Democrats Select Candidates For State Representative, Registrar of Voters

Representative Town Meeting member Jonathan P. Steinberg was nominated Wednesday night to run for state representative from the 136th District during a convention of the Westport Democratic Town Committee.

Committee members also nominated Marla J. Cowden to run for Democratic Registrar of Voters.

Both were approved unanimously by a show of hands from the approximately 45 committee members who met in Town Hall.

Committee Chairman James C. Ezzes said Steinberg and Cowden were selected to be the party's candidates by a search committee consisting of himself and five other town meeting members.

Ezzes said RTM member Matthew I. Mandell also asked to be considered for state representative, and six or seven people wanted to be considered for registrar of voters.

The seat for representative of the 136th District is open because incumbent Democrat Joe Mioli is not running for reelection.

In nominating Steinberg, 54, to be the committee's candidate for state representative, committee member Helen Garten said, "John's energy, creativity and ability to organize are well known to all of us who have served with him in town government, on the Democratic Town Committee, and in various civic organizations."

After being selected to run for the House seat, Steinberg said, "it's high time for real reform in Hartford … (but) I categorically reject the conservatives' slash-and-burn anti-government philosophy."

Steinberg said, "I intend to be a positive force of change, not an obstructionist naysayer."

Cowden, 51, a certified public accountant, is a former member of the RTM, a former PTA president of Kings Highway Elementary School, and a graduate of the real estate institute.

Later in the meeting, committee members listened to remarks from the incumbent Democratic state representative from the 133rd District, Kim Fawcett, who represents a small area of Westport along with Fairfield, and the Democratic First Selectman of Fairfield, Ken Flatto, who is running for state Comptroller.

Fawcett said she's in a tough race this year, facing a strong opponent who's very aggressive and outspoken.

"It's likely to be my first experience with a type of campaign that raises the bar as far as the nasty level," Fawcett said.

In his remarks to the committee members, Flatto said holding comptroller positions "has been my life."

Flatto said he's held senior financial management positions for over 20 years and has been a CPA for over 30 years.

The state is in the most fragile position it's been in decades, Flatto said, and there's no question it needs serious leadership.

Flatto said he would not fire public servants as a means of dealing with the state's budget deficit.

There is a "noble purpose for government," Flatto said. "Protect the people, work for people, do things for people."

Ezzes said he learned from the state Democratic committee Wednesday that there'll likely be a Democratic primary in August for every state office except attorney general.