Stamford’s double-dipping Democrats

Back in 2017, self-labeled “Reform Democrats” railed against the Democratic City Committee (DCC) establishment. The DCC, they said, blocked outsiders from influence in Stamford’s local Democratic Party. But today now that they are insiders — these same so-called reformers are using their insider status to consolidate power and block others. It’s an old story — once reformers gain power, they stay in power by using the same tricks they used to criticize.

One of those tricks is “doubledipping” — that is, serving one’s district on both the DCC and the Board of Representatives. It’s not illegal, but it’s wrong. And it’s a popular trick for Reform Democrats, who now use the label “Reform Stamford.” In the upcoming DCC election on March 5, 15 BOR members — almost all of them aligned with Reform Stamford — are running to represent their districts on the DCC. It’s more than half of the Reform Stamfordites on the BOR.

Why does it matter? DCC members select the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidates for all local races, from mayor on down. Each district’s two DCC members select their district’s endorsed BOR candidates all by themselves. When they serve on both the DCC and the BOR, they block outsiders by nominating themselves and voting for themselves. (Note: Double-dip blocking doesn’t apply to DCC members who run for citywide office, because all 40 DCC members vote on those endorsements.)

Outsiders have to collect petition signatures to force a primary election. In a primary, endorsed candidates can utilize DCC volunteers and its voting line — making it difficult for a challenger to succeed. I know, because I enjoyed these benefits as the DCC-endorsed candidate in my 2023 primary election. (Note: I have never been a DCC member.)

Here’s a list of the 15 BOR members who are running for a district seat on the DCC. Almost all of these double-dippers are aligned with Reform Stamford: District 2: Virgil de la Cruz District 3: Terry Adams District 4: Megan Cottrell District 5: Bonnie Kim Campbell and Dakary Watkins

District 6: Annie Summerville and Denis Patterson District 7: Christina Strain District 8: Anabel Figueroa District 9: Kindrea Walston and Jeffrey Stella

District 15: Carmine Tomas District 16: Fred Pierre-Louis District 17: Sean Boeger District 18: Karen Camporeale Double-dippers also perpetuate vacancies and holdovers on Stamford’s appointed boards and commissions (not that it stops them from complaining about those vacancies and holdovers). Here’s why. The DCC recruits and vets Democratic candidates for these boards and commissions. Doubledippers cannot participate in this process — otherwise they should recuse themselves from the BOR vote on a nomination. If these 15 double-dippers are elected to the DCC, 35 percent of the DCC will not participate in one of its most important functions. This will put an exceptional burden on the other DCC members, will inhibit the DCC’s recruiting and vetting process, and will perpetuate the problem of vacancies and holdovers.

Reform Stamford is going all-in on consolidating power through double-dipping. But what did they say about double-dipping before they became the majority faction on the BOR? Here are some quotes from their leaders, all from the Stamford Advocate:

Nina Sherwood, BOR Majority Leader (2017): “The city is in need of new voices. There is a lot of calcification of power at the Board of Reps level, where you have people serving for a long time unchallenged … Surely, in a city where Dems have a big majority population, we should be able to find 40 people to serve on the city committee and another 40 people to serve on the Board of Reps.”

Megan Cottrell, District 4 BOR and DCC (2017): “Stamford needs new voices. The system for nominations is a little bit absurd. The people who are representing me serve on the Democratic City Committee and they nominated themselves. The citizenry needs more choices.”

Jeffrey Stella, District 9 BOR and DCC (2020): “Together, we can reform our municipal Democratic Party into an organization that welcomes new ideas and independent voices that truly serve the people.”

Reform Stamford’s doubledipping hypocrisy reminds me of the great George Orwell fable, “Animal Farm.” The pigs on the farm lead a revolution and expel their human overseers. By the end of the book, the ruling pigs have adopted all of the human behaviors that they had pledged to eliminate.

It looks like Reform Stamford has decided to emulate the ruling pigs.