Greenwich Democrats Hold Annual Rally

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Congressman Jim Himes (Richard Kaufman photo).

By Richard Kaufman

As the mid-term election rapidly approaches, Greenwich Democrats are hoping they can build on the momentum created from last November’s municipal election.

Last Sunday, at Greenwich High School, the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee gathered for its annual picnic. Well over 300 guests attended, setting a new record for the event.

“We have more first-time Democrats at our event than ever before, we have more unaffiliated voters here than ever before, more Republican voters than ever before, and we’ve raised the most money ever,” said DTC chair, Tony Turner, noting that most importantly, GHS Young Democrats were seated in the crowd.

Denise Merrill, Secretary of State in Connecticut, said that there have been 275,000 new registered voters in Connecticut, since 2016. The 18-24 year-old demographic doubled in size over that time period, as well. “I do think that the next generation is about to step up,” she said.

The event featured several speakers, including U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal; Congressman, Jim Himes (4th Congressional District); Lt. Governor candidate, Susan Bysiewicz; Gubernatorial candidate, Ned Lamont; State Attorney General candidate, William Tong; State Treasurer candidate, Shawn Wooden; and Greenwich’s Democratic nominees for state legislature: Laura Kostin (151st District), Steve Meskers (150th), and Alex Bergstein, who is running for State Senator (36th).

All spoke about the importance of the upcoming election on Nov. 6. Murphy said that “democracy itself is on the ballot.”

Blumenthal offered encouragement to Greenwich’s local candidates.

“You ask my advice: can you win? Of course you can win,” he said. 

Blumenthal spoke to his Republican colleagues in Washington: “You are going to see surprises across the country. You’re not going to see a blue wave, you’re going to see a blue tsunami.”

Himes urged his fellow Democrats to view the midterm election as an “electoral rebuke” against the current administration and elected officials on the Republican side.

“We say we are better than this, we stand for what is decent, and as a result you should lose your office and make way for people who remember what is great about this country,” he said.

Lamont, a Greenwich resident who will run against Republican Bob Stefanowski, talked about beginning his public service in town. He said the budget and economy in Connecticut are priorities, and that the state needs a governor who can reach across the aisle. Lamont believes his experience as a business owner and job creator would serve him well if elected.

 

“That’s not a bad thing for a state that’s near the bottom of the barrel when it comes to starting businesses and creating jobs,” he said. “I’m going to do that every day.”

Kostin, who will run against State Rep., incumbent Fred Camillo, for a seat representing the 151st district, said Democrats can offer more to constituents.

“We as Democrats ask, ‘Who can we help; how can we fix what’s broken?’ While Republicans say, ‘What can we deregulate; what can we cut?'” Kostin said.

Steve Meskers will run against State Rep., incumbent Mike Bocchino, for the 150th district. Meskers said he has knocked on over 2,000 doors in recent months in order to reach voters and hear their concerns.

“I really believe we can do something in Greenwich that hasn’t been done for nearly a century: send Democrats to Hartford,” Meskers said, noting his party’s historic capture of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation last November. 

Bergstein will face-off against incumbent State Sen. Scott Frantz for the 36th district, which covers all of Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. 

She urged her fellow Democrats to hold elected officials accountable going forward.

“I have learned, and I hope that every American has now learned, that it’s not what they say that counts, it’s what they do. Let’s collectively, as Americans, pledge to raise the standard of accountability for our elected officials,” she said.

Bergstein went on to say that the upcoming election will be a “defining moment.”

“It’s the moment when each of us must ask ourselves, ‘What do I stand for, and what will I do to fight for it?'” she said. “We’ve been talking about these midterm elections for two years. They’re now less than 50 days away.”

Greenwich Republicans and the Greenwich Republican Town Committee will hold their annual rally and clambake on Sept. 23, at Greenwich Point. 

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