Party primaries are on Tuesday

Next Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries will determine each party’s candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.

Republicans will also choose candidates for U.S. Senator and the 4th Congressional District, as well as their candidate for attorney general. Democrats will make their choices for secretary of the state and state comptroller.

In all there are 20 candidates between the two parties who are looking to fill nine slots on the November ballot.

Here in Wilton, a lively race for the Republican registrar of voters candidacy is taking place. Voter information and sample ballots are online at wiltonct.org.

All polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling places are: District 1: Wilton High School Clune Center, 395 Danbury Road; District 2: Driscoll School Gym, 336 Belden Hill Road; District 3: Middlebrook School Cafeteria, 131 School Road.

Only registered Republicans and registered Democrats may vote in their respective party primaries. Those who are 17 years old but turn 18 by Election Day may vote in the Aug. 10 primary if they are registered with a party.

If you are an unaffiliated voter, you must enroll in a party by Monday, Aug. 9, by noon, to vote in that party’s primary.

For those who are not registered voters, the last day to register and be eligible to vote in the Aug. 10 primary is Monday, Aug. 9, by noon, in person at town hall.

The deadline has passed for those who wanted to change affiliation in order to vote in a different party’s primary.

Gubernatorial candidates

Since Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell decided not to seek re-election this year, there is a large field of candidates seeking their respective party’s nod to run for governor.

Running for the Republican Party’s nomination is Tom Foley of Greenwich, the party-endorsed candidate. He is a former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Also in the race are current Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele of Stamford, a former state representative and founder of a national information technology firm, and Oz Griebel of Simsbury, president and CEO of a regional development organization.

The Democrat-endorsed candidate for governor is Dan Malloy, a former mayor of Stamford and a former assistant district attorney. He was a gubernatorial candidate in 2006, but lost his primary bid.

Also on the ballot for governor is Ned Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, volunteer teacher and former Greenwich selectman. He garnered enough votes at the party’s convention to qualify for a primary. Mr. Lamont was the party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

Lieutenant governor

Even though three of the candidates have selected running mates for the lieutenant governor’s post, each party’s primary picks the candidate for this post separately from the gubernatorial candidate. The winners in each race then run as a team on the November ballot.

Running for lieutenant governor are Democrats Nancy Wyman, who is a four-term state comptroller and Mr. Malloy’s running mate, and Mary Messina Glassman, a six-term Simsbury first selectman who is Mr. Lamont’s running mate.

On the Republican side, Danbury Mayor Mark D. Boughton is Mr. Fedele’s running mate and the choice of the local Republican Town Committee, and Lisa Wilson-Foley is running alone for the seat. Mr. Griebel is running without a lieutenant governor candidate.

U.S. Senate

With U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd deciding not to seek re-election, there are several candidates wanting to run for his seat. The Democrats have only the party-endorsed candidate in the race — Attorney General Richard Blumenthal — and so there is no Democratic primary for this slot.

The Republicans have three candidates in their primary — Linda McMahon, the party-endorsed candidate who is the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment; Peter Schiff of Weston, who runs Euro Pacific Capital brokerage; and Rob Simmons, a former three-term 2nd District congressman. Mr. Simmons qualified at the party’s convention to be on the primary ballot and left his name on the ballot even though he said he would not campaign for the post. Recently, however, Mr. Simmons has been appearing in TV ads reminding voters he is “still on the ballot.”

4th U.S. House District

The Democratic incumbent, Jim Himes, is running for re-election in the 4th Congressional District and is not being challenged in a primary. There are, however, three Republicans seeking to get on their party’s ballot.

Dan Debicella, a second-term state Senator from Shelton, is the party-endorsed candidate. Successfully petitioning their way onto the primary ballot are Rob Merkle, a Norwalk businessman, and Rick Torres, a Bridgeport businessman.

Attorney General

Two Republicans are primarying to represent the party on the November ballot for the attorney general’s post. Martha Dean, an attorney and unsuccessful candidate for the post in 2002, is the party-endorsed candidate.

Also seeking the nomination is Ross Garber of Glastonbury, an attorney who served as chief legal counsel to two governors.

The winner of the primary will run against the Democratic candidate George Jepsen in November.

Secretary of the State

Two Democrats are seeking the secretary of the state slot on their party’s November ballot.

Denise Merrill, who is serving her 17th term as a state representative and is the House majority leader, is the party-endorsed candidate. Gerry Garcia, a financial advisor and strategy consultant to a number of small companies and a New Haven alderman for five years, is her opponent.

The primary winner will face Republican Jerry Farrell in November.

Comptroller

Democrats vying for the comptroller spot on the party’s ballot are Kevin Lembo and Mike Jarjura. Mr. Lembo has led Connecticut’s Office of the Healthcare Advocate for the last five years and formerly worked in the office of the state comptroller. Mr. Jarjura is Waterbury’s mayor and served five terms in the state legislature.

The Republicans will have Jack Orchulli on the ballot in November for this post.

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