District, was tied with candidate Brandon McGee after the initial vote count in the August 14, 2012 primary. Who could blame first-time candidate Brandon McGee for asking the state Superior Court to take a look at the vote-counting procedures in his state House district after the Aug. 14 primary election? Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 27, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082712.asp
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After U.S. Rep. John Larson trounced Republican Philip Steele in the 2002 election, Steele told a reporter, "If you're a Republican in the 1st District, you'd have to be God to even have a real chance." Eight years later, however, mere mortal Ann Brickley says she has a shot. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 27, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102710.asp
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Congressman John Larson endorsed Mayor Pedro Segarra for the mayor's seat in the fall 2011 election, and former mayoral candidate Shawn Wooden for city council. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 20, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_072011.asp
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The task of redrawing the state's congressional boundaries will fall to the Connecticut Supreme Court after a legislative commission, riven by partisan bickering and deep ideological conflict was unable to finish the job. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_122211.asp
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Connecticut Senators recently voted to override Gov. M. Jodi Rell's veto of a state campaign finance reform bill. The Democratic-controlled body voted 24-10 along party lines to re-pass the bill designed to fix legal problems with the state's campaign finance law, including the program that gives taxpayer dollars to political candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 05, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_080510_1.asp
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The state legislature recently met in special session in an effort to salvage the state's landmark campaign finance reform law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_072810.asp
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Angel Morales has filed a lawsuit alleging improprieties in the way absentee ballots were handled in his six-vote Democratic primary loss to state Rep. Kelvin Roldan in the 4th House District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 26, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_082610_1.asp
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A Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit recently that accused Mayor Pedro Segarra of violating Democratic Party rules when he accepted a cross-nomination from Republicans. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 08, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110811.asp
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Sean Arena, chairman of the Democratic town committee, has filed four election complaints against opponents in the recent committee primary, including the man who is seeking his leadership position. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_022510.asp
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After voting, Kerri Provost writes that she felt dirty. She has always advocated voting one�s conscience. But what happens when one�s conscience is saying �I find nothing especially inspiring and promising about Candidate A, but Candidate B is too horrible to imagine, and Candidate C, while appealing in theory, has no shot because he did nothing to campaign�? Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: November 03, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_110310.asp
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The legal fight over a Hartford-area state legislative seat saw closing arguments recently. Unofficial results from the August 10 Democratic primary showed incumbent state Representative Ken Green with a two-vote lead over Hartford City Councilman Matt Ritter. But a mandatory recount left Ritter the winner by two votes. Green then filed suit, saying that the election was full of errors by poll workers in Bloomfield and Hartford. Green's attorney Steven Seligman says his campaign was not given designated poll workers. He also says that poll workers counted the absentee ballot of a man who died before the primary. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: September 03, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_090310.asp
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State Representative-elect Edwin Vargas was not happy with the electoral process in Hartford last week. The long lines, the poor communication, the funneling of all problems to City Hall - detailed in this column and other places - were unacceptable, Vargas said. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: November 15, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_111512.asp
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In this opinion piece, Susan Bysiewicz And James F. Spallone suggest that this year Connecticut has an exciting opportunity to enfranchise thousands of 17-year-olds and lower the voting age in the state for the first time since 1971. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 11, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_041107_a.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that it's time that Connecticut join other progressive states and adopt Election Day registration � a change in our voting rules that, judging by experience elsewhere, is certain to boost voter turnout at elections. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_031808.asp
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The author expresses the opinion that Connecticut should join with other states in an electoral compact and give all its electoral college votes to the candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 18, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021809.asp
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In presidential elections, we have two kinds of states � not blue and red, but battleground and bystander. The battleground states get all the money and attention. As a bystander state, it would be in Connecticut's interest to change the system. We will have that opportunity. There is a simple and legal way to change the system that is allowed by the Constitution � a compact between the states � called National Popular Vote. All of the states that join the compact agree to give their electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 07, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030711.asp
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A letter, dated June 2, 2009, in support of changes to the Hartford City Charter which would allow the city council to keep property taxes low in years of declining revenues. (PDF document, 2 pages) Published by
Councilman Matthew Ritter
; Publication Date: June 2, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Government/RitterLetter.pdf
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Gov. M. Jodi Rell and some lawmakers want to relieve Connecticut municipalities of the cost of unfunded state mandates. Fair enough. But one of the proposals - allowing the posting of certain public notices on government websites rather than publishing them in a daily newspaper - is a bad idea. It would limit taxpayers' access to vital government information. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 08, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_020810.asp
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State Rep. Kelvin Roldan accepted a donation from one lobbyist in his campaign for the city's Democratic Town Committee during the legislative session, according to Roldan's campaign finance disclosure form. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030612_2.asp
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In this op-ed piece, a high school sophomore suggests that 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote. She argues that if annual voting became more habitual starting in high school, reading up on the candidates and voting while away from home in their first year at college wouldn't seem out of the ordinary. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011808_1.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that the record shows � and common sense should lead one to conclude � that ballot initiatives have little value in stopping the ceaseless march of government power. Like term limits, they�re an electoral gimmick, and a wasteful distraction from the arduous, often thankless task of converting hearts and minds to the blessings of liberty. Published by
The Hartford Business Journal
; Publication Date: September 20, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/hbj_092010.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that the state's landmark campaign finance law should be modified to make it easier for gubernatorial candidates to qualify for matching public funds. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 16, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051610.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant supports the proposed National Popular Vote. Under the provisions of the law a state would agree to give all its electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes nationwide. Thus far seven states and the District of Columbia have agreed to join the compact, representing 29 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed to make the idea a reality. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 07, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060711.asp
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Obama supporters, the final national numbers coming in show that your candidate won re-election by more than 4 million votes. That wouldn't matter, though, if just under 150,000 votes in the swing states went the other way. It's more evidence of our outdated electoral college system of electing the president, where we award presidential votes based on which candidate wins each individual state. The answer is to discard the practice of electoral voting in favor of choosing the president based on the number of popular votes the candidate receives. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 26, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112612.asp
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Although 14 states have taken steps to make it more difficult to vote -- by requiring identification that some people don't possess, for example -- Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, with the backing of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, is pushing Connecticut in the other direction. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 19, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011912.asp
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Recently, about 80 people gathered at Hartford Seminary to explore the possibilities of putting our votes where our faith is. Vote Out Poverty, an initiative from the Christian social action magazine Sojourners, is an effort to get voters to think about poverty as they cast their ballots, and then, post-election, to get voters to make sure their elected leaders pay attention. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 17, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/faithcommunity/htfd_courant_091708.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author is appalled and angry not a single woman was included on the endorsed Hartford Town Democratic Committee slate for city council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 18, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_091811.asp
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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday vetoed a controversial campaign finance bill that drew opposition from civil liberties groups and business leaders. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 15, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_061512.asp
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The Hartford Votes/Hartford Vota Coalition is sponsoring a forum for mayoral candidates to discuss education, and unfortunately the front runner will be absent. Mayor Pedro Segarra will not attend because, his campaign staff said, he has a conflict with a major fundraiser and a Democratic Party event. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 02, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090211.asp
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This Courant editorial expresses the opinion that rather than appeal the latest ruling by the state's Freedom of Information Commission, the city of Hartford and the contractor in charge of its schools construction project should do what the commission ordered: Release to The Courant (which filed the FOI request) all information turned over to the state grand jury that is investigating allegations of corruption at city hall. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 15, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_031509.asp
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The mayor has traditionally solicited public opinion about the proposed city budget after it is released. This year, Mayor Pedro Segarra isn't waiting. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 27, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_032711.asp
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Kerri Provost gives advice to mayoral candidates about how to campaign for mayor. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_060911.asp
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A video of the June 8, 2011 community program, Mayoral Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: June 8, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_06_08_2011.asp
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A video of the July 28, 2011 community program, Mayoral Candidates Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: July 28, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_07_28_2011.asp
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In every conversation Kerri Provost has had regarding Mayor Pedro Segarra, people have had nothing but positive things to say. What that tells me is that those running against him need to set themselves apart. Some have tried this through smear campaigns, since there is really nothing legitimate to complain about. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: June 08, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_060811.asp
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Candidates for mayor clashed recently over how to revive economic development, combat blight and improve education. In their first public forum, six mayoral contenders shared their vision for the city's future. But much of the presentation focused on campaign slogans, not solutions. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060911.asp
