Dems celebrate at fundraiser

HARTFORD — There was no keynote speaker at the Democratic Party’s biggest fundraiser of the year, but maybe it wasn’t necessary.

Democratic candidates retained the governor’s office and expanded their Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. Appetizers and an open bar less than three weeks before Christmas was more appealing to an estimated 500 party insiders than a sitdown rubber-chicken dinner with speeches in May.

The lingering question for party insiders who gathered at the Connecticut Convention Center Monday night was whether the Democratic Party Chairman, Nick Balletto, will retain his position.

There are those who feel Governor-elect Ned Lamont should install a party chairman who he feels comfortable with. Leading that camp is Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

“I personally believe that whoever is going to lead the party should be somebody the governor is extremely comfortable with,” Malloy said.

Balletto was Malloy’s choice and wants to be reelected, but insisted he wasn’t thinking about it Monday night.

“I just think today’s about a big celebration of a Democratic victory that a lot of people thought was impossible a year ago,” Lamont said, declining to comment further.

Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, a city that delivered more than 20,000 votes for Lamont, said he supports Balletto and it would be hard to get rid of a guy who was chairman after such a successful election cycle.

Former Democratic Party Chairman John Olsen said if you want to be a successful Democratic Party, then it has to be a team effort.

Olsen said Lamont has to feel comfortable “with his top officer on the ground.”

One of the other names that came up Monday as a possible chairman was Justin Kronholm.

Kronholm, senior counselor to Attorney General George Jepsen, and grandson of the late Democratic Party Chairman John Bailey, said it’s up to Lamont. He said he’s not actively seeking out the role.

Kronholm was executive director of the party between 2006 and 2010 and he was executive assistant to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., when he was attorney general.

Balletto wasn’t necessarily on the Lamont team when he first announced his candidacy, but quickly got on board before it became apparent Lamont would be the Democratic Party’s nominee. The party worked in concert with Lamont’s campaign with few hiccups.

And Balletto does want another shot at running the party.

“I won’t start thinking about the chairmanship until tomorrow,” Balletto said.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has also been heavily involved with the party and might also want to have some say in who becomes the next party chairman. Malloy didn’t disagree that Murphy should have a say, but not as big a say as Lamont.

Malloy said Murphy is in Washington, D.C., most of the time and the governor needs access to the party apparatus.

It’s unclear how Lamont, who is still in the process of building his administration, will proceed.

Lamont will be sworn in on Jan. 9.

Balletto said Lamont has already proven he has the “exact skill set we need to move Connecticut forward.”

Balletto praised Lamont’s campaign.

“Lamont ran his campaign on the premise of optimism,” Balletto said. “And on the idea that Connecticut’s best years are ahead of us.”

Lamont said he’s going to show Connecticut that Democrats can govern.

“That means paid Family Medical Leave,” Lamont said. “That means raising the minimum wage.”

Lamont also talked about a move toward early voting so that people are not waiting in line to vote on Election Day.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Governor-elect Ned Lamont watches the Connecticut high school Class LL football championship game between Greenwich and New Canaan high schools from the Greenwich sideline Saturday in Stamford.