After graduating from law school, Jarjura worked as an independent attorney and businessman. He also served as an assistant
Connecticut Attorney General from 1987 to 1993.
Connecticut House of Representatives 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 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.
Mayor of Waterbury with
James H. Maloney, 2002 and
Joe Lieberman, 2006 Jarjura was first elected mayor in 2001, and re-elected 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.
Political positions Jarjura is a
cultural conservative who opposes
abortion rights. He is a member of the Legislative Advisory Council of the
Family Institute of Connecticut, an organization known for its vocal opposition to
same-sex marriage. Jarjura, long considered a
conservative Democrat, 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. In September 2009, Jarjura spoke at a
Tea Party 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."
2010 comptroller election 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. Later in July, Jarjura filed a lawsuit against the State Election Enforcement Commission for approving his primary opponent for public
campaign financing. In the state Democratic primary, held on August 10, 2010, Jarjura was defeated by Lembo. == References ==