December GRE Newsletter 12.2015
4
Grassroots East December 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Meet John Scott 2 Meet Andrew Lockwood 3 Humor 3 RTC Endorsements 4 Calendar of Events 4 Republican Municipal Wins in the 2 nd GRE Newsletter Staff: Editor: Sharon McLaughlin Interviews: Jonathan Gilman Humor: Joe Broder Contributing Directors: Ed Munster, Gerry Nagy In last year’s state legislative races in the Second Congressional District Republicans picked up 6 seats in the State House and 1 seat in the State Senate. In this year’s municipal elections the success continues! Republicans have won leadership roles in a number of towns previously held by Democrats. Republicans in towns across Eastern Connecticut have their stories of how their hard work paid off for their candidates on all boards and commissions, and it is great to hear about them. In Clinton on election night, challenger Bruce Farmer ended up in a tie with his opponent. Days later the recount found that Bruce had won by a single vote. This is another dramatic example of the fact that every vote counts. In Pomfret Craig Baldwin won an impressive victory and Republicans have taken the leadership role there. In Lebanon Betsy Petrie and Glen Coutu led their Republican ticket to a great victory in taking their town back from Democratic leadership. Former Congressman Rob Simmons and the Republicans in Stonington now lead their town. Surely it is special that a Member of Congress who represented 64 towns in Connecticut’s 2nd CD sought election as First Selectman in his town. My hat is off to Rob. In Norwich Republicans had impressive success in taking control of the Town Council in their city. In Coventry Republicans won a super majority on the Town Council there. The Enfield Republicans have held a majority on their Town Council for five terms after this election, which is the longest stretch in Enfield’s history. Many other towns also won re-elections as Republicans who have been effectively running their towns were re-elected. In East Haddam incumbent First Selectman Mark Walter faced a strong challenge in a primary that he won by a mere 8 votes but then led his entire ticket to an impressive victory in November. Mark won that election by 460 votes. In Haddam after having lost the Board of Selectmen in 2013, Republicans won a hard fought election in 2015 and swept every Republican on the ticket into office. Republicans made a decided effort to get out the Republican vote in this municipal election and were able to get 58% of their party’s voters to the polls; Democrats made a similar effort and got 56% of their voters to the polls. Two percent difference does not at first seem to be much to crow about. But it turns out that 2% of the Republican vote amounted to 26 votes. First Selectman candidate Lizz Milardo won by only 25 votes. This illustrates how important it is for us to get our base out to the polls. GOTV works! To some extent these victories were assisted by voter discontent with the policies of President Obama and Governor Malloy. But this is not the whole story because Republicans in the Second CD once again claimed victories out of proportion with the rest of our state. Grassroots East supports our candidates with our campaign training seminars which have attracted many candidates and Republican activists. Other more casual GRE meetings bring Republicans together where they can learn from one another’s success and build enthusiasm locally. On January 22 Grassroots East will hold its Annual Dinner to honor Republican candidates who ran for office in the November municipal elections regardless of whether they won or lost. People who subject themselves to be on the ballot, preserve for all of us our right to choose those who govern, and deserve our respect and commendation. The dinner is being held this year at the Norwich Holiday Inn. Tickets will be available on the GRE website. Chair Ed Munster
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Grassroots East December Newsletter
Transcript of December GRE Newsletter 12.2015
Grassroots East
December 2015
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Meet John Scott 2
Meet Andrew Lockwood 3
Humor 3
RTC Endorsements 4
Calendar of Events 4
Republican Municipal Wins in the 2nd
Congressional
GRE Newsletter Staff:
Editor: Sharon
McLaughlin
Interviews: Jonathan
Gilman
Humor: Joe Broder
Contributing Directors:
Ed Munster, Gerry
Nagy
S
In last year’s state legislative races in the Second Congressional District Republicans picked up 6 seats in the State House and 1 seat in the State Senate. In this year’s municipal elections the success continues! Republicans have won leadership roles in a number of towns previously held by Democrats. Republicans in towns across Eastern Connecticut have their stories of how their hard work paid off for their candidates on all boards and commissions, and it is great to hear about them.
