Stratford’s GOP mayor gripes about footing tab for Obama

Stratford Mayor John Harkins (left) and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch share the podium as they speak prior to the signing of documents resolving the long disputed construction of a new runway safety zone at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, in Stratford, Conn., April 17th, 2013.

Stratford Mayor John Harkins (left) and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch share the podium as they speak prior to the signing of documents resolving the long disputed construction of a new runway safety zone at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, in Stratford, Conn., April 17th, 2013.

A Sikorsky homecoming for Marine One is instead turning into a frosty reception for the presidential chopper.

On the eve of a visit by President Barack Obama to Connecticut to campaign for Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the Republican mayor of Stratford is griping about taxpayers in his town having to shoulder some of the security costs for the political trip.

To get to Bridgeport for a rally Wednesday night at Central High School, Obama is expected to fly into Sikorsky Memorial Airport in neighboring Stratford. The president will be coming from Tweed New Haven Airport.

Stratford Mayor John Harkins estimated that the tab for his town alone will amount to $13,000.

“The fact that the taxpayers in these communities visited by the president are on the hook is simply not right,” Harkins said in a statement Tuesday. “The Democrat party should pick up the tab for expenses incurred by the municipalities during the president’s stop for a ‘get-out-the-vote’ rally in Bridgeport. This will not be an official White House visit to our area. Taxpayer money should not be used to fund purely political events, regardless of party.”

Devon Puglia, a spokesman for the Connecticut Democrats, dismissed Harkins’ complaint as being politically motivated.

“I’m sorry, but did they raise the same concerns when former President George W. Bush came to CT?” Puglia told Hearst Connecticut Media by email.

Political clout has come at a cost for Fairfield County, with cities and towns having to eat the security costs associated with such visits by top Democrats and Republicans. There is no provision for municipalities to get reimbursed.

Greenwich and Stamford ran up $29,549 in police overtime protecting Vice President Joe Biden during an Aug. 20 fundraising swing here to help Malloy.

Just last week, Obama helicoptered in Greenwich for a VIP dinner supporting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where some contributors gave up to $32,400 a plate to rub elbows with the president. A cost estimate for the security from that visit was not immediately available.

Neil Vigdor