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12/29/2010 11:00 PM

East Haven's Political Scene Set for Busy 2011


The political landscape in East Haven is evolving as the year comes to a close. New leadership is a certainty for the 99th District in the House of Representatives in 2011, while the race to become East Haven's next mayor has already begun.

State Representative Mike Lawlor won re-election to his 99th District post in November, but the Democrat will step away from that role to accept a new one. Lawlor has been named by governor-elect Dan Malloy to serve in the state budget office as undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning. East Haven will hold an election early next year to elect a new candidate to replace Lawlor.

Lawlor has been a state representative since 1987 and he was co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee for 16 years.

In other political news, Republican John Finkle will run for mayor of East Haven in 2011. Finkle ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Mayor April Capone Almon in 2009. According to Finkle's campaign website, he will focus on three main issues during this campaign: taxes, fiscal accountability, and education.

Finkle is not new to town leadership. He was a member of the East Haven Board of Education, serving as its chairperson for 10 years. He also served as a member of the East Haven School Building Committee.

Finkle is currently a national distributor and sales manager for JST Sales America Corp.