On Monday, the Dems hosted a candidate forum for two candidates competing for the 96th District General Assembly seat, a seat being vacated by Cam Staples as he runs for attorney general. The candidates, 9th Ward Alderman Roland Lemar and Debra Hauser, outlined their reasons for running and then were asked questions by the students in attendance. The topics, ranged from statewide issues such as utility cost control and taxes to more local problems such as New Haven’s murder rate and homelessness.
Press coverage below.
Hauser, Lemar Square Off On Homelessness
Dems host state rep. candidates in debate
This past Friday, the Yale Dems, joined by students from the University of