In addition to Malloy, other state Democrats present included Attorney General George Jepson, Comptroller Kevin Lembo, Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey, U.S. Senate candidate Susan Bysiewicz, Representative Matt Lesser, and several other State Representatives and State Senators. Congressman John Larson made a contribution and sent a representative to the event. The City's political leadership was represented by chair of the Democratic Town Council Lisa Santangelo, Former Mayor Domenique Thornton, Councilmen Gerry Daley, James Streeto and Robert Santangelo, and Planning and Zoning Commissioners Dan Russo and Michael Johnson.
There were a number of people there who are not Middletown political luminaries, but who have contributed their time and energy to help elect Drew. Joe Spadaccini, a retired construction worker, was passionate and confident that Drew could address the problems he felt exist in the City: taxes too high, and an inefficient city work force. A retired woman told me she had spent many hours going door to door for Drew, "He's the real deal." Like others in the room, she was determined and optimistic that Drew would get elected this time.
Malloy praised Middletown, "... great riverfront deserving of investment... great main street." He effused about Drew, "This guy is really smart," and implored all in attendance, "Do everything in your power to make sure Dan Drew is the next Mayor of Middletown."
After the formal speeches were over, I asked Drew why he thought the State's top Democratic leadership had become involved in the Middletown Mayoral race. He replied, "Their presence here is a testament to how important the Middletown race is to the state.... It's important because Middletown has been regressing."
24 comments:
Dan Drew is not old enough to even begin to know if Middletown is regressing. We do not need someone so young and inexperienced running a small city. I doubt he can remember 20 years ago, and what Middletown was like then compared to now. No, this town has not regressed at all. If he disagrees, he needs to back his statement up with facts, not just make unsubstantiated, political assertions in an effort to disparage the very city he hopes to lead.
I think there is plenty to criticize about Dan Drew without taking cheap shots at his age. Otherwise, I agree with your comment.
I'm curious as to why Dan Drew's fundraiser was held in HARTFORD when there are plenty of good restaurants in MIDDLETOWN in need of business.
I believe Dan Drew is a worthy candidate for Mayor. It is time we see a breath of fresh air in the Mayor's seat. There are those out there that want to make a point of Drew's 31 years, so I will as well.
Youth brings Enthusiasm, Determination, A can do attitude, A need to make the world they live in a better place, Boundless energy and a fresh look at old problems, to name a few. Out with the old and in with the new. Dan Drew has my vote!
No cheap shot taken at his age. It's just a fact that at 31, he does not have the life experience yet to run a city. The further point is, our city was not the destination it is now 20 years ago, but at age 11, I doubt he would have been aware of the shape it was in back in 1991. To say it's regressed now just proves he's not old enough to understand that.
Why not listen to what his plan is prior to making judgements. His youth could bring vitality to our city....fresh ideas could be a good thing.
Well, we heard his plan 2 years ago, did we not? And it didn't resonate.
And I guess the larger question is, what is so wrong with our city that it needs so much change? It's better than ever. The last thing we need is a democrat mayor and our ever-present 8-4 democratic council so that we can have a property tax increase year in and year out like we did in the Holzberg and Thornton years. We need balance.
If age and maturity went hand in hand, we would not have the current acrimony between the City Administration and the Board of Education. If age and maturity went hand in hand, we would have a Chief of Police, not an Acting. If age and maturity went hand in hand, we would not have union issues causing ill feelings between union brothers and sisters. If age and maturity went hand in hand, we would not be spending 100's of thousands of tax payer dollars in court and then arguing about what needy cause needs CDBG money the most.
Give us a bright, energetic father with his kid in the public schools to lead our City! Vote DREW in November!!!!!
Regressed ??? It certainly has not they talk about us in the New York Times, Boston Globe etc. Who in the state does not recognize all the advances Middletown has made.
That ignorant statement combined with the implication that seniors are not human beings and don't deserve CDBG funds clearly shows his inexperiance.
If he gets in the unions will rip him apart.
It will never be his views. It will be his party's "good old boys" who currently sit on the Council. It's proven by his voting since he became a councilman.
I don't care if he is 31 or 13, this town needs someone who can stand on his own two feet and not just be a pawn of the old time Dems like the Serra's.
