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Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura Confirms Deal For Votes For State Comptroller; Major Support From Three Big-City Mayors

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State party conventions are a time of arm-twisting and deal-making.

But some politicians do their best to avoid confirming the actual deals that are happening in the hallways. Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura, though, is not one of those who hides in the shadows.

When asked to confirm whether he was involved in any deals to help him secure the Democratic nomination for state comptroller, Jarjura smiled and said, "It's a convention. Isn't that what we do?''

He declined to confirm whether he had been involved directly in a deal involving vote trading for the secretary of the state. But he said he was in a deal for his own race for comptroller.

"My deal has been with the mayors of Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport,'' Jarjura said. "Everybody made a deal.''

He noted that New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said that the mayors need "one of our own advocating for us'' in the state comptroller's office.

"They're going to have a friendly ear,'' Jarjura said of his fellow mayors. "I wouldn't think deals are anything nefarious at a convention.''

In one of the deals of the day, secretary of the state candidate Gerry Garcia of New Haven withdrew his name from the nomination on the second ballot after he had already qualified for a primary. Garcia then threw his support to state Sen. Jonathan Harris of West Hartford, and the New Haven delegation delivered all 81 votes to Harris.

But House Majority Leader Denise Merrill of Storrs won the party's nomination, defeating Harris in a close race on the second ballot.

"Thanks, everyone!'' Merrill yelled from the stage after her victory. "Oh, my God, what a great day to be a Democrat!"

Merrill thanked Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, who will not be on the ballot this fall.

"Susan has left some big shoes to fill,'' Merrill said. "Why do I want to be secretary of the state? Because I think it's the best job in the world.''


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