Paul Bass Photo
Sean Scanlon, left, and G Cafe's Andrea Corazzini toast on Oct. 21 to a deal bringing an outpost of the bakery to Tweed.
The man who got new flights taking off from Tweed New Haven Airport is now “exploring” a new path for his own political career.
Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon announced that exploration Tuesday: He has formed an “exploratory committee” to run this year for state comptroller.
That job is becoming vacant at year’s end with the retirement of fellow Democrat Kevin Lembo.
Scanlon, 35, who is also a fourth-term state representative from Guilford, said he intends to spend the upcoming weeks talking to people in Connecticut about whether to pursue the comptroller position, which oversees payroll and benefits for state employees and retirees, negotiates their health plans, and serves as the top fiscal watchdog issuing monthly reports on the state budget.
Scanlon said he will limit himself to contributions of $250 during this exploratory phase, rather than the allowed $375, so that he can roll over that money and qualify for the Citizens Election Program public-financing program if he proceeds to a general campaign.
He currently co-chairs the legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee. That experience “has helped me understand the budget and would allow me to step into the job on day one,” Scanlon told the Independent Tuesday.
He also said his work as Tweed chief has helped prepare him for the job: He was the point person negotiating a deal to expand the airport and bring in new commercial flights to Florida. That required long, complex negotiations with government entities, businesses, and wary neighbors.
“Connecticut is facing big problems. We have a lot of challenges as state. I think it’s important that people who want to run the state at a higher level know how to tackle big problems. I’ve shown I know how to do that. Turning around this airport is creating jobs. And the work I’ve done at the legislature — those things have positioned me well for this,” Scanlon said.
He was asked why the job interests him.
“If you look at the issues that are affecting Connecticut, whether it’s expensive health care, taxes, the state budget, retirement,” he responded “all those things are things the comptroller has a purview over. It’s not the highest-profile office. But it’s an important job in this moment.”
Scanlon said he does not plan to take a leave of absence from Tweed during the exploratory campaign or a potential official campaign. He said he would work on those campaigns during after hours, as he performed his state representative “second” job. If elected, he would then leave Tweed to work full time as comptroller.
A Republican, Mary Fay of West Hartford, has formed a candidate committee to seek the comptroller post. The job has not attracted the large field of candidates and potential candidates eyeing another soon-to-be-vacant position, secretary of the state.
Democratic State Sen. Matt Lesser has been “exploring” a possible secretary of the state candidacy, as well, according to people familiar with discussions, a comptroller candidacy. He was asked Tuesday if he is still considering both positions. Here’s how he responded: “I’m focused on listening to voters right now and I’m encouraged by what I’m hearing. I’m interested in figuring out where I can have the biggest impact.”