New Haven Independent

The Republican looking to push Meyer out of a job had a challenge of his own ringing bells on a quiet cul de sac in Branford: letting people know who he was.

“Hi. I am Ryan Suerth. I am doing a little politicking today,” he said, his voice upbeat, as a man opened the door.

“And what are you running for?” the man asked.

State Senate, Suerth said.

“Okay,” the voter said, noncommittal. He took a flyer, and Suerth moved on to the next door.

Suerth and Meyer have been hustling this fall to introduce themselves and turn noncommittal voters into supporters all over the 12th State Senate district. Meyer, a Democrat, has represented the district in Hartford since defeating William Aniskovich in a 2004 upset in the aftermath of Republican Gov. John Rowland’s corruption scandal.

In a year where most state legislators have only token opposition, or none at all, Meyer and Suerth have been engaged in an old-fashioned door-knocking contest in which neither is taking votes for granted along the through streets, cul-de-sacs and trailer parks of Killingworth, Branford, North Branford, Guilford, Madison and Durham.

A Second Legislative Career

Neither candidate enters a neighborhood blindly. Each has printouts of the voters they are planning to visit. Before they ring a bell, they know names, age and political affiliation. The objective: the unaffiliated voter, the largest category of voters in the 12th Senate District as well as in the state.

In a state where incumbents barely campaign, Meyer’s taking his race as a serious challenge.

As he walked from house to house in the Jensen trailer park one recent sunny day, he observed that most residents will listen but typically are silent on how they will vote. During the course of several hours, some residents invited him into their living rooms. Some out walking their dogs smiled and shook his hand and promised to vote for him.

“I’m running as your state senator. I hope you will consider me,” Meyer told one newcomer to the trailer park.

“I am not a good Republican,” the voter replied. ” I am mad at the Republicans.”

Meyer asked if the man was registered to vote. (He was.) They schmoozed for a bit. As they said their good-byes, Meyer handed him a goodie bag prepared by his wife Patty Ann. It contains a pen and a pad and a blue magic grip jar opener pad with Meyer’s name on it.

Meyer had help with his introductions. Accompanying him on walk was Kathleen Amoia, whom everyone seemed to know from her work on the mobile park’s association and the local Democratic Party. She introduced Meyer to her neighbors.

Meyer, a New York state assemblyman in the 1970s, is relaxed and easy going on the trail. He is an experienced hand, but he can remember how difficult it was when he first started out.

At age 73, Meyer, who is a retired attorney, often tells residents that unlike other legislators he can work for his constituents full-time. The Connecticut legislature, which starts in January, is part-time, so most legislators hold other jobs.

In four years Meyer has emerged as a leader at the Capitol. He is deputy majority whip and the chair of two key committees: Environment and Children’s Services and heads Program Review and Investigations. He is vice-chair of General Administration and Elections. He has tackled environmental issues, property taxes and educational funding.

He speaks about his frustration with the legislature on the key issue of the campaign —property taxes and education funding, issues tied at the hip — at a recent shoreline conference on property tax reform. He has said that nothing short of citizen rebellion will budge the boys in Hartford on this issue.

A Maiden Run

Suerth understands well the power of incumbency and what he must try to overcome. He began knocking on doors in July and estimates he has visited 2,000 homes. As the newcomer, he is looking for what Meyer already has: name and face recognition.

Suerth, 33, is a lawyer who practices in Hamden. While this is his first campaign for public office, he served as a legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons in Washington, D.C.He also served as an attorney in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps for four years, representing soldiers at trials and in appeals. One year was spent in Iraq, where he served as legal advisor to an infantry unit. Last year he moved to Madison with his family. His wife, Sarah, is a teacher in the Guilford school system.

Suerth told the Eagle that after he returned from Iraq he wanted to continue the tradition of public service. Suerth also said the legislature is lopsided and needs more Republicans. Like Meyer he is using public financing for his campaign, which means neither is taking funds from lobbyists or other interest groups.

For both candidates the issue they hear most about are the paltry sums shoreline towns receive from Hartford for public education, a fact that drives the property tax up and in some cases forces residents to sell their homes. This issue is now front and center as Branford faces a 2009 revaluation.

Focus On Education Dollars

At a forum for the candidates on Oct. 22 sponsored by the Branford Chamber of Commerce, Meyer and Suerth were asked their views on how to change the educational funding formula that directly affects property taxes.

Meyer observed that a bill that would require a $1,000 floor per student (the typical cost per child is about $11,000 annually) has failed several times to beome law. Meyer observed that cities receive far more money. “The proficiency standards in the urban schools are poor. I view the money somewhat as a sinkhole. The commissioner of education is fighting for much higher standards in those schools. That is good.”

He said that an effort by the General Assembly last year to raise state funding for all Connecticut schools did pass. It applied to both cities and towns. But he said that that bill, “which was going in the right direction, was unfortunately vetoed by Gov. Rell.”

When Suerth’s turn came, he decided to take on Meyer directly. He said that Meyer hasn’t done enough to change the amount of funds towns receive from the state.

“You talk about this progressive income tax that you voted for and you blame Gov. Rell for vetoing it. You will remember you were actually opposed to this bill before you voted for it,” he charged.

“And I really don’t believe that the amount of income tax increase would have come back to the towns in any real way as far as property taxes are concerned… Raising taxes is not the answer. We do not get our fair share in Branford and in the other towns. We should not give up on this one.”

In the end, Meyer responded, “the graduated income tax has served our country very, very well. It is our way out of this. Taxing people based on their ability to pay, driving more money to the schools and thus relieving the property tax: It is a direction that I am really going to fight for.”

Suerth said he believes that finding a better way to distribute the school tax dollar under the current state formula is the way to go. “You need someone who will push the envelope beyond $1,000,” he declared.

Meyer pointed out that since he took over (from Aniskovich) Branford has received more than $400,000 in state education funds. John Prins, a member of the Branford Board of Education confirmed that, saying in a recent letter to the editor in The Sound that Meyer managed to get the money “in spite of a convoluted and arcane funding system that stacks the deck against our town.”

Closing The Deal

Not many residents were home at the Branford cul-de-sac. So Suerth left them a note.

One woman a longtime Branford resident, was out sweeping up leaves. “I always vote Republican,” she said, adding she cast her first vote when Dwight Eisenhower ran for President in 1952. “I just pull the party lever.”

Back in the trailer park, Joe, who was leaning toward the GOP in the national election but had concerns about John McCain’s age, seemed to come around. It helped that Meyer was accompanied by Kathleen Amoia. Joe was happy to see her.

As Meyer and Amoia were about to leave, he asked her: “Why aren’t you running for this seat?” You would get my vote.”

She laughed. Joe looked at Meyer. “You might just benefit from knowing her,” he said, smiling.

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