MONROE, CT — Themis Klarides, the former House minority leader, who has an exploratory committee in place to test the waters for a run for governor next year, headlined a Monroe Republican Town Committee fundraiser at Vazzy’s Osteria on Main Street Tuesday night.
Klarides criticized President Joe Biden and Gov. Ned Lamont for, what she says is, a lack of focus on the economy, while they try to keep people safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told the close to 100 dinner guests that the Democrats’ attitude about trying to fix the lagging economy amid the pandemic is, “I can’t do anything about it.”
“But it’s funny, Ken Kellogg can do it here,” Klarides said of Monroe’s first selectman. “Right? Ken Kellogg can do it here. So I think they should talk to Ken Kellogg, so they can figure out how to do it.”
Kellogg, who is running unopposed this year, is at the top of the Republican ticket in the municipal election to be held on Nov. 2.
When it was Kellogg’s turn at the podium he touted the town’s response to the pandemic, while continuing efforts to grow Monroe’s commercial tax base, making infrastructure improvements to town roads, and recently breaking ground for the building project at the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service’s headquarters.
Kellogg said the town’s leadership is controlling taxes, keeping the mill rate “low and fair,” while “delivering so many essential services.”
“None of that happens without this team in this room,” he said. “It is everyone that’s involved. I don’t care what board or commission you’re on. I could not be more proud to be on this ticket with the rest of the Republicans. We have a strong team. It is proven leadership. We’re going to work as hard as we ever have, but I know we will be victorious once again.”
RTC Chairwoman Deborah Heim asked everyone to get out on election day and support their candidates. Vida Stone, the incumbent town clerk, read the names of all of the GOP candidates, as each one who was present stood for a round of applause.
Republicans slate is as follows:
Town Council: Enid Lipeles, Jonathan Formichella, Sean O’Rourke, Kevin Reid, Terry Rooney and Dona-Lyn Wales
Board of Education: Christine Cascella, Dennis Condon, Jeff Fulchino and Justin Orlando
Board of Finance: Greg Beno and Michael Manjos
Town Clerk: Stone
Town Treasurer: Patrick O’Hara
Planning and Zoning Commission: Michael O’Reilly and Robert Westlund
Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate: Nicole Lupo and Dominic Smeraglino III
Constable: Jim Weinberg
‘A Republican town’
Rooney, who organized the fundraiser, urged Republicans not to be silent in these changing times when the pandemic is being used as a political agenda and cancel culture threatens to take away more freedoms.
“Monroe is a stalwart Republican town at the Presidential level with the longest streak of supporting the GOP in Fairfield County,” Rooney said. “Monroe has not supported a Democrat for President in over 60 years. The roots of Monroe are Republican and we’re all here to make sure it stays that way.”
State Rep. Tony Scott, R-112th, agreed, but reminded his fellow Republicans not to be complacent.
“This is a Republican town. Let’s keep it that way,” he said, “but just know the Democrats are not rolling over.”
When Scott ran against Democrat Nick Kapoor in a special election in April following J.P. Sredzinski’s resignation, he said PAC money from Hartford was used to support Kapoor, and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes all campaigned on his behalf.
“They threw everything out at us and we defeated them,” Scott said. “But that does not mean they’re not going to continue to do the same as we go into November. So let’s make sure we stay on top of things. Make sure we’re doing the right things for Monroe and for our morals that we’ve established as Republicans — and keep moving forward.”
Starting at the grass-roots
Klarides said Connecticut needs new ideas and leadership. She criticized the governor for his stance of supporting tolls for cars and trucks, for not delivering on his promise of property tax relief, and said he is “out of touch with what’s going on in Connecticut.”
“Can anyone explain to me why a governor needs to have absolute authority when the legislature is actually in session?” Klarides said of the upcoming vote to extend Lamont’s executive powers. “He doesn’t have to do this on his own.”
Klarides said the Legislature passed a minority budget for the first time in 2017, while alluding to a bipartisan compromise “that included elements of proposals long sought by the GOP, including revisions to prevailing wage and binding-arbitration laws, as well as new language for caps on spending and borrowing by the state,” according to an article in The Connecticut Mirror.
She said Republicans had been pushing for bonding, spending and volatility caps for decades and credits it for Connecticut’s full “rainy day fund” and recent controlling of spending and borrowing.
“That’s why it’s so important to elect Republicans, because then the state can run like Monroe runs with Ken Kellogg in charge,” Klarides said. “And really, it’s true the majority of towns in Connecticut are run by Republicans and the towns are run better than the state every day of the week.”
“It’s a grass-roots approach, because it starts from the bottom up,’ she said of the importance of municipal elections. “What happens in November is a precursor of what will happen next November.”
Nice headline! That says it all. This is a Republican town? Okay. Do these people realize they are supposed to represent ALL of their Monroe citizens? Disgusting, partisan attitudes for what is a compassionate and diverse community of humans. Very Trump like, which is so disappointing on so many levels. I wonder what they think of the huge number of “New York liberals” moving into town? Oh wait… We already know.
Thoughts on “This is a Republican town. Let’s keep it that Way.” What arrogance! Under Democratic Selectman Burnaska, the building of the Senior Center was initiated using a state of CT STEAP Grant. The project was completed. Under Democratic Selectman Andy Nunn. Additionally, our beautiful library was built during Democrat Andy Nunn’s term. It was paid for with grant monies. Forty acres of land were also acquired and a trail was developed from the lake to Pepper Street under Mr Nunn’ administration.These are only a few of the contributions and future planning initiatives led by Democrats. Both parties can and have made contributions to this town.