Payback In The 5th District House Race

Guess who is dumping big cash on on a small local legislative race? The Great New England Public Schools Alliance, which is backed by Michelle Rhee’s Students First initiative, just invested almost $32,000 into keeping Leo Canty out of the General Assembly.  Canty is the outspoken labor leader who is a vice president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Federation of Teachers facing a primary vote Oct. 2 against Brandon McGee. Rhee — the former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. schools who is supporting school reform efforts across the country – is villified by teacher unions in Connecticut and across the land.

Canty’s race against McGee appears to be the perfect opportunity for Students First to go after a candidate who would not be a supporter in the General Assembly. The Students First cash will go toward a get-out-the-vote initiative during the final few days before Tuesday’s vote.

Canty faces a second primary vote Tuesday after his August runoff against McGee ended in a tie in the race for the Democratic nomination in the 5th House District. Both candidates have little money left to spend on the primary and the big money from Rhee’s group could alter a race that ended in a 774-774 tie.