Editorial: A legal victory with complications

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...

Will Enfield vote for Trump again?




Trump in Enfield Connecticut
Signs on Hazard Ave. near the Eastern intersection of Middle Road. The "Love will always win" sign speaks to the Enfield's socially liberal values, which may way heavily against Trump this time around. 


Voting lines are long, with an hour-long wait at polling places, say social media reports. Connecticut will vote for Joe Biden in this race, as it did for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Trump won Enfield in 2016, 9,238 to 8,548.

Will Trump repeat his 2016 Enfield victory? It's possible. There is one big local issue in play: Defense spending.

Connecticut ranks 7th in the nation on defense spending. Trump increased defense spending, as promised, and Connecticut has benefited from the increases. Residents here are aware that many jobs are defense-related.

But if Trump loses in Enfield, it might be around social and character issues.

The town carries the New England traditions of live and let live tolerance, for all its conservative leanings.

Enfield is generally socially liberal but fiscally conservative. This election will test the power of Enfield's social liberals. 

People feel they pay too much in local and state taxes, which helps local and state Republicans. 

Republicans here tend to skew liberal on social issues, which keeps some of the Democrats in their camp. One thing to note: The town is heavily Catholic and Trump's abortion stance may be appealing to some. 

Connecticut responded aggressively to the pandemic and had one of the best records in the nation. With the virus infection rates surging, people here may blame Trump. This could be a factor in today's vote. 

The election turnout in Enfield may be heading to a record level. Does this foretell a Trump or Biden victory in Enfield? That's too hard of a call to make.



Comments