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Four-term Democratic incumbent Douglas McCrory is facing Republican newcomer Colleen Rankine in next month's election to represent the 7th House District, which includes the Asylum Hill and Blue Hills neighborhoods. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 08, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100812.asp
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Republican Town Committee Chairman Michael T. McGarry, a former member of the city council, said recently he has declared his candidacy for mayor. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 06, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_060611.asp
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Brandon McGee, who lost a primary for the 5th House District seat by one vote, has filed a complaint in Superior Court charging that election officials improperly counted absentee ballots and lost a ballot cast in Windsor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 28, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082812.asp
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Two more votes. That's all that Brandon McGee needed to pull off one of the more surprising political upsets in recent history. But despite his Aug. 14 Democratic primary loss to heavily favored, longtime political insider Leo Canty in the 5th House District � which McGee isn't conceding just yet � his politicial future looks bright. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 24, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082412.asp
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It�s a tie, and heading back to Hartford. The highly unusual second recount of votes in the disputed Democratic primary for the 5th General Assembly District turned up a single additional vote for Brandon McGee. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 17, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091712.asp
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As a freshman in college, Brandon McGee's dream was to someday be the mayor of Hartford. While that may be in the cards one day, McGee will be spending at least the next two years working for a different legislative body a short distance west of city hall, serving as Windsor and Hartford's state representative from the redrawn 5th House District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 09, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_010913.asp
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On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, state representative candidate (5th District) Brandon McGee officially filed a complaint in Hartford Superior Court concerning the Democratic Primary held on August 14, 2012. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: August 30, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_083012.asp
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Newcomer Brandon McGee, who clawed his way to a tie vote after two recounts, won the Democratic nomination for the 5th General Assembly District in a revote recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 02, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100212.asp
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Democratic and Republican candidates for State Representative and State Senator met in a spirited but polite debate recently at the Hartford Public Library. The debate was hosted by the Hartford Votes/Hartford Vota coalition. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 18, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/neighborhoods/htfd_news_101812.asp
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With power restored to all 773 polling places since Sandy darkened the state last week, the state's top election official said recently that Connecticut is ready for the 2012 election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 05, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110512.asp
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A video of the April 19, 2011 community program, Minor Political Parties in Connecticut, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_04_19_2011.asp
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Whether state election officials properly handled absentee ballots for the 4th House District primary race is at the center of a court battle that began recently. Angel Morales, who lost the Democratic primary to incumbent state Rep. Kelvin Roldan, filed a lawsuit last week alleging improprieties in the way absentee ballots were managed, saying officials failed to keep boxes containing the ballots sealed from Aug. 10 until the recount. Morales lost by six votes. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 30, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_083010.asp
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After three days of testimony in the case, Angel Morales' lawyer, Robert Ludgin, recently withdrew the lawsuit that sparked a court hearing over whether absentee ballots were mismanaged in the 4th House District primary race held in August 2010. Morales lost the primary to incumbent state Rep. Kelvin Roldan by six votes. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 03, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_090310.asp
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For the third time in a month, the accusations of impropriety in the run up to the Democratic town committee are flying. This time a challenge slate for the 5th district is suing the city's Democratic registrar of voters, who just happens to be on the opposing slate. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 17, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_021710.asp
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Approaching an exceptionally dismal budget season, towns and cities are taking aim at the state law that prevents them from cutting school spending. The Minimum Budget Requirement should be abolished, a lobbying group for municipalities said recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 03, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/educationfunding/htfd_courant_010311.asp
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Muslim chaplains at Connecticut correctional facilities say they have been intimidated, stretched too thin to handle important Jumu'ah prayers on Fridays, and forced to worship under circumstances that don't respect the needs of their faith. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 11, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_041107.asp
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The Islamic Circle of North America held its annual convention for the third time in Hartford. Families mostly from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania crowded the Connecticut Convention Center. For the first time, the group opened its doors to non-Muslims in an effort to dispel suspicion and misconceptions about the faith. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 8, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/FaithCommunity/htfd_courant_070807.asp
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An educational reform group affiliated with California-based StudentsFirst has spent an additional $5,600 on Brandon McGee's campaign in the 5th state House District Democratic primary, which went to a re-vote. Great New England Public Schools Alliance filed the independent expenditure report with the state Elections Enforcement Commission. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 01, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100112.asp
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A video of the May 6, 2009 community program, Naturalization Ceremony at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: May 6, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_05_06_2009.asp
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Revisions to campaign finance law, signed by the governor recently, add Connecticut to a list of states raising limits on political contributions in response to a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down bans on outside spending. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 19, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_061913.asp
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With the release of new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday, the state now begins the process of redrawing district lines and reshaping the Congressional, state Senate, and state House districts. The 2012 elections might seem far away, but the new Census numbers will have a direct impact on those races. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/people/htfd_courant_031011.asp
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Some people in America cannot take voting for granted. Hong Pan is one. Hong became a U.S. citizen Sept. 17, 2008, one of 36 people to gather at Hartford Public Library on Main Street to take part in a naturalization ceremony. It took most of those 16 years for Hong and his wife to attain citizenship, the application process becoming even more complicated after Sept. 11, 2001. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 02, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/immigrants/htfd_courant_110208.asp
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The transition from the old mechanical-lever to modern electronic voting machines went smoothly during the recent Democratic primary in Hartford, city election officials said. Voters reported few problems, and the experience gained during last November's statewide races, when the electronic devices were in use in several city voting districts, was likely a factor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 12, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091207.asp
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In 2012, Connecticut has two candidates, Democrat Chris Donovan and Republican Linda McMahon, who have greatly restricted access to their campaigns. Thanks to the explosion in new media, there are many new options �- carefully targeted emails, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are a few � that are rapidly changing the way candidates reach potential voters. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 09, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_080912.asp
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A partnership has been formed to enhance communication between members of the public and community leaders on important issues. Working in collaboration, CT News Project, WNPR, and Hartford Public Library, with the support of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, have launched the Community Information Hub for the Capital Region to increase opportunities for people to have their voices heard on issues affecting them and their communities. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: May 02, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/education/htfd_news_050213.asp
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In a rare move, the state's daily newspapers are asking Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to veto a campaign finance bill that was passed several weeks ago. The bill has already been criticized by groups as diverse as the 10,000-member Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 31, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_053112.asp
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Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez's attack on The Courant for allowing readers to post racist and hateful speech on the paper's online comment boards raises an issue increasingly confronting newsrooms across the country as newspapers rapidly transform from primarily a print to an Internet business: How far should newspapers go in policing that kind of speech? Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_061808.asp
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Nine Democrats vying for state representative or senator in districts that include a portion of Hartford made a public case recently for why they should win the seats. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 14, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071410_1.asp
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A rash of violence, intemperate online comments, and outspoken critiques sharply divide Hartford, a city grappling with crime and its own public image. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: July 03, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_070308.asp
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There will be no Republican primary on Sept. 13, 2011 after city council candidate Gerry Pleasant failed to collect enough signatures to challenge his party's endorsed slate. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 16, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_081611.asp
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Connecticut's campaign finance reform, passed five years ago, was designed primarily for two reasons: to stimulate competition in running for state offices and to reduce the influence of special-interest money on the outcome of elections. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 27, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_082710.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that a collective sigh of relief comes from Connecticut's Democratic legislators and a host of unionized state workers happy that their party's two-decades-long absence from the governor's office seems � after a wild three days of ballot-counting in Bridgeport � to have come to an end with the election of Dan Malloy. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 06, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/taxes/htfd_courant_110610.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that on Nov. 4, 2008, voters will be asked whether there should be a convention to revise the state constitution. The answer should be no. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 27, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102708.asp
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City officials had a hard time getting votes in the Democratic town committee counted and made available to the public recently, and it was well past 11 p.m. by the time they did. And even then one of the three assembly districts that held a primary was unavailable due, apparently, to issues with some ballots. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 03, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_030310.asp
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A proposal to amend the state's constitution to allow no-excuse absentee ballot voting in elections is admirable in its effort to increase voter participation but overlooks the extra cost to municipalities, the increased chance of fraud and disenfranchisement. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 06, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030611.asp
