Sen. Harris
Seeking “Other Office”
Photo credit: General Assembly
Posted 4/5/10
This year the media spotlight in Connecticut is on the U.S. senate race and the gubernatorial race, and it’s perceived those contests are hot because that’s where the power lies. While these two campaigns boast numerous candidates, some politicians are setting their sights on other offices—the other constitutionally-created offices that fill out party tickets in the fall campaigns.
The offices in question are: state attorney general, secretary of the state, state comptroller, state treasurer, and lieutenant governor.
In the old days, when party bosses (aka party chairs) had real power, you didn’t really run for the party’s nomination for any of these offices, you quietly expressed your interest, then waited until state convention time to see if you’d be chosen by the brass.
The candidates for these offices weren’t selected for their credentials: most competent lawyer, most expert fiscal whiz, most enthusiastic elections official. Instead they were picked by the party chiefs because they theoretically helped “balance” the ticket by gender, race, religion, or geography within the state.
When the power of party bosses faded in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, ambitious pols who wanted to be something more than a small town mayor, or a state senator, took a close look at the constitutional offices and began low-key campaigns to win the nominations. They travelled from town to town, speaking with potential state convention delegates, often locking up the nomination on paper before the conventions began. Sometimes they even primary to win the nod.
It’s easy to see the power a governor holds, but why would someone spend time and money on a statewide campaign to be secretary of the state, or attorney general? If you play your cards right, the constitutional office can become a springboard to higher office.
The late Ella Grasso, a Democrat and Connecticut’s first woman governor, came to the governorship from a seat in Congress, but prior she’d served as secretary of the state for 12 years, and was very familiar to voters. Her Republican opponent, then Congressman Robert Steele, was not. Grasso won.
In 1988, then Democrat Joseph Lieberman, serving as the state attorney general, took on Republican maverick U.S. Sen. Lowell Weicker. Few pundits gave Lieberman much of a chance. However, Lieberman realized early on as attorney general, that he could use the office to be a consumer crusader, going after unscrupulous businesses and challenging public utilities.
That strategy made Lieberman popular and gave him high name recognition. He ran a tough campaign against Weicker and won.
Now, ambitious politicos look at the Grasso and Lieberman victories and understand that by filling a constitutional office for a while and using it to build an image, they will be poised to make the jump for whatever higher office may become available down the road.
Millionaire candidates may be able to pay for a flood of TV ads to build name recognition in a race for governor or U.S. senator, but nothing “sells” you to the voters like familiarity.
If a secretary of the state can gain publicity for election reform proposals, get-out-the-vote efforts, and helping supervise post-election recounts, that’s all to the good. If a state attorney general can force a shady car dealer to make it right with consumers, or persuade utility regulators the electric company doesn’t deserve that big rate hike—consumers (aka voters) will applaud—and remember, when you seek higher office.
The best example this year is Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. When controversy-plagued Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd was vowing to seek reelection, Republicans were licking their chops. Dodd was vulnerable. The minute Dodd stepped out of the race, Blumenthal jumped in, changing the dynamic overnight.
In the most recent Quinnipiac University poll, Blumenthal led his potential GOP rivals by 33 to 43 percentage points, and he notched an incredible 79% job approval rating among voters. Blumenthal’s critics brand him as “publicity happy”, with his frequent press conferences and lawsuits—but voters believe he is doing his job, and doing it well. Nearly 20 years of experience in the constitutional office of attorney general is paying off.
A host of candidates in both parties are “exploring” or officially vying for the constitutional offices this year. Two more joined the action last week.
State Sen. Jonathan Harris (D-West Hartford) jumped into the race for secretary of the state contending that the post is all about “jobs and democracy” and vowing that if elected, he’d use the office to promote citizen participation in elections and help promote small business growth. Beyond the elections responsibilities, the secretary of the state’s office also oversees business registrations.
Jeffrey Wright, Newington’s Republican mayor, had been pondering a run for governor, but apparently felt the field was too crowded. Last week, Wright decided to close down his gubernatorial committee and jump into the race for the GOP state treasurer nomination. “As state treasurer, I can bring my professional and government experience to help erase the red ink and get Connecticut’s fiscal house in order,” he said.