Do or Die - CT GOP State Central Delegates Have a Chance to End Corruption on May 10th

On Tuesday, May 10th Republicans all over the State of Connecticut will have an opportunity to put an end to unprecedented Party corruption, and start anew by taking the first step in ridding themselves of of failed leadership, and self-defeating strategies architected by CTGOP's arrogant Chairman, Christopher Healy, and his lackey, Catherine Marx.  In the wake of this past year's rigged primaries, scandals, and embarrassing results which led to a serious splintering of Connecticut's GOP - it will be a chance to flush out those individuals who have only been interested in self-profit, bonuses structures, and limitless reimbursement accounts courtesy of Connecticut Republican donors.


Mr. Corruption - Chris Healy
Let's send him back to Starbucks
where he belongs

On Tuesday, delegates will cast votes to elect 72 members (78 votes total) which will comprise Connecticut Republican Party State Central, an organization created for the purposes of being a public proponent for Republican ideals, and to organize and aid in the election of Republicans to statewide and federal office.  This year there is an added twist - for the first time in 20 years, those elected to State Central will also have the added responsibility of electing this year's State Party Chairman - a decision critical to Republican electoral success over the next several years, and beyond.

It's clear that over the past decade, neither State Central or its Chairman has served Connecticut's registered Republicans whatsoever. State Central has become little more than a social drinking club for big Party contributors, and a closed venue for favor collection, and pretended networking power for many who have been unsuccessful in their own personal lives, and careers.  The results of such ineptitude in leadership has diminished Connecticut Republicanism to the point where Democrats barely see us as significant opposition - particularly in the Statehouse. In fact, things are so bad, that under Chris Healy, the State of Connecticut, has affectionately come to be known as: The Bluest State in the Union, a title that might make you giddy if it weren't so darn costly to Connecticut families and businesses.

Over the past several months, and for the first time in many cycles, we've seen Connecticut politicians, including Tom Foley, and Rob Simmons,  show the courage to publicly call on Chris Healy to resign. The horrific, and undemocratic practices displayed at last year's State Convention, particularly with regard to the US Senate nomination, and several Congressional District seats, followed by Healy's hand in an 0-12 defeat in State Office elections, including the Governorship (which was by far one of the most avoidable defeats in Connecticut electoral history) have caused anger and outrage now that taxpayers are being steam-rolled by Gov Malloy and Democrats on both economic and left-wing social positions.  And now, we have such a fractured constituency, that we even have Tea Party members challenging (and geared up to challenge) Republicans at the polls which will lead to guaranteed victories for Democrats across the Nutmeg State.

The deafening sound you hear from either Chris Healy or Catherine Marx on Taxation?
On frivolous Spending? 
On the Transgendered Bathroom Bill?
On the Vote to Abolish the Death Penalty?
On State Union Benefits and Negotiations?
-- A mere pip and a squeak to DEAD SILENCE!
It's so bad that my friends who are registered Democrats actually say they feel sorry for me with a hapless leader like Healy waving the white flag of surrender before the battle has even begun!

And do you know what's been happening?  Chris Healy and Catherine Marx have been making calls day and night to pull favors from RTC chairman and long-time entrenched State Central members in order to stack the deck and ensure that retain control over the CTGOP.  Neither Healy nor Marx has an ounce of integrity to recognize that they - along with their overpaid GOP Executive Director Liz Kurantowicz have been nothing short of incompetent, and have cost Republicans electoral loses in almost every district in the State.  What would ever encourage such ineffective people to seek re-election when all evidence points to years of complete failure? By God, the State of Alaska holds more prominence in Republican National circles than Connecticut does! And that's a crime for a State that at one time actually sent Republicans to Congress, and helped solidify two Presidential victories for Ronald W. Reagan.

We are seeing much of the same corrupt actions that we saw during the convention from Healy, Inc. As I've attended RTC meetings, those long-time Healy minions are using two tactics to deflect attention from their favoritism for Healy - when asked whom they support for State Chairman they say they are either undecided, or they avoid the question by hiding behind the fact that Healy hasn't announced. It's almost as cowardly a strategy as Chris Healy's for waiting to announce his candidacy only after making sure he's pulled enough strings to secure the alleged number of State Central member votes needed to lock up the Chairmanship.  That's the kind of leaders you have in Healy-Marx - gutless cowards.  I'm sure he's probably thinking of ways to siphon off another six figures from Linda McMahon, who is probably a Healy-backer, all too thrilled to have Healy jury-rig the next primary or convention.