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In this opinion piece, the writer opposes the referendum to amend the Connecticut Constitutional to allow what's known as a direct initiative, or referendum. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 19, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101908.asp
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Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN ) is dedicated to expanding the role of America's nonprofits in voting and elections.�NVEN works with state nonprofit VOTE initiatives and its national website to provide resources and tools for 501(c)(3) nonprofits to help their communities participate and vote. Published by
The Hartford Courant
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_03_2009.asp
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This Courant editorial supports the U.S. Supreme Court decision that states may require photo identification of voters at the polls. Preserving the integrity of the ballot is essential if people are to trust the democratic process. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 02, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_050208.asp
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The state's closest gubernatorial election in 56 years entered the historical record recently with the official certification of Democrat Dan Malloy's 6,404-vote victory over Republican Tom Foley out of more than 1.1 million votes cast on Nov. 2. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 24, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112410.asp
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Heavy voter turnout was reported statewide on election day, and hundreds of people stood in line after polls closed in some of Connecticut's largest cities. In Hartford, hundreds of people waited in a line at city hall that snaked around corners and up staircases after 9 p.m. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110712.asp
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Hoping to mobilize support in colleges and universities, the Occupy Hartford protesters have organized a student "walkout" and rally at the Capitol. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/downtowndevelopment/htfd_courant_102511.asp
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About 40 people, many holding signs and chanting, marched from Bushnell Park to the Bank of America branch on Main Street Friday as part of the "Occupy Hartford" movement. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 15, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/downtowndevelopment/htfd_courant_101511.asp
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The voting machines that tallied Connecticut's votes for decades will be replaced by modern electronic machines by November's elections, and municipalities are trying to unload their old mechanical lever machines that have been gathering dust in storage. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 26, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Region/htfd_courant_012607.asp
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Ken Krayske comments that If a realistic attempt at charter reform might be to make voting districts the same as the NRZs, and made the city councilors the paid heads of the NRZs. Understanding that only 13 NRZs service the 18 recognized neighborhoods in Hartford, he suggests creating new NRZs to deal with those areas where there are none, and add a few at large members of council. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: June 12, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_061208.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that no Connecticut city or town would ever run out of ballots if state Rep. Don Clemons' bill becomes law. It would require that municipalities order one ballot for every registered voter and that the state's Clean Election Fund pay the cost. Bridgeport's running out of ballots in the Nov. 2 election caused problems that delayed for three days an official declaration of the winner of the election for governor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 16, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_111610.asp
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Joyce Hamilton Henry closed the doors for good at 44 Capitol Ave. in Hartford recently. The executive director of DemocracyWorks, the Hartford-based statewide nonprofit, had fought for the past decade to empower the disenfranchised in voting and civic affairs. Now DemocracyWorks is out of work. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 27, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102707.asp
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Allowing citizens to cast ballots online would increase participation in elections and make democracy more accessible. But don't expect to vote on your iPhone in Connecticut anytime soon; the technology just isn't there to ensure secure elections, said several experts who participated in a panel discussion at Central Connecticut State University. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 27, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102711.asp
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The website of a broad-based set of organizations, OpenTheGovernment.org was created by those concerned that our government keeps from the American public information that we need to make our families safe, secure our country and strengthen democracy. Published by
OpenTheGovernment.org
; Publication Date: April 15, 2004
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_041504.asp
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The Hartford Courant expresses their choices in the election of four members of the city's board of education. There are 13 names on the ballot. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 21, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/educationfunding/htfd_courant_102109.asp
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Some highly placed people � such as Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Senate Republican Leader John McKinney � don't like the fact that recipients of public campaign funds from Connecticut's clean elections program use the money to buy distasteful political advertising. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 11, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081110_2.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the General Assembly should override Gov. M. Jodi Rell's veto of a bill passed recently to fix constitutional errors found by the federal courts in Connecticut's clean elections program. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 05, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_080510.asp
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The Constitution Convention Campaign claimed to be "issue neutral," their only agenda to amend the constitution to give voters the power to make laws through ballot initiatives, a form of direct democracy that's legal in 31 states but not here. But a close look at who backed and bankrolled the campaign reveals actors with well-established, mostly hard-line conservative agendas. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: October 30, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_103008.asp
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Lindsay Farrell was named recently as the new executive director of The Connecticut Working Families Party, replacing Jon Green. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030612_1.asp
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In a surprising development, Mayor Pedro Segarra's main rival, Shawn Wooden, dropped out of the race for the Democratic primary and endorsed Mr. Segarra. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 01, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_070111.asp
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Columnist Stan Simpson discusses Mayor Perez�s promises of a transparent administration, one that would "encourage the highest standards of conduct in our governing." The pronouncement in his inauguration address, including his plan to appoint an independent ethics counsel, fell flat for those who have come to see the mayor as ethically challenged. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 19, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_011908.asp
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Alyssa Peterson, a city activist who lost the Democratic primary for the 6th House District to incumbent Hector Robles, was two signatures short on her petition to become an independent candidate on the November ballot. She needed 53 to be listed on the ballot, but Peterson's petitions had 51 valid signatures. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 21, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_082110.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that the push to eliminate voter IDs is but a trick to benefit the Democrats and harm the Republicans Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 27, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_072712.asp
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There�s something to be said for having a professional moderator at candidate forums. The State Senators & State Representatives Primary Candidate Forum at the Hartford Public Library went off smoothly, with a large thanks owed to moderator Dennis House who posed interesting questions and enforced time limits � not an easy task. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: July 13, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_071310.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that Americans should be outraged that telecommunications companies simply handed over customers' private communications at the request of the federal government as part of the National Security Agency's secret surveillance program. The companies were in such a hurry to salute that they turned over records of telephone calls and e-mail without so much as a court warrant. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 21, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022108.asp
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A move to amend the state constitution to allow some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections recently fell nine votes short of the number needed to place the question before voters next year. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 4, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_050407.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Gov. M. Jodi Rell and legislative leaders swear they are committed to Connecticut's landmark Citizens' Election Program. If so, they have an odd way of showing it. In the past year and a half, the governor and lawmakers have tapped the program's Citizens' Election Fund for more than $38 million to help balance the budget. The voluntary program was established in 2005 as an antidote to political corruption and special-interest funding of election campaigns. The Citizens' Election Fund provides grants of public money to cover campaign expenses for candidates for state office who can raise qualifying sums and agree to the program's rules. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 12, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_041210.asp
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It was standing room only � and that room to stand was hard to find � for the audience of the recent inauguration of the new City Council. A true Hartford event, those in fur, suits, and velvet mingled with those in rhinestones, denim, t-shirts and cowboy hats. The City Council elected Shawn Wooden as Council President. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: January 05, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_010512.asp
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postLatinoTV created a video, narrated in Spanish, about the State Senators and Representatives Candidate Forum that was held by the Hartford Votes~Hartford Vota Coalition on October 15, 2012 at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 15, 2012
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Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_15_2012_1.asp
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Mike McGarry comments that the well-known incumbents won in all cases except Democratic Registrar of Voters. Lots of taxpayer money was spent, both through the new public financing and by the City of Hartford and Town of Wethersfield to man and run the polls. Some will call the whole effort a waste of money in these tough times. McGarry thinks the process is worth the time and money involved. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: August 14, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_081408.asp
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With all 23 voting districts reporting, here are the unofficial numbers from the primary. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_091411_1.asp
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Mike McGarry comments that the recent primary in the sixth district in Hartford�s Southend could be novel material. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: March 13, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_031308.asp
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Helen Ubi�as writes that it looks like Connecticut voters missed the memo � not to mention the big money ads � about this being one of the most important primaries in years. Three hours before polls closed, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, reported an average turnout of about 20 percent. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 11, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081110.asp
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The website of Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a Voter's Self-Defense System to provide you with the necessary tools to self-govern effectively: abundant, accurate, unbiased and relevant information. Published by
Project Vote Smart
; Publication Date: 2004
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Link: /Issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_2004.asp
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The city council is considering a resolution that would prohibit campaign contributions from city contractors to candidates running for mayor, council, board of education, registrar of voters or treasurer. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 01, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/legalissues/htfd_courant_070110.asp
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In this opinion piece, the author expresses the opinion that Connecticut's Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz has proposed turning Freedom of Information laws upside down � sweeping changes that would eviscerate the public's right-to-know laws in an ill-advised, ill-conceived attempt to protect crime victims. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 13, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_021309_1.asp
