Connecticut Local Politics

Enfield: Mayor Tallarita Not Running

by Genghis Conn · June 5th, 2007, 6:49 am · 16 Comments

The Courant reports that Enfield Mayor Pat Tallarita won’t seek re-election:

Tallarita, 44, said Monday he wants to spend more time with his family and also plans to seek higher office in the future. He said it’s a decision he made a long time ago and waited until this week to announce.

Tallarita, a three-term Democrat on the town council, would not say which higher office he intends to seek but said he felt it would be unfair to the town and the council to get re-elected to one office and then seek another one in the middle of his term.

“This is not something that is coming out of the blue,” said Tallarita, who is serving his second term as mayor. “This is something my family and I have known for more than two years.” (Smith)

The timing is pretty interesting, coming just after a reported dust up in Shaw’s with another Democrat and allegations of an ongoing corruption investigation.

What higher office is Tallarita interested in? Well, assuming that both of the Democratic State Representatives stay in office, I would imagine he’s interested in challenging State Sen. John Kissel (R). We’ll see.

In the meantime, it’s unclear who will be leading Enfield Democrats into the next election, and who will replace Tallarita on the ticket (these are two different things–the mayor is elected by the council majority). The former is most likely going to be Deputy Mayor Ken Hilinski, the latter obviously has yet to be determined.

Source
Smith, Larry. “Tallarita Announces He Won’t Seek Re-Election.” Hartford Courant 5 June, 2007.

Tags: Municipal Elections · Towns and Cities

16 responses so far ↓

  • 1 MikeCT // Jun 5, 2007 at 7:07 am ·

    Patrick Tallarita — the Enfield mayor and state Labor Department official who is among the subjects of a political corruption investigation by the Chief State’s Attorney — went on a checkout-line rampage at Shaw’s Supermarket Memorial Day, threatening a witness and scaring young children as he screamed and made an obscene gesture.

    He could always find work as an enforcer for DeLuca.

  • 2 Mr. Reality // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:07 am ·

    Speaking of disgraced public officials, isn’t this what John Rowland went to jail for? Actuall does anyone really know what he went to jail for other than being a really bad guy?

    On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton was challenged by the press about the Clinton family’s acceptance of more than $900,000 in free private travel from Infousa, a company linked to scamming the elderly.

  • 3 Headless Horseman // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:13 am ·

    What’s the big deal… he sounds like your typical centered Democrat.

  • 4 Mr. Reality // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:17 am ·

    I’m sure people will disregard what Hillary has done…proving once again that people determine rwhat is right and wrong based on the letter next to their name.

  • 5 Mr. Reality // Jun 5, 2007 at 9:48 am ·

    In line with alleged corrupted officals like Tallarita. Does anyone know if Rep. Murphy and Courtney have called upon William Jefferson to resign following his indictment? Or do they too just do that to Republicans?

  • 6 toucan // Jun 5, 2007 at 10:52 am ·

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s hopes of avoiding prison in the CIA leak case began to dim Tuesday as a federal judge ruled he could face a longer sentence because the investigation he obstructed was so serious.

    Let’s see what the sock puppets have to say about this one.

    http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CIA_LEAK_TRIAL?SITE=VTBRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

  • 7 The Dude // Jun 5, 2007 at 11:47 am ·

    I don’t understand… why would the Dems in that district support Tallerita running in the first place at this point? He isn’t fit to be the mayor of Enfield, but the Democratic constituency would get behind his run for Senate…seems unlikely. If there was any kind of primary he would go down.

    That doesn’t even address the issue of a Democrat beating Kissel, who has been pretty strong. I think if a Dem is going to have any shot against Kissel it will need to be someone without this type of scandal on their record. My pick would be a local business or community leader unconnected to these recent shenannigans.

  • 8 theeble // Jun 5, 2007 at 1:49 pm ·

    [quote comment="11722"]That doesn’t even address the issue of a Democrat beating Kissel, who has been pretty strong. I think if a Dem is going to have any shot against Kissel it will need to be someone without this type of scandal on their record. My pick would be a local business or community leader unconnected to these recent shenannigans.[/quote]

    Kissel barely won his past 2 elections. I remember on election night, the televisions were reporting that his race was too close to call and they didn’t call it until the following day.

