Is GOP chair Chris Healy urging State Senator Sam Caligiuri to abandon his U.S. Senate aspirations and turn his sights to the 5th Congressional race?
Well, here's Caligiuri in his own words:
In response to Chairman Healy's call for Senator Caligiuri to enter the Fifth Congressional district race, Caligiuri made the following statement:
"I want to thank Chairman Healy for his kind words and encouragement of my potential candidacy in the Fifth Congressional District. Over the last several days I have been exploring this option with Chairman Healy and other leaders in the party who have reached out to me in support of this move. My goal has always been to best serve the people of Connecticut by reviving our economy, reforming government, and restoring fiscal responsibility. Over the coming days, I will make a decision on how I can best continue to fight for those principles and serve the people of Connecticut."
As expected, the Republicans who are currently seeking the 5th District nomination aren't too happy with Healy's slap in the face. Here's what Justin Bernier had to say about about the GOP chairman's sign of no-confidence.
The situation in New York's 23rd congressional district showed us what happens when party insiders play favorites,'' said Bernier, referring to the recent disaster in New York when conservatives forced a moderate candidate off the ticket. "I am confident that the Republicans in the Fifth District of Connecticut will make the right decision in this nomination process,'' said Bernier, a war veteran and former legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons.
"Over the past seven months I have travelled western Connecticut and I am honored by the support and many endorsements we have received. My only goal remains to represent the people of the Fifth Congressional District in Congress, and I am 100 percent committed to seeking my party's nomination for this responsibility.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.