New Haven Independent

Posted by: Webblog 1 | April 16, 2008 2:25 PM

These two bozzo's can't even relate a clear and consistent message.

This is no competition Bill, Anyone else interested.....?

Posted by: Alex Kitner | April 16, 2008 2:32 PM

Okay so he agrees with Dyson. He admits Dyson is his mentor. He was Dyson's intern in Hartford.

Dyson isn't even out of the scene and Winfield is running against him? Com'on!

Is this the best candidate that district can field? I respect you and you are my mentor, but gee, I am running against you?

All I know is Blango is going to crush Winfield. If Blango wasn't running he sure will now.

Posted by: Charlie | April 16, 2008 5:19 PM

Dyson has been an effective legislator for years so I don't see a need to replace him unless he wants to retire. He's also been an independent thinker and while that has gotten him in trouble at times, he has been consistent in that he speaks the truth and is not a yes man. Winfield seems an unknown so who knows what he will be like. On the other hand, we've seen Blango in action. The last thing we need is another yes man who can't think for himself and is considered a "loyalist" to everyone but the voters who elect him to office!

Posted by: Rob | April 16, 2008 6:36 PM

I'd caution the Independent or anyone else from having a too-simplistic understanding of politics.

Blango voted for Jorge Perez for President of the Board - against "DeStefano loyalist" Carl Goldfield. When Gary was on the Democratic Town Committee, he voted for "DeStefano loyalist" Susie Voigt and to nominate DeStefano for another term as mayor. And Bill Dyson is the only state rep left (the other two died) who was at DeStefano's 2001 campaign kick-off when Senator Looney challenged him - Dyson emceed the event.

Obviously all find themselves in slightly different places today, but as Charlie Blango likes to say: "In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests."

Terms like "administration loyalist" (ahem, which administration? how're our reps voting in relationship to the Rell Administration's anti-urban agenda?) or "anti-machine candidate" don't even accurately capture the present, much less reflect past track-records or provide a clue to the future.

On "permanent interests," Dyson clearly has the track-record (at least for his first twenty years in office...). No one works harder than Blango, and he's shown many times how stupid it is to underestimate his intelligence. Holder-Winfield, well, I'm curious to see.

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | April 16, 2008 6:41 PM

I wonder if there will be a political cost to Bill Dyson's support for Joe Lieberman, (yes all the way to the November elections), coupled with his endorsement of Hillary Clinton instead of Obama.

In both cases he sided with an entrenched status quo against the forces of change, and it makes one wonder where the "independent" Dyson is really coming from.

Anyway, it should be noted that Dyson is on the proverbial "outs" up at the Statehouse, and perhaps the New Haven delegation would be better off with new blood. Blango might not be perfect, but I think he'd go well with our other state representatives.

If Dyson were to lose the primary, does anyone think he'll run on the CT for Lieberman ticket in the fall?

Posted by: 2faced | April 16, 2008 10:23 PM

To ROB and TRUEBLUCT give us a break both of you either live in the burbs and don't know your elbow from your knee or you are obvious town cryers for Johnny! Charles Blango has been tapped by the mayor to run for an office that he could not control under DYSON's watch. He has already talked about the need to have lobbyist activley find additional funds for us; with an emphasis on extra funding for the BOE...I guess building all these damn magnet schools and losing a percentage of the funding on a federal level...wasn't the greatest idea and now Johnny has to take his democratic side-show on the road to HARTFORD! I am curious to know if either of you are from his ward or do you lock your doors as you speed through the neighborhood.
The irony of Blango's concern for ex-offenders never prompted him to address this major issue on a city level. DYSON has been lobbying legislation that could provide ex-offenders with the necessary resources and direct servcies to help them transition into the community-at- large. Unfortunately, the mayor nor any of his flunkies have actively participated in this effort...but stay tuned because this summer BLANGO will have to get out of that TIGHT SUIT and finally walk door to door!
Each year the mayor finds a new hustle to divert our attention from his inability to be fiscally responsible for our annual budget. Last year it was the youth...this year he has finally decided to address the issues with the ex-offenders...If BLANGO really wants to do something for New Haven...he would ask his best friend-Johnny to stop ticking the Governor off and maybe she could shake a few more dollars off that tree to help us fix the damn city deficit! We know you could do that BLANGO---You have traveled to DC with him, he got you a job at the BOE and as our property taxes went up, you recieved a $10,000 raise and were promoted to Director of the Truancy Department! Your hand always washes his other;what a perfect illustration of Johnmocracy!

