Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has announced his first 35 endorsements, including prominent Republicans in municipal and state government.
Boughton, who joined the race on the same day that state Sen. Gary LeBeau got out, is battling in a crowded field for the GOP nomination. If he captures at least 15 percent of the delegates at the May convention in Hartford, then he will qualify for the August primary.
The endorsements include New Britain Mayor Tim Stewart, Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham, state Sen. Michael McLachlan of Boughton’s hometown of Danbury, and state representatives David Labriola of Naugatuck and Jan Giegler of Danbury. McLachlan had previously served as Boughton’s chief of staff.
“Mark Boughton is a proven leader who has the right blend of experience in the legislature, as well as that of a chief elected official,” Stewart said in a statement. “Mark is a fiscal conservative who has the vision to lead Connecticut through these difficult times. I am proud to support him.”
“In the end, this election is not about me. It’s about the people who are struggling day to day to make ends meet,” Boughton said. “Having the endorsements of these grass roots Republican and community leaders, will help us drive our message of revitilizing our economic development strategy to create jobs, redesigning our state government to one we can afford, and rethinking the relationship of government and the people that it serves.”
Others endorsing Boughton include former House Speaker Fran Collins, former Naugatuck Mayor Ron San Angelo, and former Danbury mayors James Dyer and Donald Boughton, the candidate’s father.
Boughton is running in a hotly contested race against Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele of Stamford, former Bush appointee Tom Foley of Greenwich, longtime business executive Oz Griebel of Simsbury, former U.S. Rep. Larry DeNardis of Hamden, Newington Mayor Jeff Wright, and Chester First Selectman Thomas E. Marsh.