Second Selectman Andy Campbell accepted the Democratic Town Committee’s (DTC) first selectman’s endorsement last night, telling his supporters, “We are the party of ideas. We have a track record of great accomplishments in this town of which we should be quite proud. The opposition is the party of No.” Click the video to view the scene.
Smiling at the caucus of roughly100 DTC members and other democrats, Campbell accepted their nomination at their hour-long meeting at the Canoe Brook Senior Center. In a room adorned with red, white and blue balloons, he outlined the issues confronting Branford.
Campbell’s Vision
They include “our kids’ educational success, the town’s infrastructure, economic development, tax stability, social services and environmental concerns, including coastal protection.”
Marcia Chambers Photo
He told the group and the DTC officers (pictured) the upcoming election won’t be easy. “Folks, we have a big fight ahead of us from our political opposition. On Tuesday the Republican caucus selected Third Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, whose family history is tied to the Democratic Party, to be their candidate for first selectman.”
During his acceptance speech, Campbell, 47, and an attorney, described his work over nearly 20 years for four different Branford administrations, beginning with Dom Bounocore and including the John Opie and Cheryl Morris terms along with DaRos.
“We are going to need all hands on deck. These are serious times that call for leaders with vision and conviction and integrity from all over our community to help make Branford even better,” he said.
Then he told the group a little about himself. “I come from farmers, preachers, professors and nurses. I lived all over the United States before I married a Branford girl [his wife Erica] in 1994, and in so doing I married this town. Since that time in my law practice I have represented the best interests of children and seniors and local businesses. I have been a small business owner on Main Street for 17 years now,” he said of his law practice.
He was nominated for his position by First Selectman Unk DaRos, whose “fine work” he said he wanted to continue. DaRos is retiring from political life, having served a total of 12 years in office over two periods of time.
DaRos (pictured)told the audience that Campbell “is the right man for the job.” He went on to say that Campbell “has an impressive record of community involvement.” He noted his long involvement on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), “where he served as majority whip, parliamentarian, chairman of the Rules and Ordinances Committee, and oh, by the way, the board of selectmen. He was also the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee,” he added.
“He understands the difference between want and need. He understands the need for the infrastructure and the need to maintain it, including this building itself, he said of the senior center. He understands the needs of the board of education. I believe Andy is the right man for that job. I think this will be an excellent, excellent team,” DaRos said of Campbell’s running mate, Dr. Bruce Storm, former superintendent of Branford schools. . “With enthusiasm, I put the name of Andy Campbell into nomination.”
There was one moment of unease at the caucus. It came when the nomination for town clerk was called. Pam Knapp, a businesswoman from Short Beach, was nominated for the position.
Catherine Jackson, vice-chair of the Third District DTC in Short Beach, nominated Knapp. Penny Bellamy, former town counsel and one of the founders of the Hilltop Brigade, seconded the nomination. They described Knapp as an incredibly hard and enthusiastic worker and a dynamic and indefatigable leader.
Knapp had won the nomination over the current town clerk, Marianne Kelly who has served the town for eight years. Would Kelly, a loyal party member, put her name in contention from the floor? In recent weeks Kelly shied away from saying what plans she had, if any, in going forward.
She would have been a shoo-in this year but for involvement with and testimony at the recent “gifting tables” pyramid scheme trial in U.S. District Court in Hartford in February. After she testified for the prosecution, one of many gifting table participants who did, the U.S. Attorney’s office began an investigation in early March into her trial testimony. Her records were subpoenaed from Town Hall for a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven and she hired a criminal attorney to represent her. Click here to read the story.
When party leaders learned of her current legal situation, they stepped back from nominating her in June. Kelly has said she does not understand what the prosecutors are investigating and that she has done nothing wrong. But the investigation continues.
After Knapp was nominated, Sullivan asked: “Are there any further nominations from the floor?” Before anyone could answer and former RTM member Alice Lambert had her hand up, Bimmie Herget, the clerk on the Board of Recreation, asked to speak. She praised Knapp for learning about the rules and statutes governing the town clerk’s job. She said she was impressed with her knowledge that she heard she brought to her interview.
Sullivan asked again: “Are there any further nominations from the floor?”
This time Lambert spoke and she minced no words. “I am going to nominate Marianne Kelly who has been a superb town clerk, the second highest vote getter in the DaRos administration, who is about to be eaten alive by her own people. I think she deserves to be restored to her position.” Another DTC member seconded the nomination.
A voice vote brought overwhelming support for Knapp and a few voice votes for Kelly. The issue was over. Kelly did not attend the caucus; it is still not known if she is planning a primary fight.
Next Knapp (pictured) thanked everyone for their support. “I will work hard to reach voters to achieve victory for our entire team,” Knapp said. “Our Democratic Party is the party of ideas; it brings results. Working together we will deliver our vision for Branford to every voter. Onward we will go to celebrate victory on Election Day.” She received a strong round of applause.
Two candidates for six-year terms on the Board of Education were overwhelmingly endorsed. They are Dr. Kate Marsland, an early childhood expert, and John O’Connor, a former Branford teacher, swim coach and school psychologist. The caucus also nominated Joe Fazzino, Jr., chair of the Board of Assessors, to serve on the Board of Assessment Appeals.
RTM member Yve Larrieu nominated Joanne Cleary to be town tax collector, a position she has held for the last 8 years. Larrieu drew spontaneous laughter when she said: “What more can be said after last night’s cross-endorsement by the Republicans. Even they know Joanne has no equal.”
The caucus also endorsed Peter Banca, who has served as the town’s treasurer, and four constable candidates who have served Branford well over the years, said Jim Perito, a vice-chair of the party. They are: Fran Walsh, Rhoda Loeb, Eunice LaSala and Lucy Bello.
Walsh, a longtime educator, served as the town’s second selectman for ten of DaRos’s 12 years in office. Without him, DaRos has said often, he would not have run for first selectman. Last night Walsh nominated Storm, who has spent his life in education, to be second selectman. It’s a transition Walsh knows well. “Storm brings enormous school experience to the position,” said Walsh, who served as principal of the intermediate school named in his honor.
“He brought change to the school system, Walsh said. “He has excellent communication skills and he is a perfect candidate for the first selectman. He can strengthen our ticket. He will do a great job. He is a very intelligent man; a very committed man and he is a tremendous talent.” His nomination was seconded by Catherine Jackson, former chair of the Board of Education who worked with Storm for many years.
Dr. Storm accepted the nomination, noting “it has been a long time since I have spoken in this room,” a room where many meetings are held. Schools, he said, “are what I know best.” So he said with humor that “Andy is always on time. He will catch the bus. He will have his lunch. Seriously, I do believe I can bring some of my skills to bear and hopefully I will make a difference.”
In his acceptance speech, Campbell praised the DTC chair Chris Sullivan and his would-be running mate Larrieu. Both withdrew from the first and second selectman’s race about a week ago, thus avoiding what would have been a floor fight at the caucus last night. Click here to read the story.
“I would like to thank Chris Sullilvan and Yve Larrieu for their candidacy, because I believe that competition breeds success,” Campbell said.
After the caucus ended and people were milling about Sullivan and Larrieu returned to the front of the room together where Campbell was talking to a constituent.
In what appeared to be an effort at unifying the party, Sullivan said: “See you on the campaign trail.”
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