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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.
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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:
On January 10, 2024, Darien Democrats voted to endorse 22 members to the Democratic Town Committee for the two-year term starting in March 2024.
Next Darien DTC meeting will be held in Town Hall, Room 206
Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30 pm
Response to Connecticut GOP
The following letter was submitted to local media regarding the actions of the CT GOP on 12/1/22.
September 28th, 2022
Earlier today, we received notification that the Darien League of Women Voters is canceling Candidates Night for 2022. Board of Education candidate, Kadi Lublin, was the only one who accepted their invitation. John Sini, Jill McCammon, and Tracy Marra all declined to participate in the event.
Sadly we are seeing this same behavior by Republican candidates and their affiliated RTCs all over the state. The candidates listed above are running uncontested, but the Darien LWV Candidates Night has a long history of giving each voter an opportunity to submit questions, hear candidate’s views and learn more about the individuals representing Darien and its residents.
Laura Smits, President of League of Women Voters Connecticut, wrote an Op-Ed addressing this issue. It is attached below in full.
Setting the record straight on debates… It wasn’t that long ago, that during election season, candidates eagerly awaited being invited to a League of Women Voters of Connecticut debate. Our reputation as a century-old non-partisan political organization guaranteed that they would be treated fairly when it came to how the debate was organized and that each candidate would be treated in the same way, regardless of their party affiliation. This is the first time we have encountered so much opposition by the parties, and (some) candidates to participate in our debates or control how we run them.
This is unfortunate. Something has changed, but it is not the League.
Our rules of engagement for debates have remained the same:
- We notify each candidate about the date, time, place and rules of the debate at the same time.
- Questions for debates are submitted by the voters (on index cards for a live debate or emailed beforehand) and then screened by League members from both parties and when possible, an Unaffiliated member to ensure clarity, accuracy and that each question can be answered by all candidates. The Moderator is then given the screened questions and decides which questions will be used during the debate.
- Our Moderators are trained on how to run a fair debate and not allowed to moderate in the town or city that they reside in to ensure impartiality towards all candidates on the debate stage. The League hasn’t changed this methodology in decades.
- We do not allow “empty chair” or one person debates. If a candidate chooses not to participate, and we have at least 2 candidates, the debate will continue. If we do not, we reserve the right to cancel a debate. The League can also choose to hold other events or forums besides formal debates, where voters can interact with the candidates.
Meanwhile, there are third-party candidates eager to debate but may have trouble qualifying due to the difficulty of raising enough funds to mount a successful campaign. This is not their fault, our system favors the major parties, and while this is unfair, it is the system that we have and must contend with now. Our vetting and debate criteria for candidates is updated every year and in the coming years we may find a way to be more equitable to offset some of this unfairness.
Debates are an important part of the voter education process. Unlike websites, social media, emails or mailers, debates offer the voters a chance to see the candidates answer voters’ questions in real time, live and unscripted. Seeing and hearing a candidate on a debate stage gives voters another layer of insight about how a candidate handles themselves when presented with an opposing point of view about a topic. Were they able to get their point across? Did they answer the moderator’s question?
The job of a public servant is to serve and interact with the public. It is up to the candidate to make their case to the voter and earn that vote. Our democracy depends on a mutual relationship of respect between candidates and the voters who elect them. Not participating in a debate sends the opposite message. No vote should be taken for granted.
The League will continue to educate voters by using all of our voter education tools: printed materials, online and social media platforms as well as debates to bring voters non-partisan information about the candidates and the issues. Our League mission to empower voters and defend democracy continues…
Laura Smits, President LWVCT
SAVE THE DATE! We invite you to join the Darien DTC for a fun night of BEER, BOARDS & BBQ. Come enjoy an evening on the beach where you can have some great conversations, make connections, meet local representatives and candidates and of course show off your cornhole skills! Tickets will be available soon so be sure to visit DarienDemocrats.com to get yours!
Darien Democratic Town Committee (DTC) endorses Kadiatu (Kadi) Lublin for the Board of Education
July 21, 2022
Darien Democratic Town Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kathryn Doran, DTC Communications Committee Chair
info@DarienDemocrats.com
www.DarienDemocrats.com
The Darien Democratic Town Committee (DTC) is pleased to announce its endorsement of Kadiatu (Kadi) Lublin for the Board of Education.
Kadi has been an active volunteer within our schools for many years, most recently serving on the Ox Ridge Building Committee and as chair of the Special Education subcommittee for the Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP). She is also a former co-chair of the Ox Ridge Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). During the 2020-2021 school year, she volunteered as a substitute teacher to ensure that school buildings could remain open for students when there were pandemic related staff shortages.
Kadi is a graduate of Indiana University and has continued her love of learning by taking summer study and executive education courses at Columbia and NYU. She has a diverse background and skill set, having worked for both financial and design firms as well as having entrepreneurial experience starting and running her own business for several years here in Darien. Kadi is currently working as a Director with Infralinx Capital Partners, LLC. She also serves on the advisory board of ReadWorks, a non profit that partners with K-12 teachers to solve our nation’s student achievement gap.
Kadi and her husband, Derek, moved to Darien in 2008. They have three children, the two oldest are at Darien High School and Middlesex Middle School, while her youngest is at The Winward School. Their two energetic yellow labs round out their busy family.
Stacey Tie, Darien DTC Vice-Chair, in her nomination of Ms. Lublin said:
“Kadi is a passionate advocate for our schools and our children. She is smart, measured, dedicated and is an independent thinker. She stands up for what she believes in. She is ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. I can’t wait to see her work on the Board.”
Of her run for Board of Education Kadi said:
“When I visited Darien for the first time, I was immediately charmed by the friendly community, beautiful beaches and educational reputation of the town and I am proud to call Darien home.
Having been involved for several years, I have seen many sides of our educational system – from individual school PTOs, to the district wide CDSP, meeting regularly with administrators and parents in both of those roles. Additionally, I have served on the Ox Ridge Building Committee for three years working with multiple stakeholders – at all levels, across diverse skill sets – in collaboration to design and construct a modern and sustainable school that, I hope, will inspire students and staff and set a new standard for educational facilities in Darien. As a member of the Board of Education, I will serve our community and our students – always putting their best interests first.”
Theresa Vogt, Darien DTC chair stated, “The strength of our district and the community means always moving forward to prepare our students for their lives beyond the Darien schools. Kadi’s wealth of experience in our schools, community and business world will enable her to get to work on Day 1.”