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Lawmakers recently considered a package of election-related bills that supporters say would empower citizens, modernize the voting process, and assure fairer, more efficient elections. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 02, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030212.asp
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Recently, Hartford�s Court of Common Council passed the recommendations of the Charter Revision Commission. On election day in November, a simple majority of voters can create public campaign financing for Mayor, Council and City Treasurer, and to create a non-partisan registrar�s of voters office. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: June 27, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_062713.asp
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Connecticut's landmark 2006 campaign finance reform law is taking hold, the latest figures from the secretary of the state's office suggest. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 17, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071712.asp
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When Dr. Prasad Srinivasan wanted to give back to the community that was, as he puts it, "so kind, so generous, and so welcoming" to him over the 30 years since he emigrated from India, he saw running for the General Assembly's 31st District in Glastonbury as an opportunity � and a challenge. But because of the state's misguided taxpayer-funded campaign system, the Citizens' Election Program, it was even more difficult than he imagined. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 20, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112011.asp
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Ken Krayeske comments on public campaign financing for its mayoral, court of common council and city treasurer elections. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: April 18, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_041813.asp
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Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act has ensured public access to government records for 35 years, but the likelihood a citizen will actually secure such records in an efficient and timely manner continues to vary widely. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 21, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022112.asp
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The news from Puerto Rico after the November 2012 elections could not have been more clear: "Puerto Rico Approves Statehood," crowed the Washington Post. At Capital Community College in Hartford, students were greeted with a prompt on the blackboard: "In a recent vote, Puerto Ricans favored U.S. statehood. Please write down your opinion: Should Puerto Rico be a state, an independent country, or stay as is?" Like many residents of Hartford, the Capital Community College students in the mock vote were mostly either born in Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent. However, their opinions were strikingly different from the results of the Puerto Rican referendum reported in the news. Very few expressed the opinion that Puerto Rico should be a state, and by far the most popular opinion was that "Puerto Rico should stay exactly as it is." Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: December 31, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_123112.asp
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If ever a political battle could be called anticlimactic, the 5th State House District race would be the one. Hartford Democrat Brandon McGee, whose primary victory took three vote counts, including a highly unusual court-ordered second recount, took on Windsor Republican Paul Panos in the Nov. 6, 2013 general election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 09, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100912_1.asp
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Former state Rep. John Woodcock defines himself as a progressive Democrat who favors gay rights; Peter Wolfgang is a conservative whose main job is battling same-sex marriage. They wouldn't seem to agree on much. But Woodcock and Wolfgang have found common ground on a question that will appear on the November ballot: Should the state hold a convention to amend the state constitution? They both say yes because they want to see the constitution reworked to allow for something called "direct initiative," a mechanism that permits citizens to force a vote on matters of public policy. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 29, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_092908.asp
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State Rep. Kelvin Roldan was declared the winner, by five votes, in a recent recount of the Democratic primary for the 4th House District race. Roldan, a two-term incumbent, eked out a victory over Angel Morales, an unemployed convicted felon who made an unexpectedly strong showing. Morales, who has worked with youths and is active on the Democratic Town Committee, has said he has turned his life around. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 16, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_081610.asp
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After finishing behind political newcomer Brandon McGee by one vote for the Democratic nomination in the 5th House District, 774-773, a partial recount knocked one vote off for McGee, allowing Leo Canty to tie the tally. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 17, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081712.asp
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A longtime political insider and a 28-year-old making his first run for elected office are locked in a dead heat for the realigned 5thstate House District seat. Leo Canty, Windsor's Democratic Town Committee chairman, and Brandon McGee, a political newcomer, each have 774 votes, according to the secretary of the state's office. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 15, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081512.asp
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Recently, lawmakers redrew the district lines for the state house and senate. And, that means some change for the city of Hartford. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: December 01, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_120111.asp
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Since Windsor learned recently that it will dominate the 5th Assembly District under redrawn boundaries, the town's political leaders are discussing possible candidates and considering runs for the open House seat next year. The state legislature's reapportionment committee voted to approve new boundaries for state House and Senate districts. The realignment gives Windsor a majority in the heavily Democratic 5th District, which also will include a part of Hartford. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 03, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_120311.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant expresses the opinion that State Rep. James Spallone is right: War, global environmental challenges and a faltering economy underscore the stakes that are facing the next generation. It's only fair they be given a greater voice in the electoral process and in shaping their fate. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 21, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_032108.asp
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About 74 percent of registered voters in Connecticut cast ballots in the November election, a turnout level Secretary of the State Denise Merrill called "very healthy" since portions of the state were still reeling from a devastating storm just days before. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 28, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112812.asp
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Hartford has three registrars, while every other municipality in the state has two. Hartford doesn't need, and cannot afford, three registrars of voters. Change, finally, is afoot. The city's charter revision commission advocates switching to a sole nonpartisan professional appointed by the city council. The council recently adopted the proposal. Two more things must happen. The change must be approved by voters in November, and the General Assembly must make a small change in state law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 28, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_072813.asp
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Susan Campbell writes that we forget just how hard was the struggle to get the vote for women, and she urges us all to vote in the next election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 31, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_103110.asp
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The Hartford Republican Town Committee met recently to hear from candidates vying for the city council seat being vacated by Veronica Airey-Wilson, a Republican. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 06, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_120610.asp
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Republican Town Committee Chairman Michael T. McGarry has bowed out of the mayoral race and endorsed the Democratic incumbent, Pedro Segarra. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 22, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_092211.asp
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The Hartford Republican Town Committee recently recommended three candidates to fill Veronica Airey-Wilson's seat on the city council. Airey-Wilson has applied for a voluntary retirement incentive program. Her last day will be Dec. 31, 2010. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 08, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_120810.asp
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Recent maneuvering over cross-endorsements in the upcoming election is part of the fight to control the three seats designated by law for minority parties on the city council. In a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 18 to 1, Democrats have traditionally had a lock on six seats on the council. The remaining three seats traditionally went to Republicans, but the equation changed in 2009 when the Working Families Party captured two of those seats, leaving the Republicans only one. In a bid to strengthen their hand in November, Republicans last week announced they would only run three candidates for the council and cross-endorse three of the Democratic candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_093011.asp
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This is Council President Shawn T. Wooden�s response to an open letter from Mike McGarry that appeared recently in The Hartford News. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: March 21, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_032113.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd can make a good case for his proposed amendment to reverse the Supreme Court's dreadful decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 20, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022010.asp
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Following lengthy recounts in Hartford and Bloomfield, city Councilman Matthew Ritter was declared the winner of the 1st House District Democratic primary over incumbent Kenneth Green by two votes. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 17, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_081710.asp
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After defeating incumbent state Rep. Kenneth Green by the narrowest of margins in the primary, Matthew Ritter said he's taking nothing for granted as he prepares for the Nov. 2 election. He faces Republican Kenneth Lerman and independent candidate Emanuel Lorenzo Blake for the 1st House District seat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 07, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_100710.asp
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Chief of Police Daryl K. Roberts recently informed Mayor Pedro E. Segarra that, after a distinguished 30-year career, he will be retiring from the Hartford Police Department as of December 31, 2011, when his current contract ends. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 23, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_092311.asp
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Hector Robles, the Democratic legislator representing the 6th House District and a city police officer, is the subject of an internal police investigation, department officials confirmed recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 16, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071610.asp
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Rock the Vote engages youth in the political process by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities. From actors to musicians, comedians to athletes, Rock the Vote harnesses cutting-edge trends and pop culture to make political participation cool. Published by
Rock the Vote
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_040408.asp
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Hartford State Representative Kelvin Roldan, a three-term incumbent, has decided not to run again. Roldan's announcement came weeks after he failed to get the nod from his town committee. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: June 08, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_060812.asp
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State Rep. Kelvin Roldan, a Democrat representing Hartford's 4th Assembly District, announced recently he would not seek re-election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 08, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_060812.asp
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Recently the Democratic Town Committee of Hartford endorsed City Treasurer Adam Cloud. While State Representative Kelvin Rold�n received significant support from members of the Town Committee, he ultimately did not win the nomination. Roldan will continue to serve as State Representative for the Fourth Assembly District and the city of Hartford will not hold a primary election for the postion. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 10, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_081011.asp
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Kelvin Roldan says he's proud of his record. Angel Morales would rather not talk about his. Roldan and Morales will face off in a primary on Aug. 10, 2010 to be the state Democratic representative candidate for the 4th House District. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 21, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_072110.asp
