Author: admin
To all registered Democrats of Darien, Connecticut:
According to the rules of the Democratic Party and state election laws, a caucus of registered Democrats will be held on January 14, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. at the Darien Town Hall Auditorium, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820 to endorse candidates for the 2020 Darien Democratic Town Committee and to transact such other business that may properly come before the caucus.
Dated: December 26, 2019
Darien, CT
Darien Democratic Town Committee
David F. Bayne, Chairman
Town Mourns Loss of Marc Thorne (Darien Times)
The Town of Darien flag will be flown at half-staff in memory of Darien resident and former selectman Marc Thorne, who died Monday after suffering a severe stroke early Sunday morning.
In an email sent Monday afternoon to town officials, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson wrote Thorne “will be remembered for his kind and thoughtful nature, being the consummate gentleman, and his deep commitment to the Town of Darien.”
“Marc and Barbara have been such an inspiration to us all,” Stevenson added.
Thorne, a Democrat, devoted his life to public and community service. He served as a town selectman from 2015 through the most recent election.
In addition, he served on the RTM Finance & Budget Committee, the Consolidated Services Working Group, and the Pear Tree Point Beach Building Committee.
He was also active with the Darien Men’s Association since 2004, most recently serving on its Community Service Committee.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Darien.
Former First Selectman Evonne Klein said Thorne was a “kind, thoughtful gentleman who was the voice of encouragement.”
“He was the person who strove to understand others and ultimately, he did. Because of this ability to do so, he was able to make a positive difference in the lives of his family, friends and as a distinguished public servant,” Klein said. “My family and I have some terrific memories, we will miss Marc.”
Democratic Town Committee Chairman David Bayne said Thorne’s decades of service to Darien are “an inspiration to us all.”
“His leadership and service in town government, the Democratic party, his church and in the Senior Men’s Association are unparalleled,” Bayne said.
Bayne continued, “Marc gave so much of himself — not out of personal ambition, but because he genuinely enjoyed helping people and he wanted to make Darien a better place.”
“By all accounts, he was wildly successful in those goals, and our entire community is far richer for his efforts,” Bayne said.
Bayne added Thorne was a friend “who could be counted on to lend a hand or have a kind and thoughtful word of encouragement when you needed it most. My wife Carolyn and I will miss him very much.”
Addressing Barbara Thorne, Bayne said, on behalf of the entire DTC, “we join you in your grief and are profoundly grateful that you shared Marc with us for so many decades. Thank you, Barbara. We are here for you.”
For many years, Thorne was seen by many in front of Palmer’s Market on Heights Road, where he ran the Salvation Army bell. He would organize a group of volunteers to help with this effort.
Norwalk resident George Gilliam, a member of the Darien Men’s Association, said Thorne “was very much dedicated to making Darien a good a town as it could possibly be.”
Thorne is a former president of the DMA. Most recently, he headed the DMA Cares Committee, which sends condolence cards to members who are not well.
In each card, there’s a saying that Gilliam said is very fitting for Thorne.
“The example you set, the leadership you’ve shown, and the inspiration that you are — that would describe Marc,” he said.
Thorne’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. at The First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Road.
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https://www.wtnh.com/news/politics/speaker-nancy-pelosi-to-headline-connecticut-dinner-1/2032856171
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be the keynote speaker for the Connecticut Democratic Party‘s annual fundraising dinner.
The California congresswoman will appear June 21 at the John Bailey Dinner at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. General admission tickets cost $200 for the evening event, named after the late party chairman. Tickets for a VIP reception with Pelosi cost $1,000.
Tickets for young Democrats, age 36 and under, cost $125.
Organizers say the dinner will focus on women in leadership. Former State Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo, the first woman to hold the position, will receive the party’s highest honor, the 2019 William A. O’Neill Award for leadership.
Former Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, the current Democratic Party chair, says it will be a “night of Nancys.”
https://www.wshu.org/post/connecticut-democrats-push-public-healthcare-option#stream/0
Connecticut Democrats will take action on a bill to create a state public option for healthcare coverage before the state legislative session ends in 11 days. Republicans say they’ve not been consulted.
Governor Ned Lamont joined Democratic legislative leaders in announcing the bill. He says as a former small business owner, he appreciates the state creating a public option for healthcare.
“It gives us the best opportunity in a long time to extend access to people who don’t have access to affordable healthcare, and to bring down the cost of healthcare.”
Matt Lesser, Senate chair of the Insurance Committee, says the plan would reduce healthcare costs by 20 percent for individuals and small businesses.
“We are going to lower the price of prescription drugs by bringing in prescription drugs from Canada. We are going to expand Medicare for low income adults. We are going to control rising premiums, deductibles, with subsidies and reinsurance. We are going to follow other states and create a cost containment commission, looking at the overall cost of healthcare.”
He says it will also be paid for by a 1% tax on opioid manufacturers.
Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano is alarmed that Democrats are introducing the bill so late in the session without consulting Republicans.
“With a bill that hasn’t even had one day of sunlight. Even as we stand here. But that is the arrogance of the majority that we have never seen in this building, even under Malloy. He would at least give the opportunity before parading it out at a news conference.”
The Connecticut healthcare public option would be available by 2022 if Democrats are able to pass the bill and have it signed by Lamont.