Sewage Backfire

by Melissa Bailey | June 22, 2006 8:08 PM | | Comments (4)

What gubernatorial hopeful Dan Malloy thought would be a victorious snag — earning support from sewage workers in his opponent’s city — blew up in the campaign’s face Thursday. Hours after the campaign announced the endorsement, the union declared they did not support Malloy.

Malloy’s campaign first announced an endorsement by New Haven’s Water Pollution Control Authority workers, AFSCME Local 1303-393, in a press release sent out Thursday afternoon.

“Dan Malloy understands working men and women, he’s the strongest Democratic candidate, and we’re proud to endorse him,” 1303-393 President Arthur Sandella is quoted as saying in the release. Hours after the news went out, Sandella denied the endorsement.

“It was a misunderstanding,” said Sandella in a phone interview with the Independent later on Thursday. “I did not hold a board meeting,” nor did his union vote to support Malloy. Did he say the words quoted on the press release?

“No, I didn’t,” replied Sandella. He declared the union had not endorsed anyone, but would hold a meeting Friday to discuss the matter.

Opponent John DeStefano’s campaign revelled in the embarrassment. In this press release, the DeStefano camp roasts Malloy for a “fabricated endorsement” from a campaign “desperate” for union support.

A flustered Chris Cooney, Malloy’s campaign manager, pinned the non-support on DeStefano’s “thuggery.” He said the union approached him two weeks ago “saying they wanted to endorse Dan Malloy” and hold a public event Thursday. Though Sandella didn’t say the exact words in the press release, “he approved the quote.” The union “gave us the green light” to release the news, then the union changed their mind, he said.

“They clearly came under immeasureable pressure from the DeStefano campaign,” charged Cooney, calling the “change of mind” a result of “political thuggery.”

Was the union’s chair-pulling act a response to bullying, a plain misunderstanding, or a screw-up within union administration? Any way you cut it, it was a day the Malloy camp would rather forget.







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Comments

Posted by: DieDieDLC | June 22, 2006 8:18 PM

Thuggery, huh? This coming from the thugs who twisted arms and made people cry at the convention and then proceeded to come onto the blogs boasting about it saying that it's just "politics?"

Cooney should be ashamed of himself. Malloy should be ashamed of himself. If Mr. Sandella is a man of his word, which I believe, then Dan Malloy has got to be the biggest idiot or blind overseer I've ever heard of.

And this man wants to be Governor of Connecticut. Psh.

Posted by: Steve | June 22, 2006 10:24 PM

When you look inside the DeStefano organization, whether it be from the list of endorsements, campaign contibutors or his intimdation method of management, it is clearly apparent that this man would promise his children in return for a vote, endorsement or money. The use of a stand-in for his late father in a political piece is an insult to his memory.
My great fear is the price to be paid for those promises, when the day is done. His campaign is financed by big labor unions, attorneys and developers, all poised to reap the promises that lead to corruption and uncontrolled expense in government. We have seen all this before. The State of Connecticut as well as the City of New Haven can not allow this "sham man" to go on. My vote is for anybody but Mayor Johnnie!!!

Posted by: joe quincy | June 23, 2006 10:50 AM

The Malloy campaign has a lot of gall. However this went down, they put the words in this guys mouth. The endorsement never happened - there was never even a vote. Disapointing to say the least.

Posted by: hey now | June 25, 2006 2:24 AM

Steve, what you said was awfully out of order. I'm sure you have the moral authority to decide whether DeStefano should use his father's memory in an ad. I'm sure you do.

I don't agree with DeStefano on everything, and I still have some reservations about the Coliseum. But you shouldn't say things like that. You in turn just throw rhetoric in the gutter and everyone forgets what's really happening.

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