In Clinton on election night, challenger Bruce Farmer ended up in a tie with his opponent. Days later the recount found that Bruce had won by a single vote. This is another dramatic example of the fact that every vote counts. In Pomfret Craig Baldwin won an impressive victory and Republicans have taken the leadership role there. In Lebanon Betsy Petrie and Glen Coutu led their Republican ticket to a great victory in taking their town back from Democratic leadership.
Former Congressman Rob Simmons and the Republicans in Stonington now lead their town. Surely it is special that a Member of Congress who represented 64 towns in Connecticut’s 2nd CD sought election as First Selectman in his town. My hat is off to Rob.
In Norwich Republicans had impressive success in taking control of the Town Council in their city. In Coventry Republicans won a super majority on the Town Council there. The Enfield Republicans have held a majority on their Town Council for five terms after this election, which is the longest stretch in Enfield’s history. Many other towns also won re-elections as Republicans who have been effectively running their towns were re-elected.
In East Haddam incumbent First Selectman Mark Walter faced a strong challenge in a primary that he won by a mere 8 votes but then led his entire ticket to an impressive victory in November. Mark won that election by 460 votes.
In Haddam after having lost the Board of Selectmen in 2013, Republicans won a hard fought election in 2015 and swept every Republican on the ticket into office. Republicans made a decided effort to get out the Republican vote in this municipal election and were able to get 58% of their party’s voters to the polls; Democrats made a similar effort and got 56% of their voters to the polls. Two percent difference does not at first seem to be much to crow about. But it turns out that 2% of the Republican vote amounted to 26 votes. First Selectman candidate Lizz Milardo won by only 25 votes. This illustrates how important it is for us to get our base out to the polls. GOTV works!
To some extent these victories were assisted by voter discontent with the policies of President Obama and Governor Malloy. But this is not the whole story because Republicans in the Second CD once again claimed victories out of proportion with the rest of our state. Grassroots East supports our candidates with our campaign training seminars which have attracted many candidates and Republican activists. Other more casual GRE meetings bring Republicans together where they can learn from one another’s success and build enthusiasm locally.
On January 22 Grassroots East will hold its Annual Dinner to honor Republican candidates who ran for office in the November municipal elections regardless of whether they won or lost. People who subject themselves to be on the ballot, preserve for all of us our right to choose those who govern, and deserve our respect and commendation. The dinner is being held this year at the Norwich Holiday Inn. Tickets will be available on the GRE website.
Chair Ed Munster
page 2
“Quarterly Quote”:
"Character is like a
tree and reputation
like a shadow. The
shadow is what we
think of it; the tree
is the real thing.”
Abraham Lincoln
State Representative John “Jack” Scott proudly serves the 40th General Assembly District representing Groton and Ledyard. A lifelong resident of Southeastern Connecticut, Rep. Scott was elected to his first term in 2014 and serves on the legislature’s Banks, Energy, Technology, and Insurance Committees for the 2015-2016 session. A resident of Mystic, Rep. Scott is a Cum Laude graduate of Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, and owner/president of Bailey Agencies Inc. Insurance in Groton, where he earned the title of Certified Insurance Counselor from the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Representative Scott was a member of Groton’s Town Council from 2005-2007 where he served as chairman of the Council’s Personnel, Rules and Appointments Committee. He also chaired the Phase II School Design Committee from 2005-2011, and served five years on the Groton Zoning Commission and two years on the City of Groton Beach and Parks Commission In addition to being a Paul Harris Fellow, Representative Scott also currently serves as treasurer of the Groton Rotary Club. He is also a past president of the club. Groton uses a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) form of government and Representative Scott served as a member of the Groton RTM from 2003 to 2005, 2009 to 2011, and from 2013 to present. He is Chairman of the Groton RTM Economic Development Corporation task Force and is past chair of the RTM Rules and Procedures Committee. John Scott lives in Mystic with his partner Rafael and their miniature schnauzers Haley and Zoey.
Meet State Representative John Scott
Sample Canvass Script (for Door-to-Door Campaigning)
Grassroots East December 2015
First Day of Winter,
Tuesday,
December 22, 2015
SAVE THE DATE!
Grassroots East Annual Dinner
Honoring the Republican Town First Selectmen and
Mayoral Candidates
January 22, 2016
Holiday Inn, Norwich, CT
Cocktails at 6:00 p.m.
Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Meet GRE Board Member Andrew Lockwood
Sally applied for a job in a Florida lemon grove, AND seemed to be far
too qualified for the job. She had a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, and had worked as an accountant and
journalist.
The foreman frowned and said, "I have to ask you, have you had any
actual experience in picking lemons?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, I have," she said: "I've been divorced three
times, owned 2 problem ridden cars and…….
I voted twice for Obama."
Bless her heart.
page 3 Grassroots East December 2015
Andrew “Andy” Lockwood was born in Stowe, Vermont, but at age 14 he moved to Meriden CT to be with his father. Andy dropped out of high school out of necessity, but returned to Vermont in 1978 determined to complete his education. Andy worked hard and actually graduated four months earlier than his original classmates. This was not an easy feat considering the amount of school he had missed. Andy had realized he had been afforded the American Dream, not in the financial sense, but in the sense that he was free to be the man he wanted to be and by working hard it would pay off. He has held jobs in a variety of industries ranging from construction to entertainment, from management to hospitality that have blessed Andy with a diverse life experience. Andy is a devoted husband of 31 years and the proud father of two children and two grandchildren, but this has not limited his desire to constantly strive forward. In his late 30s, Andy went back to school where he earned an Associates Degree from Three Rivers Community College, a Bachelors Degree from the University of Connecticut, and ultimately his law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2005. Andy has always been a Republican, but he did not become active in politics until 2006, when he realized he wanted to be part of the process that kept the American Dream alive. The very dream that had allowed him to succeed should be sustained for future generations to come. Andy ran for City Council and then ran twice for position of State Representative in the 39th District. While Andy qualified for the state grant money, he was unable to win the elections a district that is heavily populated by Democrats and unaffiliated voters. This did not deter Andy and he still holds true to his personal and political aspirations as he looks toward Congress as the next step in his political career. Andy, in case you haven’t noticed, refuses to slow down and as he reflects on his past, has begun writing a book geared to helping people who have dropped out of school. He wants them to know that while life can sometimes throw you a curve ball, with a little determination you can still succeed. As for Congress Andy says, “I believe I have a life story that can relate to most everyone”. Andy has been an active member of the Grassroots East Board of Directors for a number of years He thinks the organization has been helpful in the 2
nd District and feels that it will
continue to be effective as the group grows.
HUMOR
GRASSROOTS EAST
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.grassrootseast.org
We are also on Facebook! www.facebook.com/GrassrootsEast
1
Town Committee Election Information
From Gary Schaffrick at the CT GOP:
“The process of electing town committees begins with endorsement
caucuses in January 2016 and ends with the primary on March 1, 2016.
A caucus is open to all enrolled Republicans. The caucus must be held
between January 5 and January 12. You must give notice in a
newspaper having general circulation in your town of the date, time,
location and purpose of the caucus, not less than five (5) full days prior to
the date set for the caucus.”
Also, please note that the endorsements must be certified to the Town
Clerk not later than January 13, 2016 by 4:00 p.m.
RTC Endorsements in January 2016
page 4 Grassroots East December 2015
”There is an inverse
relationship between
reliance on the state
and self-reliance.”
William F. Buckley, Jr.
CALENDAR of EVENTS
(More info on www.grassrootseast.org - events)
December 13, 2016 Stafford RTC is participating in the Winterfest Parade at 2:00 p.m.
December 19, 2016 Christmas Party, Basil’s Restaurant, Stafford, 7:00 p.m., held by the Stafford RTC. Contact Matt Bushior by email at [email protected]
January 22, 2016 Grassroots East Annual Dinner, Norwich Holiday Inn, 6:00 p.m. Contact Sean Kelly at [email protected]
February 2016 Vernon RTC Lincoln Breakfast. Date and details TBD. Contact Bob Hurd at [email protected]
February 2016 Waterford RTC Lincoln Dinner. Date and details TBD. Contact Kathleen McCarty at [email protected]
February 7, 2016 Hampton Republican Town Committee Super Bowl Grinder/Wrap Sale to benefit the town’s emergency fuel assistance. Orders due by February 5
th. Contact Kathi Newcombe at (860) 455-9864 or email at
Recurring Events
Montville RTC monthly meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at
the Montville Town Hall.
Waterford RTC monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
at the Republican Headquarters on Boston Post Road.
(Please submit all events to Sharon McLaughlin at [email protected].)
