Norwich Bulletin: “Farrell Is the Better Choice.”

Republican candidate for Secretary of the State Jerry Farrell puts one up on the newspaper editorial tote board with a Valentine from the Norwich Bulletin.  Though it doesn’t dwell on it, the paper sounds in a long paragraph like it’s still stung by its contentious and unsatisfactory encounter with Democrat Denise Merrill in the run-up to August’s primary.  There’s some emphasis on issues Attorney Merrill would prefer to duck:  her role in the state’s continuing budget calamity.  She served as co-chair of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee before winning her current job as House Majority Leader, repeating her summer mantra on the budget, “it’s not my problem anymore.”

Mr. Farrell, who serves as the Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, supports direct primaries.  Representative Merrill, according to the editorial, does not.  She’s also no fan of giving equal access to the state’s lavish public financing of political campaigns to third-parties and independent candidates.  She does like her insider privileges.