Democrats Confident About November

Wilton Bulletin, Sunday, May 30, 2010

Though in 2008 Democrats flocked to the polls in record numbers, John Kalamarides, head of Wilton’s Democratic Town Committee, said the fact this fall’s election is mid-term should not affect his party’s chances.

On Tuesday night, Peggy Reeves was renominated to run for her second term to be the representative for the 143rd District.

“I think Peggy is effective because Hartford listens to her, and I think she’s going to do very well against Gail,” Mr. Kalamarides said of the race between Ms. Reeves and Gail Lavielle for state representative of the 143rd District. “She loves her job as a state rep. She’s 100% dedicated to our interests in Hartford. She’s a very strong candidate and I’m looking forward to her being re-elected.”

Mr. Kalamarides also spoke in support of John Hartwell, who’s challenging state Senator Toni Boucher for the 26th District, a rematch of 2008.

“I think John is a very good candidate. He got about 47% to 48% of the vote last time,” he said. “He’s really anxious to get going. He has a plan. I think he’s going to do real well. I think he’s going to give Toni a real run for her money.”

Mr. Kalamarides said he thought the race between Ms. Boucher and Mr. Hartwell will be “one of the most interesting” in the state.

“Some things really need to be done in Hartford and I think John’s going to make those things clear and differentiate himself from Toni,” he said. “He will be able to get things done as senator.”

Mr. Kalamarides said the Democrats do not have anyone to run against state Rep. John Hetherington (R-125th).

“I’m disappointed about that,” he said. “There’s still time [to nominate a candidate] but we haven’t chosen one yet. We probably won’t.”

State convention

The Democrats held their state convention this past weekend, nominating a slate of candidates who will appear on November’s ballot.

Dan Malloy, the former four-term mayor of Stamford, won the Democrats’ nomination for governor.

“Dan has 16 years of experience as the mayor of Stamford,” Mr. Kalamarides said. “He is someone who is very people-oriented. I think Dan’s approach of saying municipal governments and governments in general are not corporations is important.”

Mr. Kalamarides also said Jim Himes, the Democratic representative to Congress of the 4th District in Connecticut, is serving the district well.

“Jim has done a tremendous amount of work, has done just about everything right in the year and a half he’s been in office,” he said. “I think he’s going to do very well and be very effective.”

Mr. Kalamarides said Mr. Himes is “ideally situated” and he has “been an influence on a lot of the members of the House — the Barney Franks, the Nancy Pelosis — and he’s been more independent. He hasn’t voted the party line all the time.”

Despite Richard Blumenthal’s recent snafu over comments regarding his service during the Vietnam War, Mr. Kalamarides said the attorney general would be a great U.S. senator.

“He’s just extremely experienced and really ready to go to Washington to represent the people,” Mr. Kalamarides said. “Some of the problem that he’s faced this last week, I’m sure he’ll overcome. Many of my Republican friends have said to me it’s nothing, he’ll work his way through it. I think Dick will run a hell of a race and be elected.”

Other candidates

Nancy Wyman, the current state comptroller, was nominated for lieutenant governor, Kevin Lembo was nominated for comptroller, George Jepsen will be the party’s candidate for attorney general, Denise Merrill was nominated as the party’s secretary of the state candidate, and Denise Nappier, the current treasurer, was nominated to seek her fourth term.