  • 9 toucan // Jun 5, 2007 at 1:54 pm ·

    “People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem,” U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said.

    Walton did not set a date for Libby to report to prison. Though he saw no reason to let Libby remain free pending appeal, Walton said he would accept written arguments on the issue and rule later.

    Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino, accompanying President Bush on Air Force One from the Czech Republic to Germany Tuesday, told reporters that Bush “felt terrible for the family, especially for his wife and kids.”

    She said Bush would comment no further on the case at this time.

    Cheney issued a statement saying he was “deeply saddened by this tragedy.”

    http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CIA_LEAK_TRIAL?SITE=CAACS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

  • 10 The Dude // Jun 5, 2007 at 2:07 pm ·

    [quote comment="11732"][quote comment="11722"]That doesn’t even address the issue of a Democrat beating Kissel, who has been pretty strong. I think if a Dem is going to have any shot against Kissel it will need to be someone without this type of scandal on their record. My pick would be a local business or community leader unconnected to these recent shenannigans.[/quote]

    Kissel barely won his past 2 elections. I remember on election night, the televisions were reporting that his race was too close to call and they didn’t call it until the following day.[/quote]

    Ok- so…what’s your point. It was a close race and he won. This means we should just run any Democrat? I think it means he’s beatable and we should run someone good. Agree?

  • 11 The Caucus Room // Jun 5, 2007 at 2:24 pm ·

    The Speaker of the House turns tail and runs out of the back door of Don Williams’ office rather than face Cafero and DeLuca. More on the Caucus Room.

  • 12 toucan // Jun 5, 2007 at 2:30 pm ·

    Maybe Amann didn’t want to run the risk of being roughed up if he pissed off Louie the Liar during the negotaitions.

  • 13 disgruntled_republican // Jun 5, 2007 at 2:48 pm ·

    [quote comment="11736"][quote comment="11732"][quote comment="11722"]That doesn’t even address the issue of a Democrat beating Kissel, who has been pretty strong. I think if a Dem is going to have any shot against Kissel it will need to be someone without this type of scandal on their record. My pick would be a local business or community leader unconnected to these recent shenannigans.[/quote]

    Kissel barely won his past 2 elections. I remember on election night, the televisions were reporting that his race was too close to call and they didn’t call it until the following day.[/quote]

    Ok- so…what’s your point. It was a close race and he won. This means we should just run any Democrat? I think it means he’s beatable and we should run someone good. Agree?[/quote]

    Theeble – I thought the consensus was that Kiner was “good”? Guess not good enough. I also recall Kiner conceding around 9:30ish that night too so what TV were you watching? Eh, that doesn’t matter.

    The Dude is right. Tallarita would have a mighty hard time beating Kissel; much harder than Kiner has had trying to. And lets be honest; With the make-up of the district, particularly with the R’s in Somers, Suffield and Granby canceling out any D margin in Enfield, it will be hard for any Dem to knock Kissel off now that Kiner hasn’t. That is one of the benefits to being an incumbent during a re-districting. :)

  • 14 theeble // Jun 5, 2007 at 3:23 pm ·

    My point had nothing to do with Tallarita, but rather about the comment that Kissel “has been pretty strong.”

  • 15 The Dude // Jun 5, 2007 at 3:30 pm ·

    [quote comment="11747"]My point had nothing to do with Tallarita, but rather about the comment that Kissel “has been pretty strong.”[/quote]

    Fair enough. I honestly don’t have the same recollection do you, I was a Kiner supporter and followed his campaign somewhat– I seem to remember what DR did.

  • 16 Genghis Conn // Jun 5, 2007 at 5:30 pm ·

    Kiner was very good in 2004–and less so in 2006. In both cases, he was a strong candidate, and Kissel defeated him. Tallarita might be able to make a race of it against him, but he would have to do very well indeed to defeat him. I don’t see it happening right now.

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