Top aides to Conn. House candidate Bernier quit

PLAINVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Two top aides to Republican 5th Congressional District candidate Justin Bernier have stepped down, two weeks before Connecticut's primary.

Campaign manager Jonathan Hanen and campaign spokesman Jonathan Scott both announced they will no longer be working for Bernier's campaign. Several news outlets cited a joint news release issued Tuesday by the top aides.

The Hartford Courant quoted Scott saying he wished Bernier luck, acknowledging they've had "creative differences." He said Republicans would be well-served if Bernier becomes the GOP's nominee following the Aug. 14 primary.

Bernier, a U.S. Navy veteran from Plainville, is in a primary battle with state Sen. Andrew Roraback, the party's endorsed candidate; Lisa Wilson-Foley and Mark Greenberg.

Bernier said the transition had been in the works for weeks and was not contentious.