Lauretti Comes up Short in Primary Petition Signatures for Lt. Gov. Bid

Mayor Mark Lauretti has failed to gather enough signatures to appear on the statewide GOP primary ballot for lieutenant governor, the New Haven Register reports.

Lauretti needed 8,190 signatures but was short by 1,467, according to the Register.

The Shelton Herald quoted Lauretti saying that he was disappointed at failing to secure a spot in the primary, but he had little time to get the petition drive off the ground.

Lauretti's campaign website doesn't seem to have been updated for days, possibly weeks. His expected running mate, former gubernatorial candidate Mark Boughton, the mayor of Danbury, has already dropped out of the race.

Lauretti told the Herald that he was pleased he was successful in helping Boughton raise funds quickly.

Candidates Tom Foley and John McKinney, the state Senate Minority Leader, remain in the race. The primary takes place Aug. 12.