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.
I’ll refer you to the opinion of a freeper who knows. :->
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 5:48:36 PM · 13 of 21
PALIN SMITH 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.
The 53rd is where a lot of the UCONN faculty and similar hangers on live. This is not inconsequential and I’m hoping Belsito, my new rep, was aided somewhat by the myriad scandals. If so, it bodes well for 2014
Article: He said he would have voted against the recent gun control legislation.
A possible sign people are getting fed-up.
Good news. My mayor is nominally a GOPer, but dang the way he bonds money and increases taxes, I sure can’t seem to distinguish him from the previous Dem mayor.
Even fiscal-only conservatives are step up in this state. We are being bled dry by the moochers. I doubt my local Dem rep will lose, he ran unopposed last time.
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