THREAD

1. @bobforgovernor OP-ED for @WSJ about Hartford clearly struck a nerve as members of the democrat establishment have come out of the woodwork to criticize him. Thus far, the criticisms have all been political and no one has provided a counterfactual.

2. Hartford, like many other Connecticut cities, is a financial mess. The city has not had a Republican Mayor for 50 years since Antonina Uccello, the city’s first female mayor, resigned in 1971 for a Federal Appointment. Before that, the last Republican mayor served in 1948.

3. The history of the common council is similar. E.g. Democrats have controlled the state’s capital for over 50 years and implemented their policies accordingly. You can try to spin it how you want but the results are clear from the economy to crime to education.

4. More recently, the current Mayor of Hartford, Luke Bronin, sought a $550 million dollar bailout from the state. That is not exactly indicative of a city that has been managed effectively. The mill rate and debt are out of control.

5. Are there examples of cities in CT that are run well? Yes. The best run cities in Connecticut are run by Republicans - @erinstewartct in New Britain, Mark Lauretti in Shelton, & until recently Danbury by Mark Boutghton. You can debate policies, you cannot debate the outcomes.