So for those still following, this begs a few key questions:

Will Republicans have the courage to attend their State Central Convention and ask those running - the tough questions?  Will they ask each and every candidate who they support for Party Chairman, and Why? And if they say Chris Healy will they ask them to explain why he deserves re-election given his dismal record?

Will they ask those seeking re-election what their role was in the antics at the State Party Convention which led to the most distasteful and corrupt State Convention of all time?

Will they ask why out all funds collected by the CTGOP in revenues why only a measly 9 cents on the dollar makes it to the candidate field?  Where does the rest go?

Will they ask why Liz Kurantowicz holds two paid positions - both the Executive Director Position and Finance Director position to the tune of $84K, annually. Why both positions are solely appointed by the Chairman without Party oversight? And why is she is also paid on commission override, for example earning a whopping $13K for ticket sales allegedly from the Prescott Bush Dinner? What other special bonus deals does Ms. Kurantowicz receive, and why? What does this mean to people being Petitioned for $20 here and $50 here when the money seems to go in the pockets of CTGOP staff.

Or ask why Chris Healy rakes in $80K, annually, plus mileage and unlimited expenses, and then have the audacity to demand a $10K raise after excessive failures? (Particularly after swindling a six figure position for his wife on Linda McMahon's campaign - which was deemed by some to be a clear conflict of interest).

Or ask who creates such generous salary and commission-based contracts for CTGOP employees, and who authorizes them? Ask when these contracts can be made public since it seems that apparently no State Party members have ever even seen them? This begs the question of the CTGOP's overall accounting and financial accountability practices?  And why the lack of transparency with regard to CTGOP contracts, and expenditures?

Will they ask why Chris Healy and Liz Kurantowicz spent $1300 on airfare and hotel on a frivolous trip to Kansas City in mid-September? Or what about the $2000 hotel stay and all of the other incredible expenditures that can be read at the Federal Elections Commissions Site (a whole entry can be devoted to pages of abuse)

Or Why State Central spent $3600 on convention signs from Projects Unlimited (owned by Enfield RTC Chair and Healy lackey Mary Ann Turner) particularly when an actual sign company offered to create the same signs at cost in the amount of $500?

Or why the State Party used Grassroots Targeting of Alexandria, Virginia at the cost of $42K in September for the failed use of Micro Targeting? A known, risky approach (which proved ineffective).

Or why the Party outsourced making phone calls, and telemarketing calls to St Paul, Minnesota-based FLS Connect to the tune of $113K? Which led to over-saturation of calls within districts causing negative impacts to candidates state-wide? 

Or why the CTGOP spent $65K on generic GOTV ads from CD Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia?

Why? Why? Why?

And from the looks of things there are a few more people asking questions about how Chris Healy does business. As reported in The Greenwich Times last week, former Gubernatorial candidate, Tom Foley, is demanding a change in the guard at State State Central or else [he implies] Fairfield County Republicans might start to withhold big donor contributions to the CTGOP.  If Fairfield County turns off the cash-flow, things are going to get plenty tight at GOP Headquarters, and Mr. Healy may have to buy his own coffee and gas instead of passing on expenses to donors via his $5000+ reimbursement account. 

All of this shameful and unethical shenanigans has had a corrupting impact on Connecticut Republican Party politics. The evidence suggests that ALL OF IT has had a paralyzing affect on the Connecticut Republican Party's effectiveness. Moreover, a few select individuals have turned CTGOP into their own personal expense and profit center which has left a terrible stain on the reputation of everyone involved -  especially Chris Healy and Catherine Marx. 

With all of this information disclosed (and much more to come) how could State Central Convention delegates support any candidate who would dare re-elect Christopher Healy? It would have to be someone who is either oblivious, or part of the corrupt Healy machine.  Those of us in the cheap seats are asking Republican delegates to have the courage to hold those seeking State Central membership accountable for their stated positions, and their actions. Legitimize the process!

Let's hope for the Party's sake, Chris Healy and Catherine Marx don't put themselves and us through a public nightmare, and simply do the right thing - and step aside.

I AM,

THE KING

This original blog entry can be found at http://www.thekingsview.blogspot.com