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | April 17, 2008 5:26 AM

Rob:

When I was on the town committee who was running against Susie? If you have paid attention I have written editorials about how Susie and the administration are wrong in their handling of the town committee. That does not sound to me like someone just going along as usual in New Haven.

Yes, I think that you can disagree with people and work with them on issues where you have agreement - call me crazy.

And, about Bill...I respect the man. He has spent three decades working for the city. Wether you always agree with him or not you have to respect that. But respecting him does not mean that we don't have some significant differences either. Bill supported Lieberman I worked to help get Lamont out there, he supports Hilary I organized the Black leaders in the state to come together for Obama ( see a NHI story on that). On a more local level yes we work on the same issues a lot but I am also in the street and believe that I need to be directly connected to the people I hope to serve . Sympathy does not equal understanding. In my opinion that is why many well meaning legislators create programs to help that are ineffective.

I have disagreed in public with the mayor on many issues even working with some of his opponents at various times but when the mayor said last summer that he needed help on the issues surrounding violence in the city I offered my resources at the state level and to lobby for the city on issues gratis because I understand that there are bigger issues than our disagreements.

Anyway, before you perform a hit job try to find out the person you are discussing really is.

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | April 17, 2008 5:35 AM

By the way Rob since you are trying to paint me someone who will vote for Destefano and Susie why don't you ask Jorge who worked to help him, organizing people should he decide to goo forward, when he was considering the run against Susie even showing up to push for it when Jorge had changed his mind.

No one who is honest can use "administration loyalist" and my name together. I have always been loyal to the people I work to help not the administration.

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | April 17, 2008 6:05 AM

One more thing before you all comment -
The mayors race was in 2005 and I had to leave the town committee in January of '05 to deal with family issues (I would not have had the adequate time and it was better that someone who did be there). Since I left in January how could I have voted to nominate him at the convention after that? Not possible.

Posted by: eastshoreguy | April 17, 2008 8:01 AM

Perhaps after 16 years its time for bill dyson to go. what has he done lately for any of us?

Posted by: Charlie | April 17, 2008 8:02 AM

Gary: Don't know much about you but I liked your responses and can now understand your logic in running against Dyson. I still like Dyson, but at least you shed some light on your motives and I respect that. As for all this recent concern regarding ex-offenders, 2faced is on target, the City -- and the Board of Aldermen -- have done nothing on this issue. Now Mayor Johnny wants to "fix the problem" by getting the state to give him money. If there is anything we know about City Hall's attemtps to provide services, when they do so, they screw things up in a hurry. They have no expertise, no commitment to serve people, or work ethic. Case in point: anyone remember that "Bridges" project the City took over? Total waste of money where nothing meaningful came out of it. Let folks like Project MORE, STRIVE or the Family Alliance, who have been working with these folks before it became fashionable (meaning lots of funding)do the work. At least they have the expertise and commitment. If you want good services, keep the City away from them.

Posted by: donna | April 17, 2008 8:34 AM

here we go again...king john and queen susie quitely do there thing and come up with people to go against people who do not nod there heads in a yes position....they do this in every ward in the city...dyson unless you want to give up your seatfor what ever reason and let these two crackerjacks run against each other..you are a good man and did a lot of good for all of us...

Posted by: andy b | April 17, 2008 8:42 AM

Blango is now doing the same dirty work for John D. that Puriette Silverman did a few years ago by running against Patricia Dillion out here in westvile. I don't always agree with Dyson, but i know he's not a Destefano Crony, so i like him

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | April 17, 2008 9:02 AM

So, I am unknown to some of you. I could give you a bio and then list all of what I have been doing or give you a taste by directing you to my posting on MyLeftNutmeg. Anyway, that should give you a sense of who I am.

