Michael Jarjura

Michael Jarjura (born May 28, 1944) is an American attorney and politician. Is the former Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Michael Jarjura
45th Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut
Preceded bySam Caligiuri
Connecticut State House
for the 74th District i 1992-2002
Preceded byElizabeth Crichton Brown
Assistant Attorney General
1987-1993
Personal details
Born
Michael Jarjura

(1961-05-12) 12 May 1961
Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (until 2011 )
Republican (2011–present)
EducationPost College (BS)
University of Bridgeport (JD)
University of Connecticut

He was elected in November 1992 to represent Waterbury's 74th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He served as House Chairman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. He also served on the Judiciary and Finance Committee. During his tenure, Representative Jarjura served as Chairman and member of various Legislative Task Forces and Commissions.

Personal life

Mayor Jarjura was educated in the Waterbury school system, graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1979 and received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Post College, Waterbury in 1983. He was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the University of Bridgeport, School of Law, in 1987. The Mayor graduated magna cum laude, in the top 5% of his class, at both schools.


Mike is a lifelong resident of Waterbury with strong ties to his community. A parishioner of Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church, he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the East End Community Club, Western CT Area on Aging, Waterbury Crime Stoppers, Easter Seals Telethon Committee, the Exchange Club of Waterbury, the Waterbury Club and a member of the Post College Alumni Association.

Mayor Jarjura, who currently devotes most of his time to his mayoral duties, is also an Attorney at Law and Director and Vice President of J.P. Jarjura & Son's Co a well-established fruit and produce market and Connecticut food distributor. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General for Connecticut from 1987-1993.

Mayoralty

He was first elected in 2001 and reelected in 2003. In 2005, he was elected to a third term as a write-in candidate after losing the Democratic primary. He was re-elected in 2007 and 2009 as the Democratic Party nominee. In 2011, after failing to seek the Democratic nomination, he ran for reelection on the Republican Party ticket. In the general election, he was defeated by former police chief Neil O'Leary, who was the Democratic nominee. Perennial Waterbury mayoral candidate Larry DePillo also ran in the general election, as an independent.

Jarjura, long considered a conservative Democrat, shed that party label and joined the Republican party in 2011. In 2006 he endorsed the independent senate campaign of Joe Lieberman. In 2008 he announced he would hire former Governor John G. Rowland, who had served prison time on a corruption charge, as an economic development advisor.[1] In September 2009 Jarjura spoke at a Tea Party movement rally in Waterbury, saying, "We needed a spark, and you're the spark that is going to be the change. So don't give up. Don't get discouraged because this country is worth fighting for and you're fighting for it."[2]

Post-mayoralty

Prior to his election as Mayor, Jarjura served in the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 74th District in the city's east end. He was employed by the Connecticut Attorney General's office prior to entering elective politics. He served as House Chairman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. He also served on the Judiciary and Finance Committee. During his tenure, Representative Jarjura served as Chairman and member of various Legislative Task Forces and Commissions.

Jarjura is a cultural conservative who opposes abortion rights.[3] He is a member of the Legislative Advisory Council of the Family Institute of Connecticut,[4] an organization known for its vocal opposition to same-sex marriage.[5]

In May 2010, Jarjura, who first explored a run for governor and lieutenant governor, announced he would seek the post of state comptroller being vacated by incumbent Nancy Wyman.[3] His opponent, Kevin Lembo, won the endorsement of the Democratic State Convention later that month.[3]

In July 2010, Jarjura challenged his opponent's request for public funding in a complaint with the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission. The commission found no wrongdoing and approved the public grant.[6]

Later in July, Jarjura filed a lawsuit against the State Election Enforcement Commission for approving his primary opponent for public campaign financing.[6] On July 27, Hartford Superior Court Judge James T. Graham denied Jarjura’s request for an injunction against the state and his opponent.[7][8]

In the state Democratic primary, held on August 10, 2010, Jarjura was defeated by Lembo.[9]

References
  1. "Governor Rowland: More Visible This Year, Is He A Plus Or Poison To Candidates? - Hartford Courant". Articles.courant.com. 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  2. "Jarjura takes hits in race for comptroller | The Connecticut Mirror". Ctmirror.org. 2010-07-30. Archived from the original on 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  3. "For the third time this year, a political campaign awaits a judge's decision | The Connecticut Mirror". Ctmirror.org. 2010-07-27. Archived from the original on 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  4. "Family Institute of Connecticut". Ctfamily.org. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  5. Altimari, Daniela (2007-07-26). "Article: New Leader At Family Institute: A Former Liberal, State Native To Head... | AccessMyLibrary - Promoting library advocacy". AccessMyLibrary. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  6. "Jarjura Sues Over Lembo's Public Campaign Grant". NBC Connecticut. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  7. "Judge rejects effort to block public funding for Lembo | The Connecticut Mirror". Ctmirror.org. 2010-07-27. Archived from the original on 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  8. "Judge Denies Jarjura Lawsuit, Lembo Free To Spend". CT News Junkie. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  9. "Connecticut Primaries: Results". Hartford Courant. August 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
Preceded by
Sam S.F. Caligiuri		 Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut
2002–2011		 Succeeded by
Neil O'Leary
Preceded by
Elizabeth Crichton Brown		 Connecticut state representative for the Seventy-Fourth District
1993–2002		 Succeeded by
Selim Noujaim
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