Conn. Lawmaker to Giffords: 'Stay Out!'

DebraLee Hovey didn't take kindly to Giffords' visit
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 7, 2013 11:59 AM CST
Conn. Lawmaker to Giffords: 'Stay Out!'
DebraLee Hovey grabs the hand of colleague Laura Hoydick after speaking at a service for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting at the state Capitol in Hartford, Conn., Dec. 19, 2012.   (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Gabrielle Giffords visited Newtown, Conn., on Friday, and though it seems difficult to imagine such an event could stir up controversy, one state legislator managed to do so. On the day of Giffords' visit, State Rep. DebraLee Hovey posted, "Gabby Gifford [sic] stay out of my towns!!" on her public Facebook page. It had been removed by Sunday, the Hartford Courant reports. In a follow-up Facebook comment, Hovey—who represents Newtown, and who was in Florida at the time of Giffords' visit—added:

  • "It was political. The Lt Gov was there, Blumenthall [sic] was there and ALL political types KNOW it is courteous to let sitting Reps know when another political is in their District. So...... There was pure political motives"

In other Newtown news, the mayor of nearby Stratford wants to honor the memory of Sandy Hook teacher Victoria Soto, who was killed in the rampage while trying to protect her students. Mayor John Harkins wants to name a planned school after Soto, who lived in Stratford, the AP reports. The town council will discuss on Jan. 14; construction on the school is set to start this summer. (In other Newtown-related news, a neighboring town plans to burn violent video games.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X