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With Governor Jodi Rell leaving, will lawmakers let campaign finance reform die? Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: December 08, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_120809.asp
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It was bad enough that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier in 2010 that corporations and labor unions have the free-speech rights of people and can therefore pour unlimited amounts of money into political and issue campaigns. That 5-4 ruling in the Citizens United case will tilt the election playing field in favor of concentrations of wealth. It will make it harder for the average candidate to be heard above the din of special-interest campaigning. But the court majority apparently is not through with its assault on campaign finance reforms. These reforms include voluntary public financing systems at the state level that encourage more people to run for office � as in Connecticut. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 18, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_061810.asp
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A federal appeals court ruling could send the state scrambling for a quick fix if the legislature fails to make Connecticut's campaign finance reform law constitutional now, lawmakers were warned recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 23, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_022310.asp
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Superior Court Judge A. Susan Peck recently ordered an highly unusual second recount in the disputed Democratic primary for the 5th General Assembly seat. The party-endorsed candidate, Leo Canty of Windsor, was declared the winner of the Aug. 14 primary by one vote over political newcomer Brandon McGee of Hartford following a recount that concluded Aug. 21. The outcome prompted McGee to file a complaint alleging that election officials improperly counted abstentee ballots in Hartford and lost a ballot at a Windsor polling place. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091412.asp
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A video of the October 7, 2010 community program, Secretary of the State & Attorney General Candidate Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 7, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_07_2010.asp
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The Republican registrar of voters can't cancel the city's Republican presidential primary in April, a spokesman for the secretary of the state's office said recently. Salvatore Bramante, the Republican registrar, had said that the city might not be able to hold the April 24 primary because of a lack of money. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 08, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030812.asp
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The city of Hartford is dropping its fight of a Freedom of Information case before the state supreme court. The case was brought two years ago, after then Mayor Eddie Perez convened a closed-door meeting of business leaders. Perez said he brought the group together to get a sense of corporate support for a new downtown sports and entertainment arena. And he said it was the type of meeting that didn�t have to happen in public. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: August 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_081310_1.asp
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In Hartford, Mayor Pedro Segarra claimed victory in the city's Democratic primary. The win brings him one big step closer to a owning the office he inherited. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: September 14, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_091411.asp
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It speaks volumes about the changing demographics in Hartford, as well as the political maturation of the Latino community, that both candidates in Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary, incumbent Mayor Pedro Segarra and challenger Edwin Vargas, are Puerto Rican. The Hartford Courant endorses Mayor Pedro Segarra. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 10, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_091011.asp
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With the field of candidates in Hartford's mayoral race thinning, some Democratic insiders are already calling the race for incumbent Pedro Segarra. But, Segarra did not get a recent endorsement of the Greater Hartford Central Labor Council. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: July 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_071111.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra says he wants the city to be more transparent. Here�s an example. Way back when, Mayor Eddie Perez held a meeting at city hall of business leaders to discuss their appetite for a new downtown sports and entertainment arena. He called in his Arena Task Force. The Courant objected. The state�s Freedom of Information Commission said Perez violated the state�s public meeting laws. Perez appealed to a state court judge and lost. And then, Perez appealed again to the state supreme court, where the case remains. Segarra now says this is not a case he was going to continue to fight, and spend money on. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: August 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_081310.asp
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In the end, the Hartford cross-endorsement flap was much ado about very little � and didn't work, to boot. The city has a huge Democratic majority, so in the municipal election, the six endorsed Democratic council candidates usually win easily, as they did recently. The real fight often is over the three minority party seats on the nine-member city council, which were battled over this year by the Republicans, the Working Families Party and four petitioning candidates. Mayor Pedro Segarra had no potentially lethal opposition. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 13, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_111311.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra easily won the endorsement at the city's Democratic nominating convention, while the city council race was strongly contested. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072111_1.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra has garnered the support of members of the Hartford legislative delegation. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 11, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_071111.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra has chosen as his campaign manager Phil Sherwood, deputy director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and campaign manager for Terry Gerratana, who recently won the 6th District state senate seat in a special election. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 01, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_030111_1.asp
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Saying that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had urged him to put his "differences aside" with Mayor Pedro Segarra, Shawn Wooden withdrew from the mayor's race recently and said he would instead run for city council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 01, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_070111.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra's decision to seek a full term should be welcomed by city residents, but should not rule out challenges by other qualified candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 28, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112810.asp
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Pedro Segarra was recently sworn in to his first full term as mayor. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 03, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_010312.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra recently vetoed a proposal by the city council that would freeze all hiring or overtime spending not already budgeted, unless approved by the council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 02, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_040213.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra swept to victory Tuesday, September 6, 2011 in the Democratic primary, defeating Edwin Vargas 4,137-1,506. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_091411.asp
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Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra easily won the nomination of the city�s Democrats recently. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: July 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_072111.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra, as expected, trounced three petitioning candidates to win his first full term in office, and candidates from the Working Families Party won all three minority representation seats on the council, leaving no Republicans on the council. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110911.asp
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Responding to the highly publicized Election Day problems of November 2010 in municipalities including Bridgeport, where a shortage of paper ballots contributed to a days-long delay in the declaration of a new governor, the Connecticut Senate has approved a bill establishing standards to ensure local registrars buy enough ballots. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 14, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_051411.asp
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Independent political groups that violate Connecticut's campaign disclosure laws could face bigger fines, but big-time donors would be able to give thousands more to parties and candidates under a bill approved by the Senate recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 04, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_060413.asp
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There are key votes to be made in the November election, including the race for U.S. Senate in which Joseph Lieberman faces off with Ned Lamont, and funding for a massive sewer upgrade project by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC). Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: November 1 - 8, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_news_110106.asp
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A total of 152 candidates are vying for half as many seats on the city's Democratic Town Committee, according to unofficial numbers. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_020612.asp
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A video of the October 22, 2008 community program, Shall There Be A Constitutional Convention Video?, which was held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 22, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_22_2008.asp
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Like other Project Concern graduates, Shawn Wooden has the engaging qualities sometimes found in city kids who were bused to school in the Hartford suburbs decades ago. The man who wants to be Hartford's next mayor long ago learned to live comfortably in a variety of alternate worlds: black and white, city and suburb, corporate and working class. More than anything, Wooden believes Hartford must be restored as the economic heart of the state. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 15, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021511.asp
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Lawmakers making mid-election repairs to the state's sweeping campaign finance and reform laws were closing in on agreement recently but faced a showdown with Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who promised to veto any fix that increases the amount of public campaign grants to gubernatorial candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 29, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_072910.asp
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Recently, Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport re-anointed their political establishments, each performing the ritual in its own way. Hartford glumly re-elected Mayor Eddie A. Perez despite a pall of corruption hanging over him, including that rarity in our politics, a criminal investigation by the state's attorney into alleged wrongdoing. Perez's victory is a testament to the special circumstances of the election and the sorry state of urban politics. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 11, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_111107.asp
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It seemed like smooth sailing for freshman state Rep. Hector Robles when Democrats unanimously endorsed him for the 6th House District seat at their nominating convention in May. But shortly after the convention, community activist Alyssa Peterson quietly began collecting signatures to wage a primary. She got enough to put her name on the Aug. 10 ballot. And Peterson recently told the audience at a candidate forum that Robles � a Hartford police officer � is the target of a department internal investigation. Hartford police have confirmed they are investigating Robles, but declined to release details until the probe is complete, saying only that it is "administrative" in nature, not criminal. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 23, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072310.asp
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This profile of Chris Hutchinson explains why socialism isn�t all bad, and capitalism not all good. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: October 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_advocate_102510.asp
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Rick Green comments on efforts to make public names of people, some of whom are illegal aliens, who have applied for ID cards in New Haven. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_031808.asp
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What if your vote really does not count? Kerri Provost reports that there seems to be a discrepancy in the votes that appear on the Secretary of State website, and the votes her readers have told her they made. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: November 04, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_110410.asp
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Shawn Wooden, a Democrat who had emerged as the strongest opponent to Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra in the upcoming mayoral election, was set to drop out of the race and instead support Segarra, sources said recently. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_063011.asp
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Democrats in the General Assembly are certain they saved Connecticut's landmark system of publicly financing elections by passing "reforms" signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 12, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071213.asp
