Republicans
New Britain’s Blue Wave
Excitement and enthusiasm reverberated in New Britain after the results of the 2018 election showed a blue wave of Democratic wins locally.
“Purple” Claim Sparks Controversy
People in the New Britain community are weighing Republican State Representative candidate Sharon Beloin-Saavedra’s claim that she is a “purple” candidate, and whether the claim makes them trust her more or less. Beloin-Saavedra is the Republican candidate for the Twenty-Fourth Assembly District in the 2018 elections. The district represents several neighborhoods in New Britain and […]
Candidates Turn Attention to November After Primaries
New Britain residents were on hand to a “unity rally” that the Democratic statewide and Congressional candidates held less than a week after the August 14th primaries. The rally was held at Minuteman Park, near the State Capitol in Hartford on August 18th. With the crowded field of candidates having been narrowed by Democratic and […]
Paul Manafort Dr. Name Changed to Add “Sr.”
The state online newspaper CTNewJunkie reports that Republican Mayor Erin Stewart changed the name of Paul Manafort Dr. to Paul Manafort Sr. Dr. CTNewsJunkie reported that Stewart ordered the change, which was carried out with a change in street signs early in the morning on on Wednesday, August 15th. CTNewsJunkie quoted Stewart as saying that the […]
Hayes Wins NB and Nomination, Stewart Loses Despite NB Votes
Waterbury educator Jahana Hayes won more votes from New Britain Democrats than former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman, helping Hayes in her victory in the August 14, 2018 primary for the Democratic nomination for the Fifth Congressional District. Meanwhile Republican Mayor Erin Stewart was defeated in her campaign to be the Republican nominee for Lieutenant […]
Candidates and Polling Places for August 14, 2018 Primaries
On Tuesday, August 14th, Democratic and Republican voters will go to polls to choose their parties’ nominees for numerous offices up for election in 2018. Democrats will be able to choose between businessman Ned Lamont and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim to be the Democratic nominee for Governor. Democrats will be able to choose separately in […]
Republican Accusations Thrown Out: Merrill Gay Vindicated
The State Elections Enforcement Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by New Britain Republicans against 2017 Democratic Mayoral candidate Merrill Gay, saying, “the facts do not support the allegations.” As the 2017 mayoral election was heating up, Republican Party Chair Anthony Cane filed a complaint with a series accusations that sought to tie Gay with […]
Stewart-Trump Meeting Sparks Ire Among New Britain Residents and Renewed Questions
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s meeting with fellow Republican, President Donald Trump, has drawn the ire among New Britain residents and questions about her sincerity in distancing herself from the widely reviled Republican President. Stewart visited Trump on February 14, 2018, CTMirror reported, “to publicize tax incentives available to investors in struggling communities designated as Opportunity […]
Top 10 of 2017: #7 – Republican Partisan Gambit in Old City Council Raised Meeting Legality Questions
Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2017. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at […]
Magnuszewski Elected as City Council’s Top Leader
In its first meeting of its new term, the City Council has elected Democratic At-Large Alderwoman Eva Magnuszewski (D-AL) to its top position, the President Pro-Tempore. The President Pro Tempore of the City Council is the official leader of the Council. The President Pro Tempore is also effectively the deputy mayor of the city, being second […]
Newly Elected City Council to Select Its Leadership
The newly elected New Britain City Council will hold its first meeting on November 15, 2017, and its first task is the selection of its leaders from among its fifteen members. The many changes in the membership of the Council, after voters, in the November 7th elections, changed the Council from a 12 to 3 […]
At Large City Council Candidates Discuss Education, Economy and Water
Current Democratic Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-3) is joined by fellow Democrats, Eva Magnuszewski, Yvonne Muniz, Katie Breslin and Richard Reyes as the Democratic candidates for At-Large City Council members, facing Republican Desiree Costa and incumbent Republicans Tremell Collins (R-AL), Jim Sanders, Jr. (R-AL) and Daniel Davis (R-AL) and the Republican Council Leader Daniel Salerno (R-AL). […]
Ward 2 Candidates Discuss Serving New Britain’s East Side
Democrats Lamar Bowsky and Brian Keith Albert are discussing improvements to the city economy and community services for the people of New Britain’s East Side in their challenge to first-term incumbent Republicans Jerrell Hargraves (R-2) and Kristian Rosado (R-2) in the City Council elections in Ward 2. New Britain’s Ward 2 elects two members of the […]
Ward 1 City Council Candidates
The City Council election in New Britain’s Ward 1 is between two incumbent Republicans and two Democratic challengers. Democrats Veronica T. DeLandro and Molly McGuire are taking on Ald. Jamie Giantonio (R-1) and Ald. Wilfredo Pabon (R-1), two of the city’s longest-serving Council members. Ten of the fifteen members of the City Council are elected from […]
Republican Partisan Gambit Raises Meeting Legality Questions
The attempt by members of the City Council elected as Republicans to claim different party affiliations than they were elected as has raised the question of whether the Republican Party’s caucus on the City Council may have been holding unlawful meetings. State law requires that meetings of a majority of City Council members must be […]
Merrill Gay and other Democrats Call for Unity Against Trump’s Support of White Supremacists
Democratic Mayoral Candidate, Merrill Gay, the New Britain Democratic Party and local Democratic slate are calling for unity in New Britain against Republican President Donald Trump’s support for white supremacists. Gay, Democratic Town Committee Chair Bill Shortell and other Democratic candidates are calling on local Republicans who have supported Trump to do so as well. “Last […]
Major Inaccuracies in City Journal Article on School System Salaries
Major inaccuracies appeared in a recent article by the Republican-oriented New Britain City Journal in which City Hall Republicans attacked a decision by the Republican-led Board of Education on administrative staff salaries. In an editorial, the City Journal, closely allied with Republican Mayor Erin Stewart, criticized the decision of the Board of Education on three […]
GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall
By John McNamara The sometimes fragile relations between City Hall and the Board of Education took a backward step this week over complaints from Ward 2 Republican Alderman Kristian Rosado appearing in the New Britain City Journal. Rosado, in a front-page story in the City Journal, derided a unanimous BOE move on salary increases for […]
Amid Growing Questions and a Democratic Resolution, Stewart and Council Republicans Abandon Patton Brook Sale
In the wake of mounting questions about why Republican Mayor Erin Stewart sold the Patton Brook Well while the city knew it was facing significant drought conditions, and a City Council resolution, originally offered by the three Democratic Council members, to revoke the sale, the Republican mayor and the Council’s Republicans are abandoning her plan to sell […]
Republicans Pass Over Violet Sims for Board of Education
Press Pool Story Dozens of city residents attended the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 25th, in support of Violet Jiménez Sims to fill the vacancy on the Board of Education left by the passing of Democrat Judy Greco. Speakers at the public session before the meeting overwhelmingly favored Sims, the candidate nominated by city Democrats to […]