Capitol Week in Review: Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport mayors face primary challenges Tuesday

With Labor Day behind him, Gov. Ned Lamont is accelerating efforts for a new transportation funding plan after his toll proposal fizzled in the General Assembly. Tolls are not entirely off the table, but his administration is now scouring the couch cushions down in Washington to see if there’s any more federal money the state can use for transportation upgrades. Meanwhile, there’s important primary elections Tuesday that for cities like Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport -- where most voters are Democrats -- serve as the de facto general election. If there’s an election in your city or town, consider this a reminder to show up. And if you’re not registered, there’s still time.

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The big story

Municipal primaries Tuesday: This election year has been quieter than 2018, where an open race for governor drew intense interest and dominated the airwaves with political advertising. But there are still significant elections upcoming, including Democratic mayoral primaries in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. In Hartford, Mayor Luke Bronin is being challenged by former Mayor Eddie Perez and state Rep. Brandon McGee. In New Haven, Mayor Toni Harp is facing challenger Justin Elicker in a rematch of their race six years ago. And in Bridgeport, Mayor Joe Ganim, who returned to office four years ago after a prison stint for corruption charges, is facing state Sen. Marilyn Moore in his re-election bid. Middletown also has an interesting contest, with four Democratic candidates vying to succeed Mayor Dan Drew who is not seeking re-election. All the primaries will be held Tuesday. Only voters registered with a party can vote in primaries. But unaffiliated voters can switch their party affiliation up until noon Monday. And new voters can register on Election Day. There will also be primaries Tuesday in Bloomfield, Hamden, North Haven, Oxford, Stratford, West Haven and Wethersfield (for Democrats) and in Brooklyn, Colchester, East Haven, Killingworth, Plainfield, Plainville, Preston, Ridgefield, Shelton, Somers, Southbury, Voluntown and West Haven (for Republicans).

Five things you may have missed

Lamont’s transportation reboot: After his tolling plan failed to gain traction in the General Assembly this past session, Lamont has directed his staff to pursue alternative plans to boost the state’s transportation funding. That’s meant sending his chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz, to Washington to talk with federal officials about federal programs the state could tap to help rebuild its aging roads and bridges. Tolls are not off the table, but there will not be a “rinse and repeat” of a plan for 50 gantries on I-95, I-91, I-84 and Route 15, which includes the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways, according to gubernatorial spokesman Max Reiss. Republicans, who remain steadfastly opposed to any plan for tolls, say they would support the state looking to leverage more federal dollars for transportation projects. "Look, we’re always willing to listen to new proposals,” said House Republican leader Themis Klarides. But she was doubtful the issue will come up for a vote soon.

State on track for surplus, for now: One month into the new fiscal year, Comptroller Kevin Lembo said Tuesday the state is projected to run a $121 million surplus. That may seem like good news, but it’s less than the $141 million surplus legislators expected this year when the passed the state budget in June. Lembo cautioned that it was early to be drawing significant conclusions about how the state, which has faced a cycle of budget deficits, will fare this year. “Connecticut’s budget results are ultimately dependent upon the performance of the national and state economies,” he said. “For now, economic indicators for the national and state economies are sending mixed messages.” The state Office of Policy and Management is scheduled to next update its revenue estimates – the amount of money the state expects to collect in taxes – in November. The state has built up billions in reserves in recent years due largely to the strong performance of the stock market.

DPH warns of vaping-related illness: The state Department of Public Health issued a warning Friday after it said three more Connecticut residents have come down with lung illnesses after using electronic cigarettes. That brings the total number of such cases in the state this summer to five, amid an increase nationwide in vaping-related illnesses. The culprit has not been identified, and people have gotten sick after using a wide variety of products. There have been two deaths so far -- one in Illinois and one in Oregon. One factor may be the latest fourth-generation batteries in the e-cigarettes that burn hotter and produce more concentrated vapors, health officials said. “These illnesses are very concerning because the use of e-cigarette products is increasing in our state and nationally, particularly among our youth,” said DPH Commissioner Renu00e9e D. Coleman-Mitchell. “Some people might not be aware of the health risks associated with using these products.”