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The Democratic State Central Committee ruled against Edwin Vargas in his complaint alleging that Mayor Pedro Segarra violated party rules when he accepted a nomination from city Republicans. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 03, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110311.asp
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The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark elections ruling Thursday prompted strong reactions in Connecticut about the future flow of corporate cash to federal political campaigns. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 22, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_012210.asp
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Susan Campbell writes that the state's midterm election last week was a pig pile. Bridgeport election officials didn't order enough ballots, and a judge ruled the city's polls stay open an extra two hours. Then a bag of uncounted ballots was discovered in Bridgeport. Election officials counted through the night, and the official tally � which gave the advantage to Democratic candidate Dannel Malloy � was posted online by the secretary of the state's office Friday afternoon. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 09, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110910.asp
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The federal judge who recently threw out Connecticut's landmark campaign finance reform system gave the state at least a two-week reprieve to allow it to appeal, state officials said. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 01, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090109.asp
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Connecticut election officials reacted with sharp criticism and promised an all-out legal fight after a federal judge threw out the state's landmark campaign finance law, saying it puts minor party office seekers at an unconstitutional disadvantage when they challenge traditionally better-financed major party candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 29, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/region/htfd_courant_082909.asp
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Lawmakers have yet to agree on a plan to revise the state's campaign finance law, state Rep. James Spallone said recently. Legislators are trying to change the law because of a U.S. District Court decision. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 23, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_032310.asp
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The result of the Aug. 14, 2012 primary election and the two recounts is that Brandon McGee of Hartford is tied with party-endorsed candidate Leo Canty of Windsor at 774 votes each. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 20, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_092012.asp
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A video of the July 13, 2010 community program, State Senators and State Representatives Primary Candidate Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: July 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_07_13_2010.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that it's time that the General Assembly pass "national popular vote" legislation, adding Connecticut to the growing list of states that have signed up for this equitable and sensible way of electing a president. It would be good for Connecticut. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 11, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_031113.asp
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The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled unanimously recently that the Republican Party will be placed on the top line on November's election ballot in all races. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 26, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_092612.asp
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Random audits confirmed the accuracy of new voting machines used in 25 communities last month, allowing the devices to become standard in Connecticut polling places next year, the top elections official said recently. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said that the optical scan machines counted votes with few discrepancies - and that all errors were the result of improperly marked ballots, not machine error. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 8, 2006
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_120806.asp
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In Hartford, the goal of city Democrats was to have a new council president by Thanksgiving 2011. But, that time has come and gone and there still is no consensus on who will lead. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: December 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_120911.asp
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In case anyone is wondering about their write-in votes in Hartford, the Secretary of the State website is still not showing any votes for several of the third party candidates. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: November 13, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_111310.asp
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In an effort to increase voter turnout among Connecticut's Latino populations, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission Executive Director Fernando Betancourt hosted a Latino Voting Summit in New Haven. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091807.asp
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A video of the March 19, 2008 community program, Sunshine Week 2008 Webcast: Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right to Know, which was held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: March 19, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_03_19_2008.asp
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The state Supreme Court recently approved minor changes to the state's Congressional district boundaries, ending months of debate. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 11, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021112.asp
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The State Supreme Court has granted an extension to the special reapportionment commission to continue drawing the new boundary lines for the state's five Congressional districts for the November 2012 election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 07, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_120711.asp
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Connecticut has a chance to diminish that abstraction. The state's redistricting commission has until Wednesday to revise the current comically gerrymandered outlines of the state's five congressional districts. If the commission fails, the matter goes to court. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 17, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_121711.asp
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However, at two candidate forums held recently, the author got to the nub of what affects us every day in Connecticut - taxes. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 18, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/taxes/htfd_news_101812.asp
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The second day of testimony in the disputed Democratic primary for the 5th statehouse district focused mainly on a hand-counted ballot for Windsor Democrat Leo Canty. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 07, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_090712.asp
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Testimony continued recently in Hartford Superior Court in the dispute over the Democratic primary for the 5th General Assembly District, this time focusing on absentee ballots counted in the Hartford portion of the district. The party-endorsed candidate, Leo Canty of Windsor, was declared the winner of the Aug. 14 primary by one vote over political newcomer Brandon McGee of Hartford following a recount. The outcome prompted McGee to file a complaint alleging that election officials improperly counted abstentee ballots in Hartford and lost a ballot at a Windsor polling place. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 12, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_091212.asp
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Testimony by Miles Rapoport, President, Demos on the advantages of Election Day Registration (EDR). (PDF document, 10 pages) Published by
Connecticut State Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Government/Election_Day_Registration_Testimony.pdf
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In this opinion piece, the author suggests that Connecticut is witnessing a vivid demonstration of the power of money among the members of each party who traditionally participate in party primaries. Of particular interest is the effect of millions in taxpayer money given to candidates who, if history is any guide, would not have raised nearly as much on their own. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 08, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_080810.asp
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The bully pulpit of public office can be a powerful thing. But should a public official use that influence to raise money for a charity of his choosing? It's the latest in a series of ethical questions facing Hartford city officials. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: October 06, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_100612.asp
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A video of the January 24, 2012 community program, The Citizen's United Decision: Are Corporations People Too?, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_01_24_2012.asp
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The Elections Performance Index is a project that, for the first time ever, examines election administration performance across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The index is shown on an interactive map. A state�s performance is based on 17 measurable indicators such as polling location wait times, availability of voting information tools online, the number of rejected voter registrations, the percentage of voters with registration or absentee ballot problems, how many military and overseas ballots were rejected, voter turnout, and the accuracy of voting technology. Published by
Pew Chartiable Trusts:; Pew State and Consumer Initiatives
; Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/Pew_EPI.asp
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The Elections Performance Index is a project that, for the first time ever, examines election administration performance across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A state�s performance is based on 17 measurable indicators such as polling location wait times, availability of voting information tools online, the number of rejected voter registrations, the percentage of voters with registration or absentee ballot problems, how many military and overseas ballots were rejected, voter turnout, and the accuracy of voting technology. (PDF document, 4 pages) Published by
Pew Chartiable Trusts:; Pew State and Consumer Initiatives
; Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Democracy/Pew_Elections_Performanc_Index_brief.pdf
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Every time elections are botched, a bit more trust in the American franchise gets worn away. Bridgeport blew it. It had half the ballots needed (21,000 for 69,000 voters). Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: November 09, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_110910_1.asp
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For many longtime political observers, the debacle surrounding last week�s election in Bridgeport ranks as one of the most bizarre circuses to ever play out in the city that P. T. Barnum called home. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: November 09, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_110910.asp
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Testimony resumed this morning in the law suit brought against Democratic Registrar of Voters Olga Vazquez by a challenge slate for Hartford Democratic Town Committee. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 23, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_022310.asp
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In this op-ed piece, the author expresses the opinion that the majority of us Americans are directly responsible for our government: those who voted for the leadership, those who voted without giving any serious consideration and those who chose not to vote. She urges everyone to consider carefully who they vote for on primary day. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011808.asp
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A video of the June 29, 2011 community program, The Year Ahead: A Conversation with Hartford's State Legislators, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: June 29, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_06_29_2011.asp
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Andrew White, a fiscally conservative hedge fund manager from Ridgefield, and Stephen Fournier, a Green Party activist and lawyer from Hartford, have sharply different ideas about the role of government. Yet White and Fournier stood side by side on the north steps of the state Capitol recently and decried a political system that freezes out candidates for public office who, like them, are not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 18, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081810.asp
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An in-depth look at voter rolls across the state by a group of University of Connecticut journalism students earlier this year found that about 8,500 dead people were registered to vote, and that clerical errors made it appear that 300 of them actually had voted. A closer look by state election officials thus far has found no evidence of election fraud, though the review is ongoing. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 06, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100608.asp
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Steven Bonafonte, Corey Brinson and John O'Connell have been nominated by the Hartford Republican town committee to fill the city council seat being vacated by Veronica Airey-Wilson. Bonafonte, a lawyer with Travelers, Brinson, a Bloomfield lawyer who is Airey-Wilson's nephew, and O'Connell, a former city councilman, were chosen from a pool of eight candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 08, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_120810.asp
