KSG Alum Takes First “Clean” Election in Connecticut
by Stella Tsay on December 6, 2007 in News
Some people spend their whole lives trying to leave home. But immediately after finishing his MPA at the Kennedy School last spring, that’s exactly where Jason Perillo returned – to Shelton, Connecticut. And after winning a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives in an October special election for the 113th district, it looks like Perillo is there to stay.
“I’m one of those guys who has come from the community he calls home and wanted to return to that community. I’m the fourth generation of my family to be from here. This is what I call home.”
Perillo grew up down the street from longtime state representative, Richard “Dick” Belden, whom he came to see as a role model. “Dick inspired by example,” said Perillo. “Just by watching him succeed and lead, it really pointed out to me that was the kind of person I wanted to be and the kind of effect I wanted to have in people’s lives.” When Belden died suddenly of a heart attack in August, his wife approached Perillo and asked him to run.
His campaign proved far from typical. Not only was the duration extremely short – with a mere five weeks from the time of Belden’s death to the October 9 election – but it acted as the guinea pig for Connecticut’s new public financing system, which was enacted following a series of corruption scandals that sent former Connecticut Governor John Rowland to prison.
Both candidates—Perillo, a Republican, and his Democratic opponent James Orazietti—opted to participate in the clean elections program, which provides full public financing of campaigns to candidates who forego private fundraising, including contributions from lobbyists and special interests. The pilot run in the 113th district was heralded as a success.
Yet while Perillo was pleased that he did not have to spend significant time fundraising, he was hesitant to fully endorse the system: “It was hard to see the tax dollars collected from my constituents going to campaign balloons and little orange footballs for my opponent.”
Perillo won the race by a huge margin—65 to 35 percent—and was helped by his status as a town alderman and involvement in several local public service initiatives. Still, he was surprised by the widespread support he received. “I had people stop me in the grocery store, senior citizens hugging me and telling me how excited they were. ‘Jason, we love you! We hope you win! We’re telling all our neighbors!’”
A strong believer in fiscal responsibility and redevelopment, Perillo plans to build on the legacy of Dick Belden in revitalizing downtown Shelton. “People have left at alarming rates, jobs have disappeared, and that will continue unless we do something about it,” he said.
“In order to do that, we’re going to need the intervention of government to break down barriers, both in terms of money and regulatory assistance.”
Written by Stella Tsay · Filed Under News
Comments
Got something to say?