Final debate in Hartford mayor’s race: The three Democratic candidates for Hartford mayor faced off for a final time before Tuesday’s primary election in a debate Thursday evening at The Courant. Bronin, Perez and McGee fielded an hours’ worth of questions from Courant reporter Rebecca Lurye and WTNH-TV reporter George Colli. The sharpest exchanges of the night came between Bronin and Perez, with each attacking the other’s record as mayor. Perez also went after Bronin personally, painting him as a son of privilege from Greenwich who does not understand the struggles that Hartford residents face each day. In an interview after the debate, Bronin countered that he is out in the city’s neighborhoods nearly every day. Bronin also criticized Perez for raising the city’s mill rate by 50 percent during his nine years in office, noting that he did not raise property taxes in his first term.

Push to avoid nursing home cuts continues: Senate Republicans called on Democratic leaders in the General Assembly Thursday to hold a special session to pass legislation to avert more than $5 million in looming funding cuts that would affect nine Connecticut nursing homes. The reduction in funding came as a result of the state budget passed in June. The homes were targeted because their percentage of empty beds exceeded 30 percent. Nursing home officials dispute the state’s calculations regarding the empty beds, and legislators who represent the districts where the homes are located have asked for the issue to be reconsidered. Democratic leaders were noncommittal in response to the letter from Senate Republicans, but Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said the issue could be among the things discussed in a special session this fall. In the meantime, the homes can appeal to the state Department of Social Services and apply for a “hardship” rate in light of the Medicaid cuts.

Odds and ends

A new survey by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association found an increase in businesses growth and profits in Connecticut over the past year, but that business leaders remain pessimistic about the future of the state economy. Just 11 percent expect Connecticut’s economy to grow next year (down seven points from last year’s survey) compared to 73 percent expecting national economic growth. “While Connecticut businesses are finding ways to survive and grow, their concerns for the future are clearly apparent in this survey,” said Joe Brennan, president and CEO of the CBIA. The survey was mailed by CBIA to 5,300 business leaders and 356 participated with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. … Mobile sports betting launched in neighboring Rhode Island Wednesday. Gamblers need to register in-person at a casino to prove their age and for security reasons, but after that they will be able to place bets from their smartphone. Sports betting legislation was discussed at the Connecticut legislature this past session, but no bills were passed as the Lamont administration continued negotiations with the state’s two Native American tribes. The tribes believe they should have the exclusive rights to sports betting based on decades-old gambling exclusivity compacts, but state officials dispute that. … State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, has endorsed South Bend, Ind. Pete Buttigieg in the crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates. “I have known Pete for the better part of eight, nine years, and I know he’s a candidate who can bring the country back again,” Duff told Hearst Connecticut Media. “He speaks in a way people can understand, and I have confidence with his plans to unite this country.” Buttigieg was in the state Friday for fundraising events in New Canaan and Greenwich. … If it were up to Greenwich Republican Linda McMahon, Donald Trump would face either Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in next year’s presidential contest. “I think it’s such a clear, you know, division of, ‘Are you going way left, are you going to stay with the president?’ who is not extreme-right. He’s moderate to right,” McMahon told The Washington Post. McMahon, who left her job as CEO of the Stamford-based global wrestling company WWE to run twice for U.S. Senate in Connecticut, is the chair of America First Action, a super-political action committee working to get Trump re-elected. She left her job as head of the Small Business Administration, a Trump cabinet post, to lead the fundraising group. … With the NFL season kicking off Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal used the opportunity to call on the league to take incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault among its players more seriously. He held a news conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on the topic just hours before that evening’s Packers-Bears game. Blumenthal said a letter he received in February from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the topic did not adequately address his concerns. “The NFL owes it to its fans as well as its sense of decency and fair play to make sure there are real deterrents, strong and effective enforcement,” he said.

Russell Blair can be reached at [email protected].

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