Messages from
the Hamden DTC Chair

Friday, 20 August 2010

Thanks for visiting the Hamden Democratic Party's website. We welcome your participation, and look forward to meeting you.

The Town Committee usually meets on the third Monday of the month, though you should check here because we don't meet every month.

Check the Calendar for New Events

Primary Update

A few observations about the primary on August 3:

First, the turnout was better than statewide, but not by much. Only 30% of Hamden Democrats voted (you have to count in the absentee votes to get the true total). On the other hand, only 27.7% of Hamden Republicans voted, so the mediocre turnout obviously crossed party lines. That 30% figure compares with closer to 50% in 2006; 7,100 Democrats voted in that primary, one that had more passion obviously, since it included the Joe Lieberman/Ned Lamont battle.

Highest turnout in Hamden, by a hair, the Tenth, 45.54%. Second was the Fifth, 45.48%. Of course, there was a state representative primary on the ballot in both districts, which can help bring out voters. But on the other hand, the Sixth (32.5%), Second (21.3%), Third (19.9%) and Seventh (30.8%) also had those same state representative races on the ballot.

The highest turnout in a district without a state representative race was the Fourth, 34.4%. Next was the First, 28.6%.

On the Republican side, if you are interested, the Tenth again led the way, 33.9%. Others: The Seventh, 32.3%. The Ninth, 31.4%. Oddly, the lowest turnout on the Republican side was the Fifth, 20.3%. Of course, when there are only 261 registered Republicans (there are 1,515 registered Democrats, nearly a six-to-one ratio), it's hard to get people to turn out. The highest ratio: The Third, of course, greater than ten-to-one. The smallest ratio, the Ninth, 2.2 to one.

Ned Lamont won only one district, the Seventh. He tied in the Third, but lost the other nine. Of the remaining candidates, not a single candidate on the B Line won any districts in Hamden. Dan Malloy received 55.5% of the vote; Nancy Wyman, 62.9%; Denise Merrill, 59%; Kevin Lembo, 72.2%; Peter Villano, 66.1%; and Roland Lemar, 58.5%.

On the Republican side, Tom Foley received 44%, Michael Fedele, 41.8%; Oz Griebel, 14.3%. For lieutenant governor, Mark Boughton received 52.1%, Lisa Wilson-Foley 37.9%. For US Senate, Linda McMahon, 50.5%; Peter Schiff, 25.9%; Rob Simmons, 23.5%. And for attorney general, Martha Dean received 63.8%, Ross Garber, 36.2%. So with the exception of Martha Dean, no Republican candidate received overwhelming support from the party. That matches the results reported statewide.

View All Connecticut Democratic Candidates on the Hamden Ballot on November 2, 2010

Hamden DTC HQ Opening Soon

The Hamden Democrats Fall Campaign headquarters will be at 3013 Dixwell Avenue (between the American Legion Hall and Kindercare). We will be opening right after Labor Day, and we could use some help with chairs, tables, etc. Anyone who has anything to lend, please contact me.

- Joe

Hamden Makes History Again

As many of you already know, as the New Haven Register said this morning, "Hamden made history" yesterday. Congratulations to Scott Jackson, whose campaign was honorable, intelligent, and poised. The campaign was a reflection of the candidate, and these qualities will help Scott to be a great mayor during some difficult times.


Photo by Matt McDonagh

Before I move on, I am going to ask for one last Saturday for the volunteers: This Saturday, 10 am, we will need to clear out headquarters. Yes, coffee and donuts will be served.

Congratulations to all the winners last night: I must start with Vera Morrison, our Town Clerk; there are thousands of voters who've never known another town clerk, and why should they? Al Gorman, Jack Kennelly, Carol Noble, Jim Pascarella, Ossie Brown, David Hennigan, Kath Schomaker, Curt Leng, Mike Colaiacovo, John DeRosa, Mike Dolan, Myron Hul, John Keegan and Valarie Stone. And congratulations and thanks to Mick McGarry, Anthony Brown and Don Werner, who ran great campaigns that, unfortunately, were just not quite enough.

At the risk of forgetting someone, I want to express my thanks to some people who made the victory possible:

Adam Sendroff, who accepted on the job of campaign chair, without knowing what he was getting into, and did a wonderful job.

Judi Kozak, who accepted the job of campaign treasurer even though she knew what she was getting into, and did a fabulous job.

Dan Kops, Kyle Blake, Holly Masi, Julie Smith and Ricardo Hernandez, who ran a brilliant field operation.

Curt Leng and Matt Fitch, the brain trust of the campaign's direct mail efforts. We three worked together first in 1999, and we've won every campaign we've worked together on.

Bob Aceto, Frank Sandillo and Lew Panzo, who worked tirelessly to raise the money the campaign needed. At more than one point, when I thought fundraising was exhausted, they found more.

Mayor John Carusone, who was unflappable throughout, who was one of the first to embrace the words Mayor Scott Jackson.

Mayor Craig Henrici, who brought on Scott Jackson because he trusts the judgment of his friends, who encouraged Scott to run, and whose four years in office have helped to make Hamden truly one of the country's best communities.

Once again, I hope you'll help out this Saturday, 10 am, when we close our campaign headquarters.

-- Joe McDonagh
Hamden Democratic Town Chair