You do not need to be an "old fart" to know that the demographics and economics of a city over time. The data is out there....it takes a brain to look at it and see that things need to improve. I think it is good to see that at least he is open to change and looking to improve the city. Can you honestly say that since he younger than some he cannot manage a city...I think that is a pretty unsubstantiated argument.
To 9:25 am, I don't see avoiding a candidate because he's too young to have been here when Middletown was in the pit. To 2:42 pm, I have the same problem with hoping that youth brings fresh energy or ideas. I have heard Dan Drew speak in many forums and listened to his position on the issues that are important to me. That's why I won't be voting for him. Also, I think he has displayed a lack of courtesy and respect for others ideas, and an allegiance to party politics that is the LAST thing we need in this town. I was inclined to support him in the last election, because I'm a Democrat and would like to see better leadership than we currently have, but after watching him for the past two years, I'm absolutely sure that Dan Drew is not it.
I would venture to say that if bloggers had to register their actual name and address with the editor before they could blog anonymously, the comments would be more factual and thoughtful.
Ah, so the anonymous comment currently appearing as the Official Endorsement is neither factual nor thoughtful.
Or is that true only of this anonymous comment, or those with which you anonymously disagree?
Actually, I think the comments on this post are among the more thoughtful that I've seen from Anonymous these past few years at the Eye. I deleted a few which indulged in some name-calling, but most just expressed an opinion. Keep 'em coming folks!
@ Anon 4:18
I moved to Middletown in 2005 and my property taxes have increased just about every year since, including what will amount to yet another increase with the South Farms Fire vote last week. So please, let's not go there blaming Democrats for property tax increases. Republicans seem to be just as fond of raising taxes as well, they just tend to try to call it "pumpkin pie."
Jennifer Peifer
For the past 5 years the Democrats were the majority on the Common Council (and the BoE)and they set the tax rate.
@ Jennifer You do realize that the council controls the budget and has the final say in Middletown. The mayor can put forth a budget as he did this year but it is up to the council to pass the budget. The blame for tax increases have been made by the common council which has been in democratic control since the early 90's.
@ Lifelong Resident
I'm not blaming anyone, that is my whole point. Taxes go up - they rarely, if ever, go down. Republicans and Democrats in power raise them because they have to in order to keep budgets intact. It annoys me that Republicans like to act as if they will cut taxes without sacrificing anything. That is where the pumpkin pie comes in. No one can have a rational conversation about taxes without their pre-existing labels that they have already pinned on said candidates based on perceived politics. Meanwhile, everyone in city/state government and education want their raises and no one will dare come forward and say no - not the citizenry and certainly not the politicians - so there it is.
Jennifer Peifer
Dan Drew could use his youth in other ways such as joining a variety of committees and organizations and bettering Middletown in a less experimental and damaging way. Our town should not be a trial in political sense to boost his career. You cannot go from 30 something year old former college club/ class president or student council president or whatever you said you were or something or other to 9 months on the council to mayor. And remember you are on the council by default Dan not because you were voted on. Simply not enough experience in my book- especially when you lack simple life experience. If you were 40 or 50 at least one could argue that perhaps life experience has earned up something, but sorry Dan you are not there yet. The fundraiser was held in Hartford because we as citizens are all too broke here & to impress Hartford politicians- Middletown mayor position is simply a resume builder for Drew it seems. Dan keeps saying he will fix "things" but doesn't offer "how."Reread every article he has ever been written about it and this becomes very clear.
Really what does it matter if he has a kid in the public school system anyway?> Middletown BOE acts and operates like a sovereign nation- the mayor by charter has no NO say at all how the BOE or education in the City operates!!!! Citizens- have you not learned anything during the legal battles of the last year and a half?? Even Dan Drew could not control the BOE or make them do a thing if he were mayor.
@Jennifer I haven't had a raise in the past three years. So the whole they want raises doesn't fly with me in this economy. Many are lucky to have their jobs still, while others are still looking for work.
Government needs to live within their means as the rest of us do.
@ Lifelong Resident
I agree. But they don't. And our taxes go up. It's pretty simple, and it doesn't matter who is in office at the time. If you have a contract that guarantees a 4% raise every year - guess what? Whether or not you have had a raise in a private sector job, unfortunately, is irrelevant.
Jennifer Peifer
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