The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
To back or not to back Bysiewicz?
DTC split over lieutenant governor pick; lack of quorum prevents vote
MIDDLETOWN — A disagreement over whether to endorse a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in the Aug. 14 primary left town committee members without a quorum to discuss the issue this week.
Democratic Town Committee membership is divided over the candidacy of city native Susan Bysiewicz, who is running on gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont’s ticket, and that of Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman, a union organizer and activist from Newtown.
Bysiewicz is endorsed by the state Democratic party.
During January’s MDTC member election, several longtime members of the party, including Mayor Dan Drew and Deputy Mayor Robert Santangelo, were ousted as part of a challenge by an alternative slate. The new slate includes Bysiewicz, MDTC chairman and Councilman Rob Blanchard, Council Majority Leader Thomas Serra, City Treasurer Quentin Phipps and Chris Drake, chairman of the Board of Education.
At the June meeting, a motion was made to amend the agenda in order to endorse Ned Lamont for governor, state Rep. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, for the 9th District Senate seat, and Mary Abrams for the 13th Senate District seat.
“Eva supporters in the room were concerned that would open the door for an endorsement for LG (lieutenant governor), but it didn’t come up,” MDTC Secretary Diana Martinez, a Bermudez-Zimmerman supporter said.
Ahead of Thursday night’s regular meeting, the faction that supports Bermudez-Zimmerman said Bysiewicz’s supporters contacted some members to gauge their support. Those behind Bermudez-Zimmerman’s candidacy did the same.
“That just revealed what we already knew from convention: Our DTC is very split on the LG vote,” Martinez said.
At May’s state convention, 17 of Middletown’s delegates voted for Bermudez-Zimmerman.
“Our (executive) board had a gentleman’s agreement with Susan’s campaign that because she took the temperature check herself, and Eva’s people took a temperature check, it was better not to seek an endorsement,” Martinez said.
“Five minutes before the meeting, we heard Susan was going to push (for an endorsement vote). We decided our best course of action would be to leave so there wouldn’t be quorum,” Peterson said.
“Most of us in the room were ready and willing to support Susan Bysiewicz, should a vote have come up, however, we were not able to discuss that item, or take any other votes, because a small group of people intentionally denied us a quorum,” DTC member Christine Bourne said in an email.
“I’m proud to have the support of so many Democrats in Middletown and across Connecticut,” Bysiewicz said by email, noting she and Lamont “will continue working hard to win on Aug. 14 and Nov. 6.”
Common Councilman Gerry Daley said he believes some of Bermudez-Zimmerman’s local supporters encouraged their camp not to come to the meeting so a quorum wouldn’t be possible.
“It’s unfortunate. My position is: Any person who’s on the ballot in the primary should have a right to come before the town committee and ask for their endorsement,” he said. “To sabotage the meeting was unfair to the people who came out to the meeting and unfair to the candidate.”
“It’s certainly not the open transparent way of doing business that was represented when the new town committee officers took office,” he said.
Peterson said supporters of both candidates should keep the party’s
“Whether Susan or Eva wins, we have to function as a DTC after that. I think it’s exciting that people are very passionate about specific candidates, but after this, we have to come together and do our job ...” Diana Martinez, MDTC Secretary
future in mind.
“My No. 1 goal is to elect Democrats that will work to serve Middletown. When the primary is done, come Aug. 15, we need to have a DTC that is united, that is working on a common goal, and is working forward to elect whatever democrats our state has chosen,” she said.
“I am anti anything that is going to create a division in our DTC,” she said.
“Susan is not only a native of Middletown who cares deeply about our community, but she also has experience as a state legislator, secretary of the state, and an attorney helping small businesses,” Bourne said.
“This experience uniquely qualifies her to be a remarkable lieutenant governor and she will be an asset to the city of Middletown and to all of Connecticut,” she added.
In past years, Peterson said, MDTC meetings have been canceled for lack of membership.
“Since January, we have been working on rebuilding. This DTC is the strongest DTC Middletown has seen in a very long time. Last night was the first time since January we didn’t have a quorum because we elected not to,” she said.
It’s important for MDTC members to remain united, Peterson said, despite these “bumps in the road.”
“While last night was another uncomfortable meeting, it was sort of evidence, because, after all, there were people on both sides talking to each other and calling each other and saying, ‘Hey what happened? ‘How did this happen?’ ”
“What we’re seeing is a DTC that is empowered, a DTC where really everyone is part of the process,” Peterson said.
Martinez agrees. “Whether Susan or Eva wins, we have to function as a DTC after that. I think it’s exciting that people are very passionate about specific candidates, but after this, we have to come together and do our job as a DTC,” she said.
“The dust will settle and hopefully all of this will get resolved, and hopefully people will come together for the primary and support the Democratic nominee — whoever that may be,” Daley said.
Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com or Twitter @cassandrasdis.