Mark Boughton Explores Bid for Governor

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton formed an exploratory committee on Wednesday.

 

He made the announcement in front of Danbury High School, where he was a student and later, a teacher.

 

"We have surveyed the field and right now," Boughton said. "Of the candidates who are out there, no one, including the governor we currently have, understand what the working men and women of the state are going through," Boughton said.

 

Boughton is talking about Tom Foley, his former running mate and 2010 gubernatorial candidate as well as state senate Republican leader John McKinney. McKinney announced his plans last month, Foley has yet to declare.

 

Boughton made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor in 2010. He said this time, it's all or nothing.

 

"If I decide to get in this race as a candidate for governor I will not be a candidate for lieutenant governor," Boughton said.

 

He is quite popular in Danbury but Boughton faces a challenge statewide.

 

The most recent Quinnipiac Poll taken in June shows Governor Dannel Malloy leading Boughton 43 to 36 percent. In a primary Foley tops the field with 36 percent, McKinney with 11 and Boughton with 8.

 

Democrats also wasted no time taking a shot.

 

"Mark Boughton, Tom Foley and John McKinney have a lot in common: Wrong for the middle class, wrong for Connecticut," Nancy DiNardo, the chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said.

 

Boughton said he's not afraid of the heat from either party.

 

"By the way isn't it grate when you get criticized already," he remarked. "That means they're scared, that's a good thing."

 

Boughton also plans to use social media, including his very active Twitter account, to his advantage.

 

"The great thing about that is it's free and why not go out and use it as much as you possibly can," he said.

 

He said he will make a final decision by January 1.