Rick Torres, a Republican businessman from Bridgeport who made an unsuccessful run for the 4th Congressional District last year, is running for state GOP chair.
In an email pitch to party members last week, Torres touts his qualifications, including the fact that he is a Cuban-American and speaks Spanish fluently. He also said he grew up "abjectly poor" in Bridgeport and graduated from city schools.
"[T]he simple act of electing me will send a strong message to state residents that the Republican Party is reaching out to urban voters and especially to minorities," Torres wrote. "The simple reality is that recognizing our shortcoming in this area and wanting to reach out to minorities is half the battle. We must be bold."
"But,'' he added, "is electing me too risky? Will I ostracize too many Republicans? Will white voters be put off by my candidacy? I believe that I easily fit into any forum, be it ethnic or rural or corporate."
Torres, 51, has been described by the Connecticut Post as an "ultraconservative." His congressional candidacy won the endorsement of Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, but he lost the primary to Dan Debicella.
"I understand that electing a new state chairman is for the most part a beauty contest,'' Torres writes. "This letter will demonstrate to you that in consideration of where our party finds itself today, I am ideally "good-looking" to help restore our party to a position of relevance."
The term of the current state Republican Chairman, Chris Healy, expires in June. Healy has yet to formally announce whether he will seek reelection.
Southington Republican Doug Hageman has also indicated he intends to seek the chairman's post.