Simsbury Election Guide 2012

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Simsbury Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. 

President

(D): The president came to Connecticut last election to stump for his Democratic colleagues, although this year he could be more busy campaigning for himself.  

(R): The former Massachusetts governor is no stranger to Connecticut, having most recently visited in May for a lucrative fundraiser.

U.S. Senate

 (D): The Democratic congressman is polling ahead of his closest party rival by a 50-20 margin as he tries to win outgoing Sen. Joe Lieberman’s seat.

 (D): The Democratic candidate for Senate has her work cut out for her as she tries to close the gap on U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s strong lead as the August primary approaches.

Sylvester Salcedo (D): The Bridgeport lawyer is known for being one of the few Asian-Americans to run for U.S. Senate in the 2012 election — perhaps now the only one since  — as well as driving to the Mexican border earlier this year to gain a some attention for his campaign.

Lee Whitnum (unaffiliated): The Greenwich resident spark some controversy when  because Gov. Malloy and Rep. Chris Murphy are "lying to the people to pander to the ultra conservative branch of the Jewish community." She announced in June that she would 

 (R): The former WWE executive tried – and failed – in her run for U.S. Senate two years ago. This year, she was the Republican favorite after .

 (R): Despite losing the party nominations to Linda McMahon, .

Kie Westby (R): , the Southbury attorney said that career politicians have had their chance to make changes. "It requires a fresh face, a fresh approach," he said. Although he hasn't officially suspended his campaign, Westby recently announced that he wouldn't submit the signatures required to be part of the Republican primary.

Fifth Congressional District

Chris Donovan (D): Donovan, Connecticut's Speaker of the House, has fought through the arrest of a to remain in the race. He captured the Democratic endorsement to run for the 5th District seat.

Elizabeth Esty (D): Esty, a former state representative and the wife of state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection chief Dan Esty, is a former law clerk, attorney and professor who lives in Cheshire. She in April.

Dan Roberti (D): The public relations executive lives in Kent, Roberti is and worked with James Carville on disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina while studying for his graduate degree in pastoral studies.

Justin Bernier (R): A former director of the Office of Military Affairs for ex-Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Bernier, who lives in Plainville, is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan. He .

Mark Greenberg (R): A successful businessman and from Litchfield County, Greenberg and his wife, Linda, founded an animal-rescue shelter.

Andrew Roraback (R): Roraback, a former state representative and current state senator since 2001 who lives in Goshen, to run for the 5th District seat.

Lisa Wilson-Foley (R): Wilson-Foley, of Simsbury, has battled her own and her husband's health care business.

State House of Representatives 16th District

John Hampton(D): First elected to be a Simsbury Selectmen in 2003, Hampton has served as Deputy First Selectmen since 2007.

Charity Folk (R): Executive Director of the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce since 1992.

Robert Kalechman (I): A veteran and retired businessman, Kalechman is running as an unaffiliated candidate.

State Senate 8th District 

Kevin Witkos (R): Witkos is in his second state senate term. He serves as Deputy Minority Leader of the State Senate and is ranking member on the General Assembly’s General Law committee. He also served three terms in the state House of Representatives. Witkos recently retired from the Canton Police Department. He lives in Canton and grew up in Granby. 

Dan Seger (D): Canton Democrat Dan Seger is challenging Witkos in his first run for office. As a resident of the district since 1972, Seger has lived in three of its towns. For 26 years he worked for Perry Technology Corporation. He’s also owned his own business since 2005 and lives in Canton.