Darien and Norwalk Democrats Endorse Sheila Quinn for State Representative

Darien, CT – At last night’s Democratic Party convention for the 141st state assembly district, Democratic delegates from Darien and Norwalk voted unanimously to endorse Sheila Quinn for State Representative for the General Election to be held on November 5th. Quinn will be challenging Republican Tracy Marra who has held the seat since 2022. The district has long been a Republican stronghold but local Democrats see opportunity in 2024.

“I am honored to receive such overwhelming support from my Democratic colleagues and from so many who have encouraged me to run,” Quinn said in a statement.  “I am incredibly grateful to have earned their trust and support as the endorsed candidate for the 141st district representing portions of Darien and Norwalk. I look forward to the party’s continued support as we move forward to November’s election and work to elect a Democrat who can partner with House leadership to get things done and achieve meaningful progress for the people in our communities.”

In her address to delegates, Quinn said, “I am running because we need to put a Democrat in the state assembly to represent our communities and I strongly believe now is the time to make it happen. I am ready and looking forward to meeting folks in our towns, shaking hands with Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike. Because I believe we need leaders who represent all people.” Quinn stated her campaign is focused on everyday issues including improving Connecticut’s economy, investing in education, addressing the mental health crisis and bringing the state’s infrastructure into the 21st century.

“Our issues are the issues of everyday people. With the help of everyone here tonight and throughout our towns, I believe we can win this seat. We’ve seen it happen before in the communities around us. Now we have the chance to make it happen here in our community,” Quinn noted, adding, “I have the support of our neighboring state representatives and Senators and of Susan Bysiewicz and Jim Himes, who have pledged their full support for my campaign.”

Quinn is a graduate of New York University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She and her partner Filippo Pistone opened their own business, Bacchanal Wine Imports, with more than 500 clients throughout Connecticut. Quinn resides in Darien with her two daughters, one who recently graduated and another entering high school.

For questions or more information about her campaign, contact Patrick Romano at patrick@dnacampaigns.com.

Darien DTC Campaign Kick-Off

Meet our 2024 Candidates for Cocktails & Conversation
With LT. Governor Susan Bysiewicz
(and other special guests)

141 State Representative & Board of Education

Private Darien Residence

(Location available upon RSVP)

Purchase Tickets

 


June 1, 2024

4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Meet our 2024 candidates for cocktails & conversation

With LT. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (and other special guests) along with our 141 State rep and Board of Education

 

What?

Corey Frate is a candidate to represent Darien at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on August 19-22.

And if you reside in the 4th Congressional District (Jim Himes), then Corey would like your vote!

Where?

The convention to elect Corey for the 4th District will be held at Norwalk City Hall, located at 125 East Ave in the Community Room. 

When?

Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Arrive at 6:30 p.m.

Special Instructions

Please note that you need to arrive at 6:30 pm to be signed in for voting. The voting is for selecting 4 men and 4 women who will represent us at the DNC. The event is expected to last for 2 hours. Corey is one of the 17 male candidates and the only one from Darien! Therefore, it is crucial for as many of us as possible to be present there and vote for him. 

Next week, on March 26, early voting opens in Connecticut! For the first time ever, you will have the freedom to cast your ballot EARLY in the Presidential Preference Primary.

  • Early Voting will be conducted from 10:00am to 6:00pm at Darien Town Hall (2 Renshaw Road) in Room 119; there is only one central location for early voting for all Darien voters.
  • Early Voting will be conducted on Tuesday, March 26th; Wednesday, March 27th; Thursday, March 28th; Saturday, March 30th. No voting on Friday or Sunday due to the holidays.
  • It is too late to enroll in a party for the Early Voting period (as of noon today), but there is still time to vote in the April 2nd election.
  • Voters will be able to enroll with the Democratic Party in person up until April 1st at Noon to be eligible to vote in the April 2nd primary. 


