Many choices for many positions

Even the politically astute have got to be preparing scratch sheets to keep track of who is running for what this political season.

Anyone paying even marginal attention must know by now that there are contested races for the one U.S. Senate slot and the governor's seat in Connecticut (or they should if those nonstop television advertisements are worth their cost) but do voters know they'll also be electing a lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of the state, state Senate and House district representatives, and even judges of probate, registrars of voters and school boards in some cities and towns.

There is such a clamor at the top of the ticket right now that other, very important races, seem to be getting the short shrift. A week from Tuesday, Aug. 10, registered Republicans and Democrats will go to the polls to narrow the fields in a number of contested races, but even after that, there are so many contenders in so many races that it's really hard to keep track.

But it's an important thing to do. People shouldn't complain about their elected representatives if they don't at least cast an educated ballot first. Filling in the bubble next to the candidate's name you recognize is no way to make to make an informed choice.

Do a little homework first. Visit the candidates' websites and study their positions on issues that you care about.

Not sure who is running? Then go to the secretary of the state's website (ctgov.org will get you started) and find out the candidate's names, political parties and offices that they are seeking.

Speaking of the secretary of state, did you know that Gerry Garcia (yes, that's really his name) could get bumped in next week's primaries in his bid to be Connecticut's new secretary of the state?

The Democrat (did you have any doubt?) is vying for the seat against party endorsed candidate Denise Merrill in what will be a three-way race Nov. 2 pitting either Garcia or Merrill against Republican Jerry Farrell Jr. and Green Party contender S. Michael DeRosa. It's an important job, overseeing the state's elections, so we'd all do ourselves a favor by brushing up on the candidates' qualifications and platforms so we can make informed decisions come November.

Back in May Republicans and Democrats convened in Hartford to pick their candidates for the top of the ticket. Not everyone agreed with those choices, so that's why there are primaries. Now more registered voters will have a say in shaping November's ballot. Unaffiliated voters have until noon on Aug. 9 to visit their registrar's office and change affiliation to Republican or Democrat so they can vote in the primaries.

Maybe some people feel strongly about who should be the state's next attorney general. Most people seem to know that Richard Blumenthal is vacating the seat he's held for the past two decades to make a run for the U.S. Senate seat that Democrat Christopher J. Dodd is retiring from. But who exactly is interested in succeeding Blumenthal?

Well, the Democrats are running George Jepsen from Ridgefield, the Green Party Stephen Fournier of Hartford and the Republicans will duke it out next week to settle on either party-endorsed candidate Martha Dean of Avon or primary challenger Ross Garber of Glastonbury.

There's even a battle to be comptroller, which makes you have to wonder given the state's nearly $3 billion deficit. It would seem to be more fun to be the money person when the state is flush rather than broke. But that hasn't deterred Democrats Michael Jarjura and Kevin Lembo from jousting for the party's nod on Nov. 2. The winner of that race will face Republican Jack Orchulli and Green candidate Colin Bennett.

And we haven't even talked about governor, or lieutenant governor, yet.

The point is, there are a lot of people interested in representing you in Hartford and Washington, D.C., and all of us will be better off if we cast informed ballots.

Before voting Aug. 10, or on Nov. 2, make sure that the candidate getting your vote really, truly deserves it.

Otherwise, stop complaining that the same bums always get elected.

Ann Baldelli is associate editorial page editor.