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Hartford's three registrars of voters can't get along and are squabbling among themselves. This is not new, but things have gotten so bad that Mayor Pedro Segarra has offered to serve as a mediator to resolve disagreements. The city shouldn't have three registrars. It does because of a quirk in state election law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102111.asp
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Community activist Urania Petit has petitioned her way onto the Hartford ballot in November as a registrar of voters candidate for the Working Families Party. The party at last count had seven registered voters in the city. But due to a quirk in state law, if Ms. Petit finishes second, the city will have to have three registrars of voters, instead of the normal two, at an additional cost of about $200,000. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_093008.asp
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Voters will have three additional choices for the 6th House District seat, with two Democrats and a Republican joining the race as certified write-in candidates. Democrats Alyssa Peterson and Kathy Evans and Republican Michael Lupo will challenge incumbent state Rep. Hector Robles. Robles, a freshman legislator who is also a city police officer, is the subject of departmental charges for allegedly fabricating time cards to show he was on duty while working private jobs. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 29, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_102910.asp
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The plaintiffs in the 5th district Democratic town committee law suit have won....sort of. Judge Susan Peck upheld their claim that claim that their opponents - known as the Abe Giles slate - should be taken off the ballot for the Democratic primary to be held on March 2, 2010. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 01, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_030110.asp
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Of the 1.9 million voters in Connecticut, only 15 are registered with the Working Families Party. What the Working Families Party does have is a progressive economic agenda and a valuable asset: its own line on every ballot in Connecticut. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 04, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_080408.asp
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In this editorial, the Courant points out aspects of the new system of voting that could be improved, and respectfully submits a number of suggestions to local elections officials. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 13, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_111307.asp
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A group of candidates for the 5th district Democratic Town Committee has filed a lawsuit against Hartford's Democratic registrar of voters, who also happens to be a member of the opposing slate of candidates. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: February 17, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_021710.asp
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The recent redistricting of Hartford�s voting districts has forced change upon Hartford�s Democratic Town Committee, which usually glides along quietly behind the scenes. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: January 26, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_012612.asp
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The more transparency in government, the more public officials will be held accountable to those they serve, and the better our system of governance will be. That truth, a central part of Connecticut's decades-old Freedom of Information Act, was apparently ignored by members of the state legislature's Government Administration and Elections Committee when they advanced a bill that would have redefined what a "public meeting" is. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_043013.asp
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TrueVoteCT is a non-partisian group of Connecticut voters dedicated to bringing accessible and verifiable voting to Connecticut. It is a volunteer organization of citizens who are concerned about the introduction of electronic voting equipment which fails to provide voters a printed paper record of their votes. A voter-verified paper ballot (VVPB) is needed to ensure the integrity of the voting system. It permits auditing of the voting system and allows for recounts when necessary. Published by
TrueVoteCT
; Publication Date: August 30, 2006
Document
Link: /Issues/wsd/Democracy/wsd_083004.asp
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Nancy Wyman, the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, recently appeared at a naturalization ceremony for new US citizens, held in the atrium of the Hartford Public Library. The 28 new Americans came from 18 different countries. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: September 28, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_092811.asp
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Two more people have declared themselves candidates in the race to be the city's next mayor. Joseph Morano, a Democrat, and Philip M. Andrew, who signed up as member of the "people's inclusionary party," have joined the pool of candidates. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_060911.asp
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A federal appeals court became a factor in one of the most competitive state election seasons in years recently when it upheld a key public finance provision in the state's landmark campaign finance reform law. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 14, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_071410.asp
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A video of the October 25, 2010 community program, U.S. Representative 1st Congressional District Candidate Forum, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: October 25, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_10_25_2010.asp
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In January 2008, West Hartford council member Chuck Coursey gave away $2,250. He had to. By law. That $2,250 was the surplus from Coursey's 2007 town council run. State election law requires all candidates � losers and winners alike � to distribute leftover campaign funds in specific ways. Candidates can't keep a cent. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 28, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112809.asp
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Backed by the largest Spanish-language broadcast network in the U.S., a massive campaign by Latino media and grass-roots groups to spur millions of eligible Hispanic residents to become U.S. citizens is showing results that could influence the agenda and outcome of the 2008 election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 11, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_051107.asp
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Mayor Pedro Segarra easily won the endorsement at the city's Democratic nominating convention, while the city council race was highly contested. Segarra defeated candidates Edwin Vargas, a member of the city's planning and zoning commission, and J. Stan McCauley, a local television entrepreneur. Vargas and McCauley have both said they would wage a primary. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/cityline_072111.asp
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Mayoral candidate Edwin Vargas, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor Pedro Segarra in the primary, said he hasn't made a decision yet on whether he will run as an Independent candidate in November. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: September 14, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_091411.asp
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Edwin Vargas, a Democrat running for mayor as a petitioning candidate, has filed a complaint with the Democratic State Central Committee over Mayor Pedro Segarra's acceptance of an endorsement by Republicans, saying it violates party rules. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 21, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_102111.asp
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The Democratic primary for Mayor of Hartford pits incumbent Mayor Pedro Segarra against Edwin Vargas. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: September 09, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_090911.asp
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In a major position stand, Edwin Vargas outlined his plan to fight violent crime. Published by
Hartford Cityline, The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 18, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/cityline_081811.asp
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After three failed bids for elective office in the last four years, Democrat Edwin Vargas said he feels good about his chances this time on Nov. 6. Vargas beat embattled state Rep. Hector Robles, a two-term incumbent, in the Aug. 14 primary for the 6th House District seat, and said he is poised to take on a leadership role should he win election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 11, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101112.asp
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Former Mayor Eddie Perez was not a great believer in open government. On some occasions, he would hold meetings in private that should have been public. Mayor Pedro Segarra, unlike his predecessor, has pledged to make open government a hallmark of his time in office. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 23, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_082310.asp
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Recently, editorial reporter Carolyn Lumsden went back in time to put invective in perspective. Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez's anger at nasty-grams posted on The Courant's online comment boards, beneath stories on crime in the city, prompted her to visit the Connecticut Historical Society Museum to see just how civil conversations were a few centuries ago. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 22, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062208.asp
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On November 6th, 2013, major changes in the way city government works were on the Hartford ballot. Mike McGarry expresses the opinion that all three questions concerning changes to the city charter are misleading. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: October 17, 2013
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_101713.asp
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Connecticut Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz comments on the change in voting methods to new computerized technologies. As Connecticut makes the transition to the new optical scan voting machines, it is imperative that voters have confidence that their votes will be recorded securely and accurately. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 04, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110407.asp
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Hartford voters recently had an opportunity to save the city nearly $1 million over the next four year, by voting yes on the only referendum question on this fall's municipal election ballot. Voting yes essentially canceled a big raise that city council members voted for themselves three years ago. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 31, 2012
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_103112.asp
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Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the election process. Published by
Vote411.org
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/democracy/wsd_10_2006.asp
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In Hartford, a city of 125,000 Mayor Eddie Perez was swept into power with about 7,000 votes. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: November 22, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_112207.asp
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A record number of people in Connecticut have signed up to cast ballots in the November 4, 2008 election, and a higher percentage of registered voters are expected to participate than at any time since John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in the 1960 presidential election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 03, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_110308.asp
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A video recording of the September 14, 2007 community program, Voter Registration Training, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: September 14, 2007
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_09_14_2007.asp
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It sounds like a simple, innocuous question. "Shall there be a constitutional convention to amend or revise the constitution of the state?" But that question could have huge ramifications if Connecticut voters decide Nov. 4 that the state should indeed hold its first convention since 1965 � which would be only its fourth in more than 370 years. With a potential rewriting of the state constitution at stake, supporters and opponents are gearing up for a battle in the election. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 18, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101808.asp
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New Haven's Mayor John DeStefano wants to let non-citizens vote in his city's elections. He'll seek permission from the state legislature. Cynics say the mayor is trying to seek more votes for himself, which he denies. His efforts to engage everyone in civic life are admirable. But that can be done without extending the central privilege of citizenship to those who haven't earned it. Mr. DeStefano's proposal goes too far. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 24, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_122411.asp
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In this editorial, a Courant intern expresses the opinion that while voting online may not be possible, the Internet can still be used to increase voter turnout. It can inform voters about candidates and remind citizens of coming elections and the issues that are involved. Online voting information may help to motivate disenfranchised and young voters to go to the polls. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 23, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_112307.asp
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Led by a surge in college-age voters, state residents are registering in unprecedented numbers, portending a near-record turnout for the presidential election Nov. 4, 2008. On college campuses, at black churches, in city neighborhoods and at town halls, people are signing up as never before, swelling the rolls of the dominant Democratic Party.
Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 17, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101708.asp
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Denise Merrill, Connecticut's Secretary of the State , writes that change is never easy, especially in the Land of Steady Habits. Yet those of us who administer elections can no longer continue to ignore the facts: Voting in Connecticut is too costly, rigid and complicated and not enough people are voting. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 23, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_032312.asp
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Stan Simpson discusses the referendum that appear on the upcoming election: �Shall there be a constitutional convention to amend or revise the constitution of the state?" Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 01, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110108.asp
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The author, an attorney, was asked to monitor a polling place during the 2012 Presidential election. He relates his experience, and the difficulties people had in voting that day. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: November 08, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_news_110812_1.asp
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Stan Simpson comments on the recent protest about abusive, racist and personal attacks in comments posted by readers of Courant.com. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 21, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062108.asp
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A video of the program, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History: A Panel Discussion on Elected Public Service, held on March 20, 2013 at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: March 20, 2013
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Link: /Issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_03_20_2013.asp
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Will a fix for Connecticut's landmark � but broken � campaign finance law be an item on the General Assembly's agenda for this month's special session? The law should be fixed � and now, so that candidates for legislature and statewide office who wish to participate in the Citizens Election Program can count on public funds for next year's campaigns. Gov. M. Jodi Rell offers a solution. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 15, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_121509.asp
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Was Brandon McGee's 153-vote victory over Leo Canty for the Democratic nomination in Connecticut's 5th state House District primary election a referendum on teachers unions? Mr. McGee says volunteers, not special-interest money, won it for him. Mr. Canty is certain that extra McGee canvassing paid for by the alliance check paved his way to defeat. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 03, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_100312.asp
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When Hartford's charter was adopted in 2002, it wisely created an automatic review process every decade so that residents could make whatever changes were deemed necessary. A decade has passed. The 11-member charter revision commission has begun its work. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 12, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_101212.asp
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Kerri Provost writes about how votes for write-in candidates are counted in Connecticut. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: March 06, 2013
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_030613.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that Hartford Democrats cashiered their antiquated racial quotas for the party's city council slate recently. That development � as well as more robust competition among council candidates � was the best outcome from the party's first nominating convention since former Mayor Eddie Perez's iron-fisted rule. The worst outcome was the fact that you have to go all the way down to the office of constable before you can find an endorsed female Democratic candidate. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: July 22, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_072211_1.asp
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A video of the February 23, 2010 community program, Where Do Candidates Come From and Why Should You Care?, held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: February 23, 2010
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Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_02_23_2010.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that the big winners in the recent primary elections were the political party insiders. Although many of those winners were The Courant's endorsed candidates too, we would have liked to see larger numbers of voters weighing in on the choices. That would have indicated that more than just the party faithful showed up at the polls. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 11, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081110_1.asp
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It could be considered the "perfect storm" for Connecticut's fledgling public campaign finance system, and it may not be survivable. A ferocious series of political, judicial, fiscal, legislative and economic pressure fronts are coming together in a way that has state and party officials nervous about whether this program will make it through the 2010 state elections. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: November 19, 2009
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_advocate_111909.asp
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There are many ways to look at economic disparities. One way is to examine how Hartford compares to other areas of Connecticut. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: July 26, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/government/realhtfd_072610.asp
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In this commentary, two members of True Vote Connecticut express the opinion that replacing our old lever voting machines with new, computerized scanners was the best choice that could be made under new federal law. But along with the machine replacement, Connecticut is also throwing out its venerable system of local control of elections. Replacing it is a centralized system under the full control of the secretary of the state. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: May 13, 2007
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Link: /issues/documents/Democracy/htfd_courant_051307.asp
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The average person can have the significant impact in local politics; local politics also have the most immediate impact on us. If garbage is not removed on your street, you do not take the matter President Obama; you call 311 or complain to the City Council. Maybe you push for better funding of the Department of Public Works, or better management of it. Published by
Real Hartford
; Publication Date: October 06, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/realhtfd_100611.asp
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A video of the February 18, 2009 community program, Why Don't We Vote, which was held at the Hartford Public Library. Published by
HartfordInfo.org
; Publication Date: February 18, 2009
Document
Link: /issues/wsd/Videos/wsd_02_18_2009.asp
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The flap over funding party primaries in Hartford says much about the city's archaic and expensive election system. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 09, 2012
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030912.asp
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Ardent special-interest groups are pushing to have the right of initiative written into the Connecticut Constitution � a formula for ill-conceived lawmaking that would wrest important policy considerations away from elected officials. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: June 29, 2008
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_062908_1.asp
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That wariness of being sucked up by labor or left-wing activist groups such as MoveOn.org hasn't stopped the Connecticut Occupiers from reaching out to all those organizations for general support and cooperation. Published by
The Hartford Advocate
; Publication Date: December 14, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/taxes/htfd_advocate_121411.asp
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In these days of need for investors, will the city of Hartford get the reputation for being anti-business, anti-growth and anti-job? Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: November 24, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_112411.asp
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As usual, the last column by Mike McGarry was interesting for fiction as well as fact. He�d heap Hartford�s problems on the few years Working Families Party has been around, not on decades of insider two-party Republican-Democratic rule, disgraceful caucuses, back- room profit-seeking deals, �business as usual� and the emptying of the city of jobs, workers, businesses. Published by
The Hartford News
; Publication Date: December 01, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_news_120111.asp
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Hartford city council President rJo Winch and state Rep. Douglas McCrory both said recently that they will not challenge Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra in the race next year. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 22, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_112210.asp
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Seldom has the maxim "every vote counts" had more relevance than in the primary elections Aug. 10, 2010 for the Democratic nomination for state House seats in Hartford's 1st and 4th Districts. After mandatory recounts, city councilman Matthew Ritter, the party's endorsed candidate, apparently topped incumbent state Rep. Kenneth Green by a mere two votes out of 2,304 cast in the 1st District. Two-term Rep. Kelvin Roldan held on to defeat challenger Angel Morales by only five votes in the 4th District, where a total of just 759 people voted. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 19, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_081910.asp
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August 26 is Women's Equality Day, the anniversary of the passage in 1920 of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. As we mark the 90th anniversary of women's suffrage, it is useful to look backward to acknowledge the pioneers of suffrage and forward to see how far we have come. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: August 29, 2010
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Link: /issues/documents/history/htfd_courant_082910.asp
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City lawyer Shawn Wooden has emerged as the fundraising leader in the campaign for mayor, taking in $52,000 since he announced his intention to run in November 2010. The incumbent, Mayor Pedro Segarra, raised $15,200 during the same period, and J. Stan McCauley, the founder of an online television network, raised $900. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: January 17, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_011711.asp
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A Democratic opponent to Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra has dropped out of this year's mayoral race. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: June 30, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_063011.asp
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Jon Green of West Hartford, the Connecticut Working Families Organization's executive director, has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to the Office of State Ethics for failing to wear the required badge identifying him as a lobbyist when he lobbied state legislators on the paid sick leave bill that passed this year, the ethics agency announced recently. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 19, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_111911.asp
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Add Urania Petit's name to the list of people who made election history on November 4, 2008. Petit, a social worker and Working Families Party candidate for registrar of voters in Hartford, outpolled her Republican counterpart by more than 200 votes. With that, city voters made Petit the first third-party candidate ever elected to a registrar's office in Connecticut, according to the secretary of the state. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: November 07, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/htfd_courant_110708.asp
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It's been a good year for Connecticut's Working Families Party. In Hartford, the party won all three of the city council's minority seats and sidelined Republicans. And at the state capitol, it won a major victory with the passage of paid sick leave. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: December 16, 2011
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Link: /issues/documents/democracy/jcohen_121611.asp
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In this editorial, the Hartford Courant expresses the opinion that a regional voting center would save the states' 92 counties tens of thousands of dollars in each election, as reported in a study by the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: March 02, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_030210.asp
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The conviction of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez on corruption charges brings attention to the practice of trading political support for government jobs. A Yankee Institute review of members of the Hartford Democratic Town Committee reveals that 32 of the Committee�s 69 members (46 percent) have government jobs or draw taxpayer-funded pensions. Published by
Capital Region Report, Jeff Cohen @ WNPR
; Publication Date: June 24, 2010
Document
Link: /issues/documents/government/jcohen_062410.asp
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In this opinion piece, the writer supports the referendum to amend the Connecticut Constitutional to allow what's known as a direct initiative, or referendum. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: October 19, 2008
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_101908_1.asp
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If we've learned one thing from the thus-far unrequited effort to create new boundaries for the state's five congressional districts, it's that neither side is ecstatically happy with the process. The latest step in this marathon political dance took place recently when the Connecticut Supreme Court ordered Democrats and Republicans on the legislature's deadlocked redistricting commission to keep plugging to come to an agreement on a congressional map. Published by
The Hartford Courant
; Publication Date: December 29, 2011
Document
Link: /issues/documents/democracy/htfd_courant_122911.asp
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