The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
FROM THE GROUND UP
Lesser making way around state, garnering support for possible run for secretary of the state in 2018
MIDDLETOWN » In just one day last week, Matt Lesser traveled 600 miles around Connecticut, meeting people and talking about his possible run for secretary of the state.
“I didn’t think you could do that,” said Middletown’s five-term Democratic state representative about traveling a state that’s 110 miles long and 70 miles wide.
Lesser announced April 18 he had formed an exploratory committee for the 2018 election.
“I went to quite a few events around the state and I went around in circles. I’m hoping to not do that again,” the North End resident said with a laugh.
The lawmaker did “take a little time off” Tuesday to march in the Willimantic Boombox Parade, he said.
Since he formed the exploratory committee, Lesser has raised $57,900 from more than 750 contributors in 95 towns across Connecticut. More than 80 percent of those contributions came from state residents, he said.
To qualify for the state’s Citizens’ Election Program grant, statewide candidates need to raise $75,000 in donations between $5 and $100.
While he spends some nights and weekends greeting people around the state, Lesser has been mostly consumed with workshops and other negotiations as both the House and Senate struggle to pass a budget with Connecticut already a week into the new fiscal year.
House Republicans are expected to present their budget proposal Tuesday. House Democrats will vote on their plan July 18, said Lesser, who said he’s proud that his delegation passed every committee priority this year.
The draft budget, Lesser said, looks good for Middletown.
“It’s not just budgeting for Middletown, it’s also funding for programs residents care about, making sure we are making some of
“I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement from my colleagues, from grassroots leaders across the state, and am increasingly encouraged by the reception. I think there’s a lot of work through 2018 to articulate a positive, progressive vision and talk about where we’re going as a state.” — State Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown
the long-term changes we need and not just slapping a Band-Aid on the budget because coming back every six months is no way to run a state,” he said.
The 33-year-old said he’d like to see a longer-term budget fix in the works “that gives confidence to everyone that’s looking at Hartford that the state’s in good fiscal hands,” he said.
Lesser said he will only run for the office if fellow Democrat, Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill, does not seek re-election.
“I am focused on the work at hand, which is protecting the voting rights and personal privacy of the people of Connecticut from federal overreach and foreign hackers,” Merrill said in an email Friday night. “My main job is to make sure Connecticut is ready for the 2018 elections. I have always found doing your job well is the best way to get re-elected.”
Lesser, a self-described workaholic, said he is energized by the reception he’s received.
“I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement from my colleagues, from grassroots leaders across the state, and am increasingly encouraged by the reception,” Lesser said. “I think there’s a lot of work through 2018 to articulate a positive, progressive vision and talk about where we’re going as a state.”
“I think there’s a recognition that the (national) election was a tough one for the Democratic party and I’m hearing a desire to harness this growing grassroots energy that’s out there,” he said. “People are upset with the administration and want direction articulated for the state to make sure that we’re standing up for Connecticut values and articulate a way forward.”
J.R. Romano, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, said it’s a little too early, in his opinion, to be thinking about running in the 2018 election. He also said he expects Republicans to enter the secretary of the state race.
“The story here is the inner turmoil within the Democratic Party,” Romano said. “Denise Merrill has not released any intent, and here you have a young, and frankly undisciplined, state rep. — who’s got in trouble for the way he communicates publicly — challenging Denise Merrill.”
Romano is referring to an April dispute between Lesser and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, RDerby, over a now scrapped pay equity bill for women in the workforce.
“Matt has done this in what I would define as a little bit of a disrespectful way to Denise Merrill,” Romano said of the exploratory committee. “She has not announced any of her intention.”
Lesser is adamant that he will not be challenging Merrill for her post.
“If Denise runs for reelection, I’ll support her,” Lesser said.
The Democrat is encouraged by the number of people he’s met who have never been interested in politics before and have mobilized since the presidential election.
“People are really upset about what’s happening in Washington, to some extent what’s happening in Hartford, and are looking to get involved and make a difference. It’s those folks whom I’m really energized by and I’m drawing inspiration from them,” said Lesser.
He’s hesitant to tally the number of hours he’s spent traveling and talking to constituents outside of his job at the Capitol — for one very solid reason.
“If I told you, I’d get in trouble with my wife,” joked Lesser, who uses one simple marker to know when he’s been working too hard. “I’m just trying to make sure my lawn get mowed. “The thing I’m most
proud of is going around the state and still managing to walk my dog,” Lesser said. “That’s the critical thing. If I lose her support, I got nothing.”
He’s gotten bipartisan support from Durham, a town, along with Middlefield, that he formerly represented — before the 100th District’s boundaries were redrawn to encompass just Middletown following the 2010 Census.
“Republicans have come forward to help raise money,” Lesser said. “They remember the work we did together like saving the Durham Fair several years ago. I’m really gratified by that.”
He’s noticed that same collaboration at the state level when working on bills such as “some really bold ones” like criminal justice reform and health care.
“There’s not a lot of bipartisan health care anything these days,” Lesser said.
Lesser cited the Trump Administration’s recent request for Connecticut’s voter registration records as a source of growing concern. The request, from the Election Integrity Commission, has received growing bipartisan criticism in states across the country, according to a press release from his office.
“We’ve seen an attack on the institution of democracy. We’ve seen people question the legitimacy of elections — the president has done it — and I think it’s really damaging to our democracy,” Lesser said. “Our democracy only works because we respect the peaceful transfer of power. I think it’s really important, particularly the secretary of the state’s office, because it works in a way that gives confidence to everybody in the state that we have a fair and transparent process.”
Merrill has done that with great success, he said.
“If she doesn’t run again, then the next secretary of the state should make sure we have somebody who’s in charge of the election system in the state that can work with Democrats and Republicans and make sure everybody has the right to vote, that all votes are counted, that our elections are conducted with integrity and openness and nobody is subject to voter intimidation or suppression,” Lesser said.