Democrats finish paying $325K to settle election complaint

Dinged for using state contractor money to help the 2014 re-election of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the Connecticut Democrats have finished paying off a $325,000 settlement with the state a year ahead of schedule.

Party leaders maintain that there was no wrongdoing during the last gubernatorial campaign, which they say exposed a loophole in state’s clean-elections law that bans state contractors from contributing to candidates for statewide office.

Contractors are allowed to give to the federal fundraising accounts of both state parties to help general getout-the-vote efforts and congressional candidates. A pair of mailers paid for with those monies mentioned Malloy, however.

Democrats have termed the $325,000 settlement as a “voluntary” payment, but the head of the state Elections Enforcement Commission referred to it as a significant penalty last year.

“Look, this was hard work, but there was no slowing down or diverting of resources to build a stronger party,” said Michael Mandell, executive director of the Connecticut Democrats.

Democrats tapped individual donors and PACs for the settlement.

“The Democrats are basically saying they got paroled in four years instead of five,” said J.R. Romano, the state Republican Party chairman. “At the end of the day, the fact that they think this is a moment to celebrate just goes to show how out of touch they are.”

Political football

The fact that the New York Giants are winless in four contests makes this a whole lot easier for Connecticut’s top Republican.

Romano, the head of the state GOP and loyal fan of Big Blue, has stopped watching games this fall because of the anthem protests taking place around the National Football League.

“Part of it is tongue-and-cheek. The Giants are terrible,” Romano said. “(But) my grandfather served in World War II. In fact, he was a lifelong military man. I think that this demonstration for what the players are trying to accomplish, it isn’t accomplishing their goal, and that’s to have a broader conversation about policing and sentencing. This is turning into choosing between team and country. I think the message has gotten lost.”

Goodbye Columbus?

Mark Lauretti frowns upon those exploring a run for governor — you’re either in the race like him or you’re not.

But when it comes to the complicated and contentious legacy of Christopher Columbus, the Italian-American mayor of Shelton holds the explorer in good stead.

Fairfield County’s longest serving mayor or first selectman will lead Bridgeport’s Columbus Day parade, held Sunday, as grand marshal. The holiday itself falls on Monday, but you won’t find it on the official public schools calendar in the state’s largest city.

It’s been two years since the school board voted to end its Columbus Day observance and replace it with Indigenous People’s Day, a move that inflamed the city’s Italian-American population. It later changed the designation to Italian Heritage Day.

Bridgeport isn’t the only place grappling with what Columbus represents.

In August, the Los Angeles city council voted overwhelmingly to cancel Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous People’s Day. In Yonkers, N.Y., a statue of the Italian explorer was beheaded during the summer.

Brian Blanco / Getty Images Damon Harrisonof the New York Giants and Landon Collins lock arms and raise their right fists into the air during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of an NFL football game on Monday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.