Danbury Mayor announces run for Governor

On February 1, Danbury Republican Mayor Mark Boughton announced that

First lady Phyllis anfd Mayor Mark Boughton he is running for Governor of the State of Connecticut, stating, “I did not file an exploratory committee. There is nothing to explore.”

Boughton said that his experience as a former state lawmaker and now a chief elected official for six terms in Danbury makes him a uniquely qualified choice to serve in the state’s top spot. During his announcement at Bethel’s Stony Hill Inn, Boughton touted the city as being the safest in the state, the municipality with the lowest unemployment rate in the state and one of the lowest corporation tax and sewer and water rate in Connecticut.

Boughton declared that the state of Connecticut is “broke and broken,” and noted that not only is a $500 million deficit hard to imagine, but also that the legislature has been slow to act. One of his goals if elected would be to reform government, Boughton explained, stating that the state’s largest employer—the actual State of Connecticut itself—is a good deal of the problem.

“As mayor of Danbury I led the effort to consolidate departments, eliminate duplication of services and redesign our entire city government. Consolidation and merging of departments in the state government to reduce staff and eliminate bureaucracy should be our first order of business,” he said.

Boughton described himself as a product of Central and Western Connecticut State Universities, rather than Yale or Harvard, adding, “And I am proud of it.”

“I didn’t go to Wall Street and try to enrich myself. Instead, I went to Main Street to help our young people get a positive start in life and to make a difference in my community.’’

Six Republicans have entered the race for the GOP nomination so far, including former State Rep. Christopher Shays, who is at this point considering a run for the post.

Added to the Democrats, there is now an even dozen candidates for the seat being vacated by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who is not seeking reelection after serving more than five years as governor.

In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, Greenwich multimillionaire Tom Foley led at 17 percent, with Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele at 8 percent and Boughton at 6 percent, which was conducted just before formally declaring his candidacy. By far, the leading response among Republicans in the poll was “undecided,” at a whopping 59 percent, leaving plenty of room for a good fight for the GOP nomination.