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POLITICAL PERSUASION

Five To Watch

05/05/08

New opportunities bloom after every election and legislative session; opportunities for new faces in Connecticut’s political world to make a reputation or move up. The last six months is no exception.

The conventional focus — for the past decade or more — has been placed on a familiar set of names all waiting for Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to make the first move. Comptroller Nancy Wyman, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Treasurer Denise Nappier on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, there seems to be a bench of two: Congressman Chris Shays and newly appointed Associate Attorney General Kevin O’Connor, who continues to ride a wave of good will generated by his big-hearted, but thorough drubbing in a congressional race against John Larson in 1998.

But with the new campaign finance law leveling the field, it may be short sighted to focus only on these six. The right candidate, with determination and skillful use of public financing, can turn the tables on traditional candidates who might make the mistake of thinking they can just wait their turn — like the old days. Elections and events put these five in play:

Bill Finch (D) — The newly elected mayor of Bridgeport has nowhere to go but up. As leader of the state’s largest and most beleaguered city, he has a chance to make high-profile progress that can put him on the radar screen for statewide or federal office at some point in the future; the greater the challenges, the bigger the opportunities for measureable, executive leadership.

Mary Glassman (D) — The newly reelected first selectman of Simsbury ran the town before after a stint in state government and as a candidate for lieutenant governor on the ticket with John DeStefano. She got on the ticket by defeating DeStefano’s handpicked candidate for the job in a primary. Since taking over again in Simsbury, she has made herself a presence on the state stage by offering practical solutions to chronic problems. This is not the behavior of a politician content to run Simsbury.

Ned Lamont (D) — The anti-war Democrat who took down Joe Lieberman — for a few months — has an energized army ready to take the field whenever he desires to get back into politics. How would his decision to run for governor shake up conventional wisdom in the Democratic bullpen on 55 Elm St.?

John McKinney (R) — Although it has always been assumed he wants to run for the congressional seat once held his father, McKinney’s ascension to senate minority leader gives him an opportunity to set the agenda at the Connecticut Capitol in new ways and could position him to run for attorney general or governor. He delicately managed the DeLuca controversy after taking over and has taken steps on his own to offer a new Republican vision.

Chris Murphy (D) — If the freshman congressman can survive his first run for re-election this fall, he will be in position — at a young age — to move up quickly. The fifth district is great place from which to launch a statewide campaign. It includes several of the state’s midsized cities, and one of its largest — Waterbury — and it is surrounded by Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties. It may be the best base to run from in the state.

Traditionally, constitutional officers and members of Congress have an edge in statewide campaigns. But public financing and use of the Internet can change that tradition in Connecticut. Now more than ever, a candidate with ambition and a message that outlines a vision can break the hold the political veterans have on the career ladder of state politics.

Dean Pagani is a former gubernatorial advisor. He is V.P. of Public Affairs for Cashman and Katz Integrated Communications in Glastonbury.