Law KOs Democratic committee chairman

However, he is not completely out of the Democrats' leadership picture as the party gears up for another local election campaign in the fall.

Stafstrom, a lawyer and former City Council member, in a letter dated Feb. 8, tendered his resignation from the post he held nearly three years, citing a provision that took effect the same day, barring a "state contractor" from serving as chairman of a political committee. The resignation was not made public until Friday.

Stafstrom's law firm, Pullman & Comley LLC, works as the bond counsel not only for the city but many state agencies.

Terms of the state law, which bars firms that do business with the state from certain forms of political solicitation, was broadened in scope last week, he said.

"The legislation has defined 'solicit' to say you cannot serve as party chairman or treasurer," he said of the tighter regulations.

But Stafstrom, 50, still is expected to wield significant influence over party affairs, as the new measure does not prevent him from serving as the party's vice chairman. He said he hopes to be ratified for that post at a town committee meeting expected to take place next week.

He is disallowed from continuing in the chairmanship because of his firm's state contracts and not his role as bond counsel for Bridgeport, which is not prohibited by the legislation, he

Under the party's rules, town committee Vice Chairwoman Cynthia King, of the 135th District, automatically becomes the new chairman. King, 54, could not be reached Friday for comment.

Three years ago, the Democratic Town Committee was led by Mario Testa, the powerful chairman during the heady days before a corruption scandal derailed Mayor Joseph P. Ganim's administration and sent Ganim to federal prison for nine years.

Testa, who was never indicted, resigned the chairmanship during the 2003 mayoral race, saying he didn't want to prove a distraction to the party's endorsed candidate, John M. Fabrizi. In the approaching mayoral election this year, Stafstrom said district leaders want a "seamless transition" in the leadership.

Thomas McCarthy, a City Council member in the 133rd District and its Democratic leader, said there seems to be a consensus in the town committee to keep Stafstrom in a major role.

"It's a hiccup, but I have a great confidence in the ability of Cynthia and the district leaders keeping the party together before the election," he said.

Martha Santiago, the 138th District leader, said she hopes Stafstrom wouldn't face a challenge to become vice chairman.

The coming election could pit the party organization, whose members have backed the incumbent Fabrizi against a former town chairman, Christopher L. Caruso, the state representative also widely expected to be a candidate for mayor.

But the party isn't quite as mighty as it once was, when it raised hundreds of thousands of dollars that leaders thought would form a springboard for a Ganim gubernatorial run. The new law, for example, limits individuals to contributions of $1,000 to a municipal party committee annually.

Caruso has worked on reforming state campaign rules, and there were grumblings that this one was aimed at weakening the local party.

Caruso took credit for championing the law as part of his work on the Government Administration & Elections Committee. He said he expects the measure to withstand any legal challenges.

Stafstrom said of the law, however, "Basically, I think it's a violation of someone's First Amendment rights."

But "until it's contested and resolved, that's what the law is," he added.