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Voters(CT) put Republican in 53rd House seat for first time in 40 years
http://www.journalinquirer.com ^ | June 12, 2013 | By John Kennedy

Posted on 06/12/2013 2:18:32 PM PDT by Maelstorm

The 53rd House District gave the state legislature its 53rd Republican representative Tuesday, as Samuel Belsito defeated Democrat Anthony J. Horn by 554 votes.

“I didn’t win. The taxpayers and citizens of the 53rd District won. They voted for me and put me in and they wanted change,” Belsito said at his campaign party at Willington Pizza on Tuesday night. “I’m the 53rd Republican from the 53rd District — it was an omen.”

“I’m disappointed I lost, but I’m certainly not crushed,” Horn said as the final results came in. “I believed I was going to win from the beginning, and I still think that’s the best way to run a campaign — I worked really hard.”

The district, which comprises Ashford, Tolland, and Willington, elected Belsito 1,910 to 1,356.

Belsito, who lives in Tolland, won his hometown 1,024 to 794, as well as Willington 549-181. Horn won his hometown of Ashford 381-337.

The last time a Republican represented the district was 40 years ago, when Jesse A. Brainerd of Coventry began serving in 1973.

“There should be no doubt that this is the first opportunity for the voters to speak after the disastrous legislative session which concluded last week,” Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr., said Tuesday. “I believe tonight was a referendum on Governor Malloy and the Democrats’ failed economic policies, taxation, and spending, which were rejected by the voters tonight.”

“We have to stop bonding,” Belsito has said. “The state is spending too much and has to become more efficient.”

The owner of Samuel Ltd., Tux King, a tuxedo and men’s clothing store in Vernon, said he is also against unfunded mandates passed from the state to towns. He said he would work to eliminate all such mandates, starting with the first one ever written, until all were gone.

Belsito is a first-term member of the Tolland Town Council, and said he plans to keep his seat as he serves as a state legislator. His Town Council term ends in November.

Belsito said that with him, “What you see is what you get,” and that he will continue to be as outspoken and as staunch in his beliefs as he has been during his time on the council. He proudly noted that many votes taken resulted in him being the lone dissenter.

He said he’s not going to the Capitol to “just sit there. I’m not afraid to stand up for the people.”

However, Belsito said he isn’t afraid to admit when he is wrong and is willing to change his viewpoint if the opposing opinion is proven to be better and more efficient.

Belsito, who attended the Massachusetts Military Academy, served in the Massachusetts and Connecticut Army National Guard, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He said he would have voted against the recent gun control legislation.

The special election was held because former state Rep. Bryan Hurlburt, D-Tolland, resigned a few months into his fourth term after he took a position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Bureau.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: ct; sourcetitlenoturl
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This is just a state house seat with low turnout but this may be a canary in the coal mine. I've noticed the Gomez race in MA tightening up. They are bringing Clinton and Biden to help Markley something you would thing they wouldn't have to do.
1 posted on 06/12/2013 2:18:32 PM PDT by Maelstorm
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To: Maelstorm

Thats deep democrap territory. Is the the sign of things to come?


2 posted on 06/12/2013 2:20:29 PM PDT by I want the USA back (If I Pi$$ed off just one liberal today my mission has been accomplished.)
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To: Maelstorm

Notice the democrats have dropped the “Republican Overreach” meme?


3 posted on 06/12/2013 2:20:32 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Maelstorm

The trick to changing a stat’s national politics is to change the statehouse and the school boards.


4 posted on 06/12/2013 2:23:02 PM PDT by Fai Mao (Genius at Large)
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To: Maelstorm
How RINOish did Samuel Belsito have to be to beat the dem? Did he have to "out liberal" him?

Remember when candidates had to at least appear conservative to win? How things have changed.

5 posted on 06/12/2013 2:27:47 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: Maelstorm

How will Belsito vote on amnesty?


6 posted on 06/12/2013 2:33:28 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: Fai Mao
* The trick to changing a stat’s national politics is to change the statehouse and the school boards.*

If you have public schools that teach the truth instead of Socialist garbage designed to rot the kid's minds, you may turn out some intelligent voters....

Something that Leftists fear more than Death itself

7 posted on 06/12/2013 2:36:46 PM PDT by PATRIOT1876 (The only crimes that are 100% preventable are crimes committed by illegal aliens)
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To: fwdude
Well if this is any indication he isn't one of those soft NE GOP.


8 posted on 06/12/2013 2:38:32 PM PDT by Maelstorm (This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

He is a state house representative not federal state house but he doesn’t strike me as a pro-amenesty type.


9 posted on 06/12/2013 2:40:47 PM PDT by Maelstorm (This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")
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To: I want the USA back
This is deep dem territory

Isn't it near UConn? It's a really rural area, so I'd think guns and self-preservation are an issue. Still, it's a surprise. Maybe the "feds are watching you" issue had an impact.

10 posted on 06/12/2013 2:44:17 PM PDT by grania
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To: I want the USA back

Ashford is in the middle of no where. Electric Blue is there, though. :-)


11 posted on 06/12/2013 2:46:16 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: grania

Yes, it’s close to Stors


12 posted on 06/12/2013 2:47:29 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Maelstorm
In a glorious victory, Tolland's Sam Belsito, 2nd Amendment defender, gun owner and traditional conservative blew away his opponent in a 58-42 percent landslide. Nearly 60 volunteers helped Belsito in Tolland, Willington and Ashford. A combination of local Republicans, Tea Party patriots and the newly energized gun enthusiasts fought as a coalition of allies with one goal in focus - VICTORY.

Let this be a lesson for the CT GOP. They have been trying to market the "new Coca Cola". That's John McKinney's crowd of gun-grabbing RINOs who falsely believe that behaving like Democrats wins elections. The American people already rejected the new Coke.

Sam Belsito is the traditional Coca Cola, the standard established by Ronald Reagan. Awaken Republicans! If conservatives like Mr. Belsito can win in a strong Democrat district, they can win almost everywhere in the state. Only twenty-three (23) more seats won and Republicans control the House. It is within reach.

13 posted on 06/12/2013 2:48:36 PM PDT by PALIN SMITH (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.)
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To: cripplecreek

everytime they did, we got another scandal


14 posted on 06/12/2013 2:49:06 PM PDT by dila813
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To: Maelstorm; nutmeg; scoopscandal; 2Trievers; LoneGOPinCT; Rodney King; sorrisi; MrSparkys; ...
He said he would have voted against the recent gun control legislation.

Ths is a HUGE issue in CT now (duh), and will likely result in anti-gun RINOS like McKinney & Bolinsky to lose a lot of support and possibly their seats to actual conservatives (or maybe to a Dem).

15 posted on 06/12/2013 2:50:01 PM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back The Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: Maelstorm

Thanks, sorry about my dumb question.


16 posted on 06/12/2013 2:50:47 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: PALIN SMITH

Thanks for the info! I agree. You have to stand for something or people wont respect you and if they don’t respect you they aren’t likely to vote for you.


17 posted on 06/12/2013 2:50:58 PM PDT by Maelstorm (This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

Belsito has no vote on amnesty. He is a state rep.-elect.


18 posted on 06/12/2013 2:52:19 PM PDT by PALIN SMITH (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

No problem. Its hard to keep local politics versus national straight sometimes. :-)


19 posted on 06/12/2013 2:52:41 PM PDT by Maelstorm (This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")
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To: Maelstorm

Sounds like all fiscal issues. I wonder how he is on ALL conservatism?


20 posted on 06/12/2013 2:55:55 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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