Posted by: What | April 17, 2008 10:06 AM

Gary,

We all know who you are. We see your kind everyday here in New Haven. You come here from out of town with some "holier than thou, I'll teach you dumb New Haveners something" attitude. Bill Dyson has served his community with distinction for many years, and those of us who have grown up in that community will not forget or abandon him for some carpetbagger. If the only difference you have with Dyson is that he supported Lieberman and Clinton, and you did not, so what. A lot of us did not support your candidates, for good reason. Lamont, once he won the democratic primary, immediately began sounding like a regular politician, backtracking on a plege to immediately get out of Iraq, among other "nuanced" changes. I voted for him in the primary, but voted for Lieberman in the general. Obama speaks well, but doesn't say a whole lot. When he does say something off message, he eventually sticks his foot in it.

I will work for Dyson for free, everyday, to defeat the likes of you and Blango.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | April 17, 2008 12:29 PM

What
Is not the judas Joe sell Lieberman a carpetbagger? May be you need some one outside of new haven to come in and teach,After all it makes me wonder why new havens keep puting in king John
and his collection of puppets!!!

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | April 17, 2008 1:19 PM

What,

I did not just get into town and I do not think I am holier than anyone. As a matter of fact you will never find me saying anything like that. I don't know why you would suggest that as nothing I have ever said indicates such a position on my part.

I never suggested that there was soemthing inherently wrong about those who did not support my candidates. I also did not suggest that anyone here should support who I support (although of course I would prefer that) I was simply pointing out a set of differences.

What I provide here is a choice. You don't have to like that choice. As the campaign progresses I will lay out my positions and then you can decide. I am not here to call you names or castigate anyone, that's not my politics. I wish it were the same for everyone.

By the way, if you think that Bill is so on point ask him this question - does he think I am a carpetbagger?

Posted by: donna | April 17, 2008 1:44 PM

Blango i've seen you at many political functions with king john...all you need is the pointed hat on your head...JOKER...he has you allin his pocket..something goes wrong watch out..i

Posted by: This is funny | April 17, 2008 2:14 PM

Isn't this a ploy on Dyson's part? Dyson can't beat Blango one-on-one, Blango has essentially already locked up the nomination and now Dyson will have to primary Blango in order to be reelected. Dyson convinced Gary to run now to split the anti Dyson vote and ensure Dyson wins (BTW, Dyson voted against the gun reporting law, against a state EITC, against, expanded healthcare coverage, against additional pilot monies and on and on - he is now friend of New haven. He is just pissed that King John didn't lobby hard for him to be speaker a few turns ago.

Posted by: 2faced | April 17, 2008 3:37 PM

GARY HOLDER-WINFIELD...Let it go! We understood your intentions...enough already! Must you continue to sound off about your intentions and your track record! Save it for your DOOR TO DOOR activities! I wish you could understand the dynamic of this political playing field.
Eventhough, your heart appears to be in the right place...you stand to split the vote 3 ways...understanding by doing so you are doing Johnny a huge favor...he will use this to propel BLANGO's campaign! Sometimes we have to think of the impact of our actions prior to stepping out. Can we really afford another Mayorial flunkie at the state capitol?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | April 17, 2008 6:50 PM

This is funny
Your right Blanco, he has it in the bag. I have heard a few good things Dyson (but did not know some that you mentioned), so I am not in any way knocking him. But as a citizen I want to ask how are his out look on the city as a whole. I believe that Blanco has the big picture in mind not just a few small groups and areas. And I would say that about others up for re-elction.

Posted by: Alex Kitner | April 18, 2008 7:26 AM

Holder-Winfield is getting in the race because Dyson wants options. Options on splitting the vote and an option to get out of the race.

Never forget Dyson lost his bid for Speaker because he only asked about 25 people in Hartford to suport. The rest he just felt an "entitlement" that they would support him becuase of his steadfast, long-time support to Speaker Lyons (bad strategy there!).

Dyson knows what he wants to do. Dyson does not want to go out and petition so this Gary person jumps in the race.

If nothing else it makes for some good drama.

This is funny and Cedarhill you are both right on the mark with your comments.