U.S. Representative John B. Larson must also be hearing about the calls. Washington progressives have been hunting for a challenger to the 11-term East Hartford Democrat. Larson fits the profile of Joseph Crowley and Michael Capuano, vintage Democratic congressmen who were defeated in 2018 primaries by energetic campaigns to their left challenging the established order.

Connecticut’s First CD is a temptation to activitists inspired by the New York and Massachusetts victores last year. Larson has made some staff changes and unfurled has renovated operation at his favorite district spot, Hartford’s Peppercorn’s Grille, Thursday night. Here’s the invitation:S

Dear Chief Elected Officials, Business Representatives, and Community Leaders:

I am writing on behalf of Congressman John Larson to invite you to a reception hosted by the Congressman on February 21, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Peppercorn’s Grill, 357 Main Street, Hartford, CT. The Congressman will announce staff changes in his District Office in Hartford, CT and introduce you to members of his district staff. As organizations with established working relationships with our office, the Congressman wants to ensure that you get to know his team, who collectively can assist you with a variety of issues.

We kindly ask that you RSVP to Erica.Fitzpatrick@mail.house.gov by Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. We hope you can stop by for some food and drink!

Best regards,

Conor P. Quinn

Deputy Chief of Staff

Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01)

The 2020 election calendar could be treacherous for Larson. There are no statewide races, so he would be competing in a low turnout summer primary against party activists and other groups he see a clear shot at creating a more modern Democratic Party in the capital region, where their party dominates. Savvy insiders suggest the task of tipping over Larson could be achieved with less $1 million and some enthusiasm for change.

Hartford Democrat Arunan Arulampalam will serve join the Department of Consumer Protection as deputy commissioner, Daily Ructions has learned. He will begin his service to the people of Connecticut on March 8th.

Arulampalam (or Arunan!) as he was known in 2018, ran for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer and made it to the state convention. He made many friends on the campaign trail, which is what smart candidates who are unlikely to win do in their first bid for public office.

Governor Ned Lamont will seek support for his budget proposal on a conference call Wednesday afternoon with local Democratic town committee chairs and state central committee members. The call is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. and will include party chair Nancy Wyman. Wyman was the lieutenant governor for 8 years in the administration responsible for many of the troubles Lamont confronts in his new budget.

The governor’s budget proposal is heavy with regressive taxes that would once have elicited howls from Democrats. Today’s conference call will begin to reveal if Democrats will remain silent as Connecticut residents face more punishment from their state government.

Surrounded by highways, New Britain drivers could face hefty tolls everywhere they turn now that Governor Ned Lamont has broken his pledge for trucks-only tolls. The city is uniquely surrounded by limited access state highways. Two, I-84 and Route 9 have already been targeted by the Department of Transportation for tolls. Lamont’s plan could add Route 72 in his dash for cash.

New Britain voters go to the polls in a week to elect a new state senator.

That was fast. Natalie Wagner’s appointment to a top position in the Lamont administration was announced with fanfare a month ago, but last week a terse email marked her unexplained departure from her new job as deputy secretary at the Office of Policy and Management.

Wagner served in the Malloy administration at OPM, leaving for the private sector. She joined the newly formed Malloy administration, departing from the Hartford law firm Shipman and Goodwin. That firm has recently hired former attorney general George Jepsen and Joette Katz, whose eight years at the Department of Children and Families inflicted a string of brutal failures on the state’s most vulnerable children.

Wagner’s sudden absence from OPM leaves a vacancy as Governor Ned Lamont prepares to reveal his first budget proposal next week.

The Ganim administration is scurrying to find out what’s been going on in city government. An FBI inquiry into scrap metal, as reported by the Connecticut Post, has city officials in a state of anxiety. One high level official is making inquiries to experienced investigators for assistance. The city’s current complement of overseers is thought not to be up to the job. This is beginning to feel like a story with many chapters.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart has reacted on Twitter to the story first reported early Wednesday morning on Daily Ructions of her father’s appalling Tuesday night Facebook comments. Timothy Stewart characterized a photograph of female Democratic legislators as “Bitches in heat!” Erin Stewart has said she is “embarrassed” and “mortified” by the incident.

Timothy Steward is the head of the New Britain Chamber of Commerce, which will have a serious decision to make today.

Timothy Stewart, the former mayor of New Britain and father of the current mayor, shared a misogynist thought on social media on female Democratic members of Congress at Tuesday night’s state of the union address. The Republican took to Facebook to label the photograph “Bitches in heat!”

Mayor Erin Stewart complained about the prominence of white men in Connecticut Republican politics during her 2018 campaigns for governor and lieutenant governor. This may be the attitude that inspired her criticism.

Timothy Stewart heads the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce. Its members may want to confer among themselves about the face they present to the community. Erin Stewart’s third term as mayor ends in November.

Governor Ned Lamont must think Republican legislators don’t celebrate love. The Greenwich Democrat has invited Republican legislators to meet with him at the Governor’s Residence on February 14th from 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. No guests are allowed.

The Valentine’s Day evening invite will make it a challenge for some Republicans to get home or to some romantic setting to celebrate the annual festival of chocolate and roses. The new governor and his budget team may want to use the occasion to whisper budget numbers in Republican ears to prepare them for what’s ahead.

Here’s the invitation from Lamont aide Chris Soto:

Dear Legislators,

On behalf of Governor Ned Lamont, I’m reaching out to invite you to a cocktail reception next Thursday at the residence in Hartford. This is an informal meet & greet for the Republican Caucus to get to know the Governor as we work together to move our state forward. Unfortunately, no additional guests are allowed and we ask that you RSVP by Friday.

We hope you will join us on Thursday, February 14^th, at 990 Prospect Avenue from 5:30-7:00pm. Parking is available on the street. Please RSVP to Amanda.Klay@ct.gov

We look forward to seeing you Thursday!

Best,

Chris