Early voting is convenient and easy, and we hope you will take advantage of Connecticut’s expansion of voting rights. Click the button below to find your polling location, voter registration information, and more.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Darien, CT – March 13, 2024

New Leadership Announced for 2024-2026 Darien Democratic Town Committee

The 2024-2026 Darien Democratic Town Committee is proud to introduce its newly elected leadership team, bringing renewed energy and commitment to local engagement as we face new opportunities and challenges. The committee’s leadership for the upcoming term includes:

  • Chair: Rob Richards
  • Vice Chair: Goody Gray
  • Treasurer: Dan Noble
  • Secretary: Sheila Quinn

 

In addition to the executive team, the committee welcomes an esteemed group of members who reflect a diverse range of perspectives and experiences:

  • Adam Balgach
  • Michael Balzano
  • Katherine Gray Bunoski
  • Krista Carnes
  • Marcia Cleary
  • Lenore Douglas
  • Kristin Edwards
  • Susie Flaherty
  • Corey Frate
  • Susan Gray
  • Ric Grefé
  • Abigail Hornstein
  • Alicia Johnson
  • Kathy Piro
  • Erika Procaccini
  • Sherry Ramsay
  • Jennifer Leahy Slotkin
  • Maureen Early Vlak
  • Alison von Klemperer

 

“2024 marks a pivotal election year, and it has never been more important for the Darien community to actively participate at the National, State, and LOCAL levels,” stated Rob Richards, a former Selectman and the newly appointed Chair. “We urge individuals to contribute as volunteers or consider becoming candidates themselves. Your involvement is crucial to developing policy and pursuing strategies that protect our children’s health, safety, and education and continue to develop Darien with respect for people, place, and planet.”

 

Goody Gray, Vice Chair and head of Nominating emphasized a commitment to developing winning local strategies and called for widespread participation. “We are actively seeking individuals to engage with us as we shape effective local approaches,” Gray stated.

 

As part of their efforts to enhance local representation, the committee seeks candidates to run for the 141st State Representative position. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Goody Gray at vicechair@dariendemocrats.com for further information.

 

The 2024 Democratic Town Slate, poised for election this year, includes:

  • 141st State Representative
  • Board of Education – Julie Best
  • Registrar of Voters – Susan Gray

The 2024-2026 Darien Democratic Town Committee looks forward to an enthusiastic and engaged community as they work towards a prosperous future for Darien.

 

For media inquiries, please contact Ric Grefé at press@dariendemocrats.com

Connecticut Ranked the 7th Fastest Growing Economy in the Country


Did you know Connecticut was ranked the 7th fastest growing economy in the country and that Gen Z is choosing to move here more than any other state? Millennials are not far behind, moving to our state at the fourth-highest rate.

The contrast between red states and blue states could not be clearer. 

States that have restricted reproductive choice since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade have seen a 10% drop in the number of applications for OB-GYN residencies. Meanwhile, the assault on higher education in Southern states is causing faculty to leave. Universities are reporting declines in applications for open positions, with many reporting declined job offers. Reactionary social policies forced upon K-12 schools have caused increasing teacher resignations and classrooms unable to fill vacancies. America’s 10 worst states in which to live and work, according to CNBC, are all led by the GOP.

In Connecticut, we will continue our work on strengthening our home care system by protecting worker safety through transparency and protective technology. We will further the effort to increase the accessibility and affordability of prescription drugs by identifying drugs facing potential supply shortages before those shortages occur and allowing Canadian pharmaceutical imports. We will provide more access to paid sick days for up to 1.6 million more workers by expanding access, provide more protections for victims of domestic violence through expanding existing programs and resources available through our legal system, develop vital safety measures for users of artificial intelligence, and cut junk fees for broadband and streaming service consumers.

To safeguard our precious freedoms, this year we are proposing an amendment to the Connecticut constitution. It will address and enshrine personal freedoms – such as reproductive rights, marriage equality, interracial marriage, and the use of contraception – that had been considered settled Constitutional law until a Trump-appointed U.S. Supreme Court decided to upend decades of common sense precedent and potentially undermine the “right to privacy” first articulated as a Constitutional principle in 1965 in Griswold v. Connecticut.

Read more of the op-ed by Senate President Martin Looney and me here

 

 Assistant Registrar
(Democrat)

Special Requirements pursuant to CGS Chapter 146 Section 9-192:
To be considered for this position you must be a
Town of Darien resident and a registered Democrat
for at least six (6) months preceding appointment to the position.

Location:

Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT

Hours: 
Part-time, 19.5 hours/week, Mon. – Thurs., approx. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(There is some flexibility in the work schedule. Additional hours are required on and around Election Days.)

 Compensation:

 

 $16.50 to $19.00 per hour
(Eligible for paid sick leave.)

Closing Date:

 November 1, 2021

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Accountable for registering Town of Darien eligible residents to vote in person, by mail, or through online methods; maintaining, certifying, and purging Town of Darien voter records through continuing contact through written correspondence, online and telephone communication, and personal contact with the voters of the Town of Darien.

Supervision Received:

Works under the general supervision of the Registrar of his/her party, but must be willing to assist other office staff, when needed, because of the collaborative nature of the voter registration process and election preparedness.

Supervision Exercised:  May supervise volunteer or paid election workers.

Examples of Essential Duties:

Duties entail review and comprehension of the changing CT election laws and best practices that affect elections and the voter registration process. Duties per CT General Statutes and Regulations, and CT Secretary of the State’s Office (SOTS) Best Practices:

  • Processes and adds new voters though voter registration applications received by the Registrar of Voters
    (ROV) Office either in person, by mail, through the DMV, or online;
  • Verifies license or other form of identification and makes sure all information is filled out and complete;
  • Generates confirmation of voter registration acceptance to new voters in person or by mail;
  • Assists all voters and Town residents who appear in person in the Registrars’ Office;
  • Assists in preparing invoices, memorandums, and reports;
  • Assists the Registrar(s) in preparing the voting locations and the voting equipment for all the district
    polling locations;
  • Changes voter status per voter request, DMV, duplicate voter, party affiliations, move within towns
    pursuant to General Statutes §9-192;
  • Collects, collates, and compiles relevant voter data from various internal and external resources and
    provides the data in a concise format to the requesting parties;
  • Files voter registration cards in alphabetical order and keeps all hard copy files and relevant documents
    safe and retrieves them as needed;
  • Keeps the Darien voter database current; which includes entering new voter information, voter changes,
    and voter removals into the CT voter registration database;
  • Prepares voter reports for the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) and Republican Town Committee
    (RTC) leaders and members;
  • Provides administrative support to the Registrar(s) as needed;
  • Provides assistance to all voters and polling staff over the phone and in person on Election Day;
  • Tabulates figures and generates reports for use by the Registrar(s);
  • Removes voters per voter cancellation, when voter moves outside of Darien, DMV, duplicate voter,
    death, or felony conviction;
  • Reviews the CT voter database reminder list for removals;
  • Notifies other states’ election officials when their voter registers to vote in Darien;
  • Supports and represents the respective Registrar when required;
  • Conducts statewide annual canvass of voters and moves voters to inactive status or removes voters,
    where applicable;
  • Assists in poll worker recruitment and training preparation;
  • Takes part in all state-mandated administrative and financial audits and studies, and assists the
    Registrar(s) in preparing associated reports; and
  • Performs related duties as required

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Resident of the Town of Darien and registered Democrat for at least six (6) months preceding
    appointment to the position;
  • High school diploma or GED, Associate’s degree preferred;
  • One year of paid, full-time or equivalent part-time office experience;
  • Considerable computer literacy including proficiency using Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook; and
    ability to learn and utilize the secure CT voter registration database, on-line training, and security access programs;
  • Knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation;
  • Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, equipment, and standard clerical techniques;
  • Ability to prioritize and multi-task;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Basic skills in performing arithmetic computations;
  • Interpersonal skills and previous experience interfacing with the public;
  • Ability to work in a team environment;
  • Ability to read, understand and apply a variety of laws, regulations and ordinances;
  • Ability to follow oral and written instructions; and
  • Required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

Application Procedure

Applications may be emailed to kdunn@darienct.gov (Reference “Assistant Registrar” in the subject line and submit attachments in Word or PDF format) or mailed to Ms. Karen Dunn, Human Resources Department, Town of Darien, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820.

Please submit the following three (3) documents:

  1. Cover Letter;
  2. Typed Town of Darien Employment Application; and
  3. Resume

The Town of Darien is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of intellectual disability, learning disability or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or criminal record. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Town will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Town when necessary

 

Posted 10-05-2021