The newly certified Independent team of gubernatorial hopeful Oz Griebel and his Lieutenant Governor running mate and Newtown resident Monte Frank are planning to join a host of major and minor party contenders marching in the September 3 Labor Day Parade.

The “Oz & Monte” team announced August 28 that they were officially certified for a November ballot slot by the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office, following what Mr Griebel described as a somewhat frustrating experience at the state’s Independent Party caucus in Waterbury a few days earlier.

In that contest, the Independent Party of Connecticut on Sunday cross-endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski and the slate of GOP statewide candidates, giving them a second spot on the November ballot.

Despite the fact that Republican Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti; Libertarian Rob Hanscomb; and Democrat Mark Stewart were also in the running for an Independent Party endorsement, Mr Griebel had argued he was the only true independent in the group and expressed disappointment with Sunday’s results.

In a post-caucus release, Mr Griebel stated, “Last night, approximately .002 percent of members in the Independent Party of Connecticut came out to a caucus in which they endorsed all Republicans. Proof that again the two-party monopoly has a fierce grip on the system,” — referring to the fact that Mr Stefanowski captured the endorsement with 43 of 64 caucus votes cast by paper ballot.

The caucus came days after a Superior Court judge issued a ruling in a years-long legal battle over who are the rightful leaders of the party, which organizers estimate has roughly 30,000 members.

Mr Griebel, a former Republican, and his running mate Mr Frank, a lifelong Democrat, decided recently to seek the Independent Party’s nomination, partly because they would be listed third on the ballot, rather than last, behind other minor party candidates.

“It’s all practical politics,” said Griebel, who met with party members on Saturday as they nominated some legislative candidates. “If an Independent Party member is serious about having an independent group of thinkers not associated with one of the parties, we are the option. We’ve been at this since the beginning as independents. We’re bringing an independent perspective into the governor’s office next November.”

The momentary setback was assuaged about 48 hours later when the Secretary of State’s office confirmed that the Oz & Monte campaign for Governor and Lt Governor has secured more than the required 7,500 validated signatures and certified them to be on the November 6 ballot.

“Thank you to all of our volunteers who secured over 10,000 signatures and filed them [with] town clerks, and to the town clerks across this great state for their courtesies and their processing,” the team stated in a release.

The party line on the November 6 ballot will be Griebel-Frank For CT.

“Monte and I have emphasized from the outset that the two-party system is broken, and only an independent executive can create the partnerships among the Connecticut legislature, municipalities, and leaders in our education, financial services, health care, labor, manufacturing, and not-for-profit service sectors that are necessary to grow the jobs we need in this state,” Mr Griebel said in a release. “With our access to the November ballot secured, voters have two clear choices: elect a Democrat or a Republican who will focus on partisan agendas — or elect our truly independent ticket that will put all Connecticut residents at the heart of every decision we make.”

Since the beginning of their campaign, Mr Griebel and Mr Frank have said repeatedly that securing 200,000 new private sector jobs over the next ten years will be the overarching goal of their independent administration.

“We can achieve that goal by working collaboratively and creatively to implement solutions that benefit all Connecticut employers, residents, and taxpayers,” the release affirmed.

“We look forward to continuing to promote our proposals in the upcoming debates and forums and in our ongoing discussions with all voters in our communities, churches, homes, and workplaces,” Mr Frank added. “By listening directly to the concerns, questions, and suggestions of Connecticut voters, we will earn their votes in November.”

Among the first large public gatherings the newly certified candidates will attend together will be the Newtown parade. Mr Griebel is also planning to be part of a gubernatorial debate on Wednesday, September 5, at the University of St Joseph in Hartford.

Organizers notified the press August 29, that Mr Stefanowski has declined the invitation to participate in that debate.