“It aint’ over…”
By Robin Vinci | Editor at August 11, 2023 | 4:23 pm | Print
Gerratana, Pawlak Win Primaries
Democratic Incumbent Theresa Gerratana won the primary on Tuesday for 6th District State Senate, but her opponent - fellow Democrat Sharon Beloin-Saavedra, said the race is not over as she will run Unaffiliated in November against Gerratana and Republican candidate Charles Paonessa.
Saavedra, 51, at the Whinstone Tavern Tuesday night said this was a campaign built on love, on volunteerism and believing in the message.
“We were not successful this round. I took no state money. No campaign dollars. Nobody was paid,” Saavedra said. “I congratulate Terry Gerratana on her victory, but it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings. This was the first step of the journey, but the journey takes us all the way to November. I did not win in the Democratic primary. But I plan on running as an unaffiliated candidate. I have the qualifying signatures as of this evening.”
Saavedra said she is a proud Democrat who tries to play by the rules.
“Some people don’t like the rules. Some people were upset that I used the process as was designed,” Saavedra said. “I’m a public education girl. I want to thank the Teacher’s Union. It’s not easy to go against the machine. But we have to challenge people. We don’t have to go with the same old, same old all the time.”
Saavedra said the journey put her in touch with people she would not have been in touch with.
“Even if I don’t win in November the message is the process is not owned by a political party. It is not owned by a machine. It’s not owned by money. It’s us,” said Saavedra.
Gerratana, 66, has served three terms in the State Senate and the Senate chairwoman of the Public Health Committee. She is also the vice-chair of the Government, Administration and Elections Committee.
In the other primary, Former Mayor Lucian Pawlak beat out Democratic endorsed candidate and Former Alderman Michael Trueworthy for Democratic Registrar of Voters.
“I’m absolutely delighted by the turnout. I am just as happy to continue to serve the public. The last 40 years of my life have been spent serving the public in one capacity or another whether elected or volunteering or doing things for the community,” said Pawlak. “Now I have an opportunity to go from the second floor to the fifth floor. It’s a lot more quiet on the fifth floor.”
Pawlak said he has some ideas of things he would like to change when his term begins on Jan. 3.
“I made a mental list of several things I saw today,” said Pawlak from his campaign headquarters Tuesday night at the Pulaski Club. “Couple that with everything I learned at the four years doing quick response to problems throughout the State of Connecticut. I think we can make things smoother in different areas.”
Pawlak said the average age of his volunteers was 72.
“We may be an old bunch, but we are a rowdy bunch,” he said. “I feel like this is a lot of community recognition.”
Pawlak will take the place of Juan Verdu who decided to resign as registrar of voters.
Final New Britain election numbers were Gerratana 1,677 to Saavedra at 925. Pawlak had 1,534 and Truworthy 1,016.
