Waterbury Mayor Michael J. Jarjura set off a political explosion Tuesday when he announced that he'll wage a primary Aug. 10 for the Democratic nomination for state comptroller against Kevin P. Lembo, who won the party's endorsement at last month's state convention.
Jarjura had won more than the 15 percent of convention delegates that gave the right to run in a primary, so his official announcement pretty much confirmed what everyone had expected.
But two unexpected things happened: First, Jarjura threw a jab at Lembo, a former assistant state comptroller who now serves as the state healthcare advocate. And next, Lembo struck back even harder -- immediately blasting Jarjura for giving former Republican governor and fellow Waterbury native John G. Rowland a job as Waterbury's economic development czar in recent years, after Rowland finished a prison sentence for corruption.
By Tuesday night, four political punches had been thrown -- two by each side.