Flatto Faces Three in Bid for State Comptroller

It appears that First Selectman Ken Flatto faces three Democratic opponents in his bid to be state comptroller - a state representative, a state healthcare advocate and the mayor of Waterbury.

Published reports on the Internet say state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard; state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo; and Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura are all seeking the Democratic nomination for state comptroller, a position that became available when Nancy Wyman, the current state comptroller, decided to seek election as lieutenant governor as gubernatorial candidate Dannel Malloy's running mate. Reynolds, Lembo and Flatto have Web sites for their candidacies; a link in news stories about Jarjura's bid for state comptroller sends readers to a 2009 Web site when Jarjura was seeking re-election as Waterbury's mayor.

Here's a snapshot look at the three opponents Flatto faces at the Democratic nominating convention at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford on Friday and Saturday. Flatto, who announced his candidacy for state comptroller earlier this week, said getting support from 15 percent of delegates at the convention would identify someone as a serious candidate for state comptroller, which is an elected position that carries a four-year term.

Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura:

Jarjura's been mayor of Waterbury since 2002 and previously was an assistant attorney general and state representative from Waterbury's 74th state House District for 10 years, from 1992 to 2002.

Jarjura, a lawyer and lifelong resident of Waterbury, received his bachelor of science degree in Management from Post College, Waterbury in 1983 and earned a law degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law in 1987.

Jarjura serves as vice president and director of J.P. Jarjura & Sons Co., a fruit and produce wholesaler founded by his father and operated by his father and his father's seven sons, according to his 2009 campaign Web site.

State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo:

Lembo, a Guilford resident,  served for seven years as assistant state comptroller under Wyman and has been endorsed by Wyman in his bid for state comptroller. He was appointed state Healthcare Advocate in December 2004, which required confirmation by the state Legislature, and is now serving his second four-year term. Lembo also has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3.

State Rep. Tom Reynolds:

Reynolds was first elected as a state representative from the 42nd state House District, which includes Ledyard, Preston and part of Montville, in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He is the state House of Representative's assistant majority leader, vice chairman of its Education Committee and is a member of its Planning & Development Committee and Appropriations Committee.

Reynolds served in the Ledyard Town Council from 2000 to 2002 and served on Ledyard's Board of Education from 1995 to 2002. He was chairman of Ledyard's Board of Education from 1998 to 2002 and was elected in 2001 to serve on the board of directors of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

Reynolds owns a consulting firm that serves the fundraising and strategic planning needs of not-for-profit organizations.

Fairfield First Selectman Ken Flatto:

Flatto, Fairfield's first selectman from 1997 to 1999 and from 2001 to present, said in a press release today that he had received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, along with endorsements from Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and several former first selectmen.

Before he was elected as Fairfield's first selectman in 1997, Flatto, a Democrat, served as comptroller and chief financial officer in Orangetown, N.Y., and deputy controller and interim controller in Yonkers, N.Y.