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The Release from Gov. Rell says enough about Bill O’Neill, the last Democratic governor, who once managed his family tavern in East Hampton.

ROUTE 66 TO BE RENAMED AFTER GOV. O’NEILL

Tuesday, 12/1st at 4:00 PM

State Representatives Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton), State Senator Eileen Daily (D-Westbrook), Nikki O’Neill, Governor Bill O’Neill’s widow, and local elected officials will hold a ceremony officially renaming Route 66 in East Hampton the Governor William A. O’Neill Memorial Highway. 

During this year’s legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly voted in favor of Rep. Hamm’s proposal to rename Route 66 after O’Neill who served as Governor of Connecticut from 1980 to 1991.  Gov. O’Neill lived in East Hampton where he owned a popular pub.  He went on to represent East Hampton in the Connecticut House of Representatives and served as Lieutenant Governor from 1978 to 1980.

WHO: Rep. Hamm, Sen. Daily, Nikki O’Neill & local elected officials

WHAT: Ceremony official renaming of Route 66 in East Hampton

WHERE:  Governor’s Tavern, 26 East High Street, East Hampton

WHEN: Tuesday, December 1st, 4:00 p.m.

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Capitol denizens are expecting Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele to launch his bid for governor this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday.

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When it comes to elections, the Blogster believes that the more candidates, the merrier. What could be more fun that four or five Democrats (Susan Bysiewicz, Dan Malloy of Stamford, Jim Amann of Milford, Rudy “Who?” Marconi of Ridgefield, Sen. Gary Lebeau) and a couple or more Republicans (House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, of Norwalk, Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele of Syamford and hey, why not Senate Minority Leader John McKinney of Fairfield?) cruising around the state next year and bruising each other in the publicly funded runup to the August primaries.

 Cafero recently called the Blogster to discuss the terminology of describing Fedele as “arguably” the front runner in the 2010 race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Fedele, Cafero pointed out, doesn’t even have an exploratory committee organized. Cafero organized around the time the legislative session should have ended in early June, although it stretched into October because of the budget battle.

“I totally understand Mike’s desire to run for governor from his perch as lieutenant governor,” Cafero said. I think he’d make good governor. But I think I could bring something to the mix and that’s why I’m exploring. Over the last several years, from the minority we were able to change the debate. We changed the debate in 2007 on (the governor’s proposed education-centric) tax increase.  We’ve changed the debate statewide on many things from our caucus room. From the gross-receipts (petroleum products) tax to the ’three strikes’ debate in 2008 (on repeat offenders). The governor and Democrats decided to do nothing to the mid-term of 2008 and we did do something, putting forth an early retirement incentive that was scoffed at, then a year later adopted. When Democrats proposed a corporate surcharge, we did our real-world tour and dramatized the plight of the businessperson. Gov. Rell acknowledged this and changed position to save businesses $190 million.”

He pointed out the 37-114 House minority caucus routinely gets overwhelmed in floor votes. “From a very small minority, we’ve been able to convey a message of common-sense ideas and change the debate,” Cafero said. “I’ve been able to get people from all over the state to call to say ‘thank you for driving the debate, for keeping the drumbeat going’ and it has certainly encouraged me to go forward with my political career and shoot for governor,” he said.

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As Capitol staffers decamped for their holiday weekend this afternoon  Gov. Rell, on her way out the door to visit her daughter and grandchildren in Denver, dropped the other shoe: December 15 is the date of the sepcial session to address her proposed $470-million budget cut. She also wants the General Assembly to amend the Connecticut campaign-finance law, which was recently thrown out in a federal court ruling.

“Failure to swiftly address this budget shortfall will only lead us into a deeper hole – one that we cannot afford to close by borrowing more or raising taxes again,” rell said in a release. “These are painful cuts, to be sure, but the Legislature must make them now to ensure that Connecticut returns to solid financial footing.”

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Sanford, who recently mistook his extramarital affair in Argentina for a hike on the Appalachian trail, must be getting serious about escaping an impeachment investigation. He’s hired Ross Garber, the Hartford lawyer who’s best known for his 2004 defense of John “Why Should I Resign If I’ve Done Nothing Wrong?” Rowland. While it didn’t work out too great for Rowland (who resigned in late June after the state Supreme Court ordered that he testify to the House Select Committee of Inquiry and in December waived a federal corruption indictment on his way to a 10-month prison sentence), Garber – called The Baby Food King by certain Capitol reporters who noted the general similarity of his surname to “Gerber” during his unsuccessful run for State Treasurer as a Republican 2002, has gone on to make the big bucks for Shipman and Goodwin. The AP reports that S&G is getting a relatively meager $150/hour.

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 George “Doc” Gunther of Stratford, the longest-serving state senator until his retirement a few years back, turned 90 yesterday and enjoyed a surprise birthday party at the Stanziale Restaurant across from the old Army Engine Plant on Main Street in his hometown. Monday, he continued the celebration by getting yet another dose of chemo for that kidney cancer that resulted in the removal of said organ.

“I’ve only had two birthday parties in my life,” the crusty former lawmaker just told the Blogster, sounding as if he had just had a couple liters of Spaten. The first birthday party was 10 years ago, when Doc was directed to a spot in the Capitol for no particular reason. He very nearly blew it off and drove home. “I got to the Capitol turnaround and said, ‘oh I’ll go talk to these people,” Gunther remembered. “Then I went to the wrong room, but someone finally spotted me.”

 Gunther said his old buddy, the late Fred Biebel, helped set up Sunday’s party, along with Kaye Williams, patriarch of Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport and Gunther’s daughter.

 ”Honestly, I didn’t know anything about it,” Gunther said, describing how he was conned into going out for a private family dinner Sunday that turned into a party for Gunther and 100 other folks. He gripped that there was only one German dish at the Italian place: a roll of beef with veggies and red cabbage. He’s down to a dose of chemo every other week.

Doc’s words of wisdom: “I don’t look forward to living 110 yrs.”‘