By Chéye Roberson
Sentinel Correspondent
Eric Trump, who grew up partly in Greenwich, made a surprise appearance at the 85th Annual Cos Cob Republican Clambake at Greenwich Point on Sunday, an event that signifies the start of the fall campaign season.
Trump predicted a win for his father, GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump, noting that politics as usual is not working and that it’s time for a candidate who can look at things from a new angle.
“He’s never been a politician,” said Trump, who is 32. “You look at Congress’s approval rating. It’s in the single digits right now. I mean, people don’t trust government. People see what happens in government, and he’s never been a politician.
“Hillary’s been a politician for 35 years—she’s been a politician longer than I’ve been alive, and I think people are sick of the bad deals we make as a country. We’re sick of so many communities being left behind in this country. We have an educational system that’s totally failing. Our youth—we’re ranked 30th in the world. America shouldn’t be ranked 30th in the world for anything. We’re America.”
Trump spoke confidently about his father’s chances in the Presidential race.
“We’re going to win this—I really think we’re going to win this,” said Trump to the crowd as they burst into roaring applause.
Trump said his father intends to put a halt to billions’ worth of wasteful spending.
“We gave 150 billion dollars to Iran,” Trump said. “The Tappan Zee Bridge project is a three billion-dollar project. We gave 150 billion to Iran. That’s 50 Tappan Zee Bridges—why? We have so many people in this country suffering, we have so many communities suffering, we have an educational system suffering, we have a military that’s suffering. Let’s take care of those first.”
Donald Trump lived in a white Georgian mansion on Indian Harbor Point’s Vista Drive when he was married to his first wife, Ivana; Eric is Donald and Ivana’s second son.
Lawns signs displaying the names of candidates Trump, Frantz, and Camillo marked the entrance to the clambake. The candidates spoke passionately about the dominant theme of the event, improving the state’s economy.
Among the speakers was state Sen. L. Scott Frantz, who is being challenged by Democratic Board of Estimate and Taxation member John Blankley.
Frantz noted in particular rising Metro-North fares, which would go toward covering the state deficit rather than to improved rail service. “Twenty-four percent is the next proposed increase, which is in two months. If that goes through, it’ll be 24 percent in four years’ time,” said Frantz. “And bus fares are up significantly also. These are people that work for a living and they’re getting nailed on these fares.”
Attendees at the clambake also heard from state Rep. Fred Camillo of the 151st District, who is being challenged by Democrat Dita Bhargava, a former Wall Street trader and hedge fund portfolio manager.
“I hope this election will bring an end to the one-party rule in Connecticut,” said Camillo. “The best thing that Democrats can do is not talk about their record in the state.”
With the recent sweeping budget cuts from the state, many of the politicians at the clambake pointed to a need for state residents to re-evaluate the traditional tendency to vote for Democratic candidates.
“We’re the richest state, but we can’t pay for education and schools. This is why we’re going to win,” said state Rep. John Shaban who is running opposite Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Himes. “The Republicans believe in people before they believe in government. The Republicans believe in work and a hand up before programs and a hand out. We’re going to win at every level.”
