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Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Race is on for 14th senatorial seat





Orange attorney throws hat into the ring; Milford attorney who hold seat says focus remains on current session not election


By Bridget Albert
Special to the Register

It may be lawyer versus lawyer as Orange Town Attorney Vincent Marino on Tuesday officially declared his candidacy against two-term state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford.
Marino, above right, a former Republican Town Committee chairman who has spent more than two years as town attorney, said he’s running because “this is a critical election for working families and small businesses.”
The 14th senatorial district includes Milford, Orange and parts of West Haven. Marino said Democrats have failed in Hartford and it’s time for new leadership.
“This week the legislature concluded its business for the year having failed to pass a true three strikes law for repeat violent criminals; having failed to enact the ethics reforms Ms. Slossberg and her colleagues promised; and having failed to provide any economic relief for working families and small businesses who are paying record-high prices for everything from gasoline to groceries,” Marino said in a prepared statement.
Slossberg, above left, who is a former practicing attorney, declined to comment on whether she is seeking reelection except to say “right now there are 48 hours left in session and I’m focused on passing good legislation that helps the people of Milford, Orange, West Haven and the state of Connecticut.”
Marino said if elected he will work to reduce government spending, seek to revitalize the economy and work to lower taxes.
“In fact, I believe the legislature should convene in special session now to provide immediate, needed relief to working class families by reducing state gas taxes,” Marino said.
Marino said improving education and public safety will also be top priorities.
“Unlike my opponent, I believe that three-time violent criminals like rapists, kidnappers and arsonists should go to jail for life, no ifs ands or buts,” Marino said.
Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said Marino has “always worked to the highest standards as counsel for the town of Orange, working for the people’s best interest.”
“Vin Marino understands the needs of the cities and towns in Connecticut,” said Milord Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. “I am confident that he will be an outstanding candidate and represent the needs of Milford, Orange and West Haven with distinction.”
Milford Democratic Chairman Richard Smith said he is shocked that someone has come forward to challenge Slossberg.
“I’m a bit disappointed that the Republicans are putting someone up at all. When you have a state Senator who works as hard for her district as Senator Gayle you would kind of hope that interests of the people of the district would outweigh political party interests and Republicans would have cross-endorsed her,” Smith said.
“Since that seems not being the case, we’ll let Gayle’s record of tireless commitment to the people of the 14th Senate district speak for itself. I know you would have to look long and hard to find any state senator who works harder or is more committed to her work than Gayle,” Smith added.
Marino is an attorney with the law firm of Cohen and Wolf. He and his wife, Debra, have two children, Lauren, 6, and Jason, 4.
Slossberg earned her law degree at New York University School of Law. She and her husband, David, have three children, Jeremy, Alex, and Rebecca. Slossberg served as minority leader of the Milford Board of Alderman from 2001 to 2004.
The Republican convention is May 13 and the Democratic convention is May 19.
Milford Bureau Chief Brian McCready contributed to this story.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am very pleased that Vin Marino is challenging Gayle Schlossberg. I feel that he is a formidable opponant. I cannot imagine why Rich Smith is surprised that the Republicans would want to run a candidate against Gayle. This is America and this is the American way. God bless America!

May 8, 2008 at 5:09 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On December 3, 2006, I wrote the following to Senator Gayle:

Hello Senator Slossberg,

It appears as though the new Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal was a big hit in the state, with over 270,000 receiving the medal. Has the DMV thought of making available a license plate for those awarded the medal, similar to the Purple Heart license plate? (The CT Veterans Wartime Service Medal in place of the Purple Heart and the words "Wartime Service" in place of "Combat Wounded"). I think it would look great and I bet a lot of veterans would purchase the plate, provided they are informed that it exists. Your thoughts?

Well, Senator Gayle responded to me on January 19, 2007, with a generic reply: "Thank you for your suggestions regarding veterans' benefits. Many of them have been brought to the committee for consideration. I will continue to follow them through the process."

Well, it is now over a year later and no further feedback from Senator Gayle, no action on her part on behalf of us veterans, nothing. At $27.50 per special license plate, we are talking about an additional $7.5 million to the state budget. And, she is the Vice Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee! And so, I ask, what has she really done for us veterans and for the state of Connecticut?

May 8, 2008 at 5:53 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Senator Gayle "Do-Nothing" Slossberg is not getting it done for Milford. Let's all consider:

1) She has not been active to repeal 8-30g Housing Law that has been hitting towns like Milford and Orange over the head for the past 8+ years. This was her big public claim to fame. Guess her promise to the voters slipped her mind.

2) Where O' Where has our Education Funding gone from Hartford? Answer . . . Not to Milford that is for sure. This is prioprity # 1 and she is invisible on this topic. Each each her and her cronies push more and more unfunded mandates down our throuts that end up killing Seniors and Young families with extra taxes.

3) Gayles "Veterans" medals is a way for her to play Santa and hand these out for the sole purpose of getting her picture in the paper. Free Marketing for the next campign.

4) Now she is pushing for 17 year olds to vote in primaries, whiloe at the same time we are trying to raise the Driving Age to 18. Does something seem wrong here? They are not responsible enough to drive a car at 17, is what they are saying, but olod enough to vote? Again, all this is self serving to turn out the "Teen" vote. Next thing there will be campaign rallies at High Schools gyms in place of pep rallies. Hey Gayle . . . Dumb Idea? Unless of course the solke purpose is to use these kids to vote for you or your party.

I just don't have time to express my complete and utter disgused for this elected official. She just runs for office all day long and never really get the job done that Milford, Orange and West Haven need, which is to bring home more of the tax money we pay into Hartford.

May 9, 2008 at 8:15 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the Comment by the Democrats "shock and awe" Frank complaained about this unholy alliance between the Republicans and DEmocrats when they refused to put a candidate up against Amann.

Every election should have three choices Republican Democrat and Independent why is that so hard for the party bosses to understand?

May 12, 2008 at 10:38 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Indepenents are key abd agree on having a choice. I am not a Frank Rocco fan, but he has the right, like us all, to run for and hold public office. What a country.

May 13, 2008 at 2:21 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think Frank is going to shock people in a rather peculiar way, he is so unique and clever in his ideas and way of doing things.

From all that I read he is going to have the entire party system upside down and rethinking their place. Frank is a blessing to our all to "harmonized" party system here in town.

I think we should all vote for Frank just to wake these people up.

Steve

May 24, 2008 at 10:41 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ditto!

May 27, 2008 at 9:26 PM 

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