Date: Fri 18-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

primary-Shea-Callo-Nunn

Full Text:

Shea Wins 112th District GOP Primary

(with photo )

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The results of Tuesday's primary in the 112th Assembly District demonstrates

how well democracy still can work for the underdog.

Pat Shea of Monroe appeared to be dead-in-the-water this past July at the GOP

caucus when all nine Monroe delegates showed support for Ed Callo of Monroe.

However, two of Newtown's three delegates, Jim and Marie Smith, opted to back

Mrs Shea. They were only two votes, but they were enough to allow the

candidate to go to primary.

This week Mrs Shea was victorious, upsetting her party-endorsed opponent by a

mere 23 votes, the final tally being 414 to 391.

"We were definitely the underdog, but we always knew we had a broad base of

support," Mrs Shea said Wednesday morning. "Our next step is to get the party

united and get on with winning the election in November." Mrs Shea, a 33-year

Monroe resident, will face Monroe Democrat Andrew Nunn in November.

Mr Callo, who stopped by the Shea residence late Tuesday to congratulate his

opponent, said he would do whatever he could to convince his Republican

supporters to remain united.

Of the 1,100 Newtown Republicans living in District 112, only 70 attended to

vote (about six percent). Mrs Shea defeated Mr Callo by 10 votes in Newtown,

13 in Monroe.

Only a small portion of Newtown lies within District 112. However, the

district received a great deal of publicity in recent months due to the

exploits of its former state legislator, Bill Varese, who was arrested in

March following drunken driving charges in Bridgeport.

As the July caucus neared, Mr Varese remained in the race, believing he still

had the support of many Monroe residents. Less than a month before the caucus,

Mrs Shea threw her hat into the ring, stating that Republicans deserved to

have a choice.

Days later, under pressure from Newtown Republicans, Mr Varese stepped down,

but only on the condition that Newtown throw its support toward Mr Callo.

According to Marie Sturdevant, Newtown's Republican party chair, the delegates

(the Smiths and Barbara O'Connor) attended the caucus as uncommited delegates.