At least 38 fellow city payrollees ponied up money to help Charles Blango get elected to the state House of Representatives.
Blango (pictured at a campaign event) is one of two candidates competing in an Aug. 12 primary to replace 94th District State Rep. Bill Dyson, an independent-minded City Hall critic retiring after 32 years in office.
Blango, who won the party machine’s endorsement at a nominating convention, faces a challenge by activist Gary Holder-Winfield.
Both candidates filed campaign finance reports Friday with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
A Newhallville alderman and an employee of the Board of Education, Blango is the favorite of political insiders and others dependent on City Hall for their livelihoods. His most recent campaign finance statement reflects that fact: At least 38 city government employees, lobbyists or contractors contributed to Blango’s $5,210.15 total contributions as of June 23. they included top mayoral appointees such as Development Administrator Kelly Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts, housing authority Chief Karen DuBois-Walton and, presumably, deputy economic development chief Christine Bonanno (listed in the report as “Chastine Buranno”).
Of the 38, at least 22, like Blango, receive their paychecks from the Board of Education. Several contributors work alongside Blango in the school system’s truancy office.
Click here to read Blango’s report and see how many government-dependent contributors you can identify.
Willie Greene — a third candidate, who said he plans to file petitions with the state Tuesday to qualify to run for the 94th District Seat in November as an independent — blasted Blango’s city-connected contributions.
“It clearly tells me that you’ve got the Board of Education and the city administration running Charlie as they have in the past,” Greene said.
Blango begged to differ. He noted that over 230 people gave him money. All but “seven or eight” live in the district, he said.
“My basic money did not come from the Board of Ed,” he said. “My money came from voters, resident voters.”
Many contributors gave in the $10 range. Candidates need to raise 150 contributions from the district of at least $5, and a total of $5,000, to qualify for $25,000 in public financing.
If Blango’s contributions are certified to count toward that goal, that means he’ll receive public financing.
So will Holder-Winfield, if his reported contributions list pans out. His campaign reported raising $5,640 from around 200 people. About 180 live in the district, according to Holder-Winfield (pictured at a campaign pre-canvas cook-out Sunday).
Many of the contributors gave the $5 minimum. The list included professors from area campuses like Southern Connecticut State University and Gateway; incumbent Dyson; Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards; local peace activists; Gateway President Dorsey Kendrick; Jason Turner, senior pastor of Community Baptist Church; and gadfly Gary Doyens.
Click here to view Holder-Winfield’s report and see what other bold-faced names jump out.
You can ad me and my family. I got their real late on Friday. Gary has been an amazing advocate in many causes that effect the residents of this city. He is the candidate that has the Hartford experience that we need. Good Luck Gary I know Cedar Hill is their for you!!