A letter to the UConn Athletic Director, Jeff Hathaway

 

Jeff,

I want to tell you how proud the entire State of Connecticut is regarding our football team. You should be particularly proud. Yesterday was YOUR  and Randy’s dream come. The whole thing was especially poignant given the horrific bad breaks that the team has endured this year-and during yesterday’s game also ( Not one, but two winning touchdowns called back).

Yesterday I was up in Mass to visit my Mom ( in a nursing home ) and my sister and her family.  I tried to catch as much of the game as I could on the radio. Eventually, I saw the last 8 minutes of regulation playing time and the OT’s on my sister’s TV.

Thrilling, absolutely thrilling. 

When the game was over I found myself moved to tears as it hit me what had just occurred. My family, who have no connections to UConn except for me was also going nuts. I called my former boss (a former Notre Dame fan) thinking he was home, but he was up in a bar in northern New Hampshire and they were all going nuts too. 

Something happened yesterday. I believe that UConn became New England’s team. The courage (heart) that the team exhibited, its perseverence and its conditioning won over anyone who was watching. 

Congratulations again. Please share my comments with Randy. I am so proud to own a small piece of the history that led to this and to be the Senator who represents the home turf where UConn plays and was one of many who helped to build that stadium. 

Sincerely,

Gary LeBeau

Senator LeBeau Earns Highest Score on Environmental Legislation

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters

State Sen. Gary D. LeBeau, D-East Hartford, co-chairman of the Commerce Committee, voted perfectly in 2009 on environmental legislation, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has announced.

The organization specifically recognized LeBeau for his pro-environment votes regarding pesticides at daycare facilities, smart growth, green cleaning products in public schools, and ‘green-building’ LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) incentives, among other legislation.

“We publish an Annual Environmental Scorecard to let Connecticut voters who care about the environment know if their legislators are voting the right way,” Lori Brown, executive director of the CTLCV, said.

“Connecticut has the good fortune to have a number of legislators who consistently go to bat for the environment. They earn our deep appreciation for standing firm for clean air, clean water and clean energy and for giving our irreplaceable beaches, parks, forests, farmland and other open space the protection they deserve,” she said.

“I’ve always been a strong supporter of Connecticut’s environment,” said LeBeau, who has formed an exploratory campaign for a possible run for governor in 2010.

“I believe the environment is one of the main reasons we have such a high quality of life here in Connecticut and all of New England,” Sen. LeBeau said. “I also believe it is not only possible, but essential, to balance environmental protection with business growth and regulation. That’s evident in the explosion of green jobs and green industries that we’ve seen in the past decade, such as fuel cells and energy-efficient appliances and buildings. Protecting and maintaining our environment is one thing that industry and consumers certainly agree on.” 

LeBeau’s average pro-environment legislative score over the past decade – from 2000 to 2009 – is 90.1, including five perfect scores of 100,  the group said.

In its annual report, the organization cited several legislative successes this year:

•   An updated bottle deposit bill. For a number of years, recycling advocates tried to expand the state’s redemption and recycling program to require five-cent deposits on water containers. This year they finally succeeded in passing an updated bottle deposit bill.

•   An expanded Community Investment Act. The act was expanded to provide more money for dairy farms in addition to preservation of farmland, open space and historic urban centers.

•   Smart Growth legislation. New laws were passed to protect open space, redevelop brownfields and provide more environmentally friendly transportation.

•   Passage of other important legislation. Several bills passed that increased environmental protections for children. These bills required that schools use environment-friendly cleaning products and limit the use of pesticides in day-care facilities and elementary schools.

Thanks Airman Motoc and Congrats to Dzialo, Pickett, and Allen, P.C.

Front row: Representative Joe Serra, Senator Gary LeBeau, Robert P. Dutcher, Gregory M. Harris, Jennifer C. Zettergren, Mayor Sebastian Giuliano. Back row: Senator Paul Doyle, Lawrence Lafferty, Alex Motoc, Jeanne Messick. Click photo for slideshow

Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, State Representative Joe Serra (D-Middletown) and Senator Paul Doyle (D-Cromwell) all were present as the partners in the law firm of Dzialo, Pickett, & Allen, P.C. were celebrated with a Patriot Award. The Patriot Award is given out by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, (ESGR) a Department of Defense agency, in recognition of employers who have supported Guard and Reserve members during their training and deployments.

Alex Motoc, who works at that firm and volunteers for Senator LeBeau was the armed forces member who the firm has been most supportive.  Senator LeBeau took the opportunity to say kind words of encouragement to service members generally, who give so much to our country.  Click here for WFSB Channel 3 coverage of this event. 

Special thanks to reporter/photographer Matt Kabel of The Middletown Press  who covered the event and was kind enough to share his pictures, linked here.

Make your voice heard today with Hartford Courant online poll!

Make your voice heard with Hartford Courant online poll

Last week we had great success asking supporters like you to vote in a WTIC poll, helping me pull ahead of both Dan Malloy and Susan Bysiewicz!  Thank you for your support!
 
Today, the Hartford Courant is offering an online poll with the following question: 
 
Who’s likely to be the next governor?
 
The poll is on the Hartford Courant site (linked above) about half way down the page.  As you can see, this online poll includes potential republican opponents now that Governor Rell is not in the race.
 
If you agree it is time to begin Rebuilding Connecticut, please take a moment to click on the link above and vote for me.
 
After you vote, send me an email to lebeauct@gmail.com to let me know, because together, we can begin Rebuilding Connecticut!
 
Thanks!