New Britain Lawmakers, LWV Members Back "Fair" Ballot Legislation By John McNamara Legislation to ensure specific wording on local referendum questions has been proposed for a second year at the Connecticut General Assembly's Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE). The GAE Committee will consider House Bill 5494 that would establish "standards" for city charter amendment … Continue reading “Precise” Wording Requirement On City Charter Referendums Introduced For A Second Year
Category: city politics and government
Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 3)
The Municipal Campaign That Changed New Britain Politics For A Generation Introduction In 1989, Donald DeFronzo became New Britain's 34th Mayor ending the late William (Billy Mac) McNamara's six terms as the city's top elected official, a modern-day record not matched until last November when Mayor Erin Stewart won a sixth, two-year term. "During the … Continue reading Watershed: New Britain’s 1989 Mayoral Campaign (Part 3)
NB Progressive Filled A Void In Local News in 2022
Alternative Online Paper Shares Its "Top 10" Stories Of The Year In 2022 media coverage of government and politics in and around New Britain continued a decline in the pages and posts of the corporate-owned newspapers and on their online sites. The Hartford Courant, owned by Alden Global Capital, and The New Britain Herald, purchased … Continue reading NB Progressive Filled A Void In Local News in 2022
DeFronzo on City Charter Referendum: “No Thank You”
Former Mayor Sees Less Accountability, Conflicts At City Hall If Ballot Questions Are Approved Don DeFronzo said "no thank you" to city charter revisions on this year's ballot at a public forum on Nov. 2 in a cogent takedown of the most sweeping changes to municipal government in a generation. He found a receptive audience … Continue reading DeFronzo on City Charter Referendum: “No Thank You”
Taking Sides on Charter Revision In New Britain
Mayor, Yes Committee To Hold "Education Session" Tuesday, October 18 at City Hall by John McNamara The Yes on Charter Revision Referendum Committee will hold an "educational session" on October 18th featuring members of the charter commission to promote passage of amendments that have far-reaching implications as to how city government will be governed. Tuesday's … Continue reading Taking Sides on Charter Revision In New Britain
Does New Britain need both a chief operating officer and a full-time mayor?
Misleading Referendum Proposes High Level Patronage Job To Manage Municipal Government by John McNamara NEW BRITAIN - Creating a new chief operating officer to manage the municipality and making town clerk and tax collector jobs appointed instead of elected offices are big and very different questions for a referendum vote in November. Voters, however, won’t … Continue reading Does New Britain need both a chief operating officer and a full-time mayor?
COO Patronage Job, End To Elections Of Clerk and Tax Collector Are On The Nov. 8 Ballot
Fuzzy Charter Question Will Keep Many Voters in the Dark by John McNamara New Britain voters will be deciding much more than who should be the Governor and making their picks for other elective offices on November 8th. City charter revisions will, if approved, make the biggest changes in a generation as to how Connecticut's … Continue reading COO Patronage Job, End To Elections Of Clerk and Tax Collector Are On The Nov. 8 Ballot
Campaign dollars soared in ’21 municipal election but voter participation declined
28% Turnout Continues A Downward Trend In Voting For Local Office Holders By John McNamara "Money is the mother's milk of politics" goes the observation first coined in the 1960s that applies to almost every state and federal election cycle as all kinds of committees and special interests raise billions in reported and anonymous donations. … Continue reading Campaign dollars soared in ’21 municipal election but voter participation declined
Behind Mayor Stewart’s War On Supt. Sarra and the BOE
By John McNamara The vandalism and trouble that occurred at New Britain High School in September needlessly escalated the rift between Mayor Erin Stewart and New Britain School District leaders. Incidents of student misbehavior fueled by social media have not been limited to New Britain as districts in CT and elsewhere re-opened this fall. Mayor … Continue reading Behind Mayor Stewart’s War On Supt. Sarra and the BOE
The Return of Tim Stewart: Former Mayor Chairs SBC As $50 Million School Project Begins
Former Mayor Tim Stewart is the new Chairperson of the School Building Committee, gaining reappointment by his daughter, Mayor Erin Stewart, just as the seven-member committee moves forward with expenditures on the $50 million major renovation at the Chamberlain Elementary School on the city's East Side. The former four-term Mayor resigned from the SBC and … Continue reading The Return of Tim Stewart: Former Mayor Chairs SBC As $50 Million School Project Begins
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