Independent Party of Connecticut

Not to be confused with Independent politician.

The Independent Party of Connecticut (IPC) is a minor political party in the State of Connecticut. As of November 3, 2014, Connecticut had 16,189 active voters registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State with the Independent party, making it the third largest party in the state.^[1] The party has at least one elected official. In November 2013, Lawrence DePillo was elected to the Waterbury Board of Aldermen.^[2]

Independent Party of Connecticut
Founded	August 23, 1966
Political position	Center
National affiliation	Alliance Party
State Senate	0 / 36
State House	0 / 151
U.S. Senate	0 / 2
U.S. House	0 / 5
Website
https://ctindparty.org/
Politics of Connecticut Elections

After a 2022 Independent Party gubernatorial convention in which party chairman Mike Telesca voted to break a 79-79 tie between businessmen Bob Stefanowski and Rob Hotaling, the Party nominated Hotaling. Hotaling failed to garner the necessary 1% to maintain ballot access for the Independent Party, and as a result, any Independent Party member who does not live in an area governed by a local IP town committee forfeits their membership. ^[3]

History

In the 1930s, an Independent-Republican party was formed by Professor Albert Levitt of Redding, CT and Irving Fisher, a Yale economist.^[4] However, the official title of "Independent Party" was used later on. In 1958, Andrew C. LaCroix of Easton, Connecticut was acting treasurer of the Independent Party of Connecticut. The party backed Ms. Vivian Kellems of Stonington, Connecticut in a 1956 write-in campaign. At that time, Anthony Sparaco of Old Saybrook was president, and Rosemary Favale of Waterbury was vice-president.^[5] In 1959, Charles R. Iovino of Milford, Connecticut was also elected as an Independent write-in candidate.^[6] As early as 1967, the Independent Party of Connecticut successfully held meetings throughout the State.^[7] However, it is speculated that the Independent Party of Connecticut was actually formed on August 23, 1966.^[8]

Town committees

An Independent Town Committee is a local organization that affiliates with the State-Central Executive Board. According to bylaws, they must consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Town committees by city/town

• Bethel, Connecticut ^[9]
• Bridgeport, Connecticut ^[10]
• East Haven, Connecticut^[11]
• Milford, Connecticut^[12]
• Middletown, Connecticut^[13]
• Newtown, Connecticut^[14]
• Waterbury, Connecticut^[15]
• Watertown, Connecticut^[16]
• Winsted, Connecticut- Samuel Demonstranti, Chairman- David LaPointe, Treasurer

No Independent Party candidate of note has ever been elected in their own right.

External links

Independent Party of Connecticut

References

1. "Denise W. Merrill : Secretary of the State Connecticut" (PDF). Ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
2. "Prescribed Form for Return of Votes Cast at a Municipal Election" (PDF). Sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
3. "Just Shy of 1%, Unofficial Results Show Independent Party Likely Lost Ballot Line". 15 November 2022.
4. "Meriden Record - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
5. "The Day - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
6. "Mayors of Milford, past and present, gather for rare meeting". Connecticut Post. 2012-08-11.
7. "The Norwalk Hour - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
8. "Connecticut Group Forms The Independent Party". The New York Times. 24 August 1966.
9. "Memorandum of Decision - Judge Susan Peck" (PDF).
10. "Bridgeport Independent Party Chair Writes to Endorse Michael Grant for State Representative". 27 October 2022.
11. "New Third, Independent Political Party Forming in East Haven". East Haven, Connecticut Patch. 2013-01-03.
12. "Milford Independent Party". December 21, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
13. "Independent Party of Connecticut in Middletown". independentpartyct-middletown.blogspot.com.
14. "Squarespace - Account Not Available". Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
15. "IPWTC Contact us at 203-573-8318 - Independent Party Waterbury". IPWTC Contact us at 203-573-8318. Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
16. "Watertown CT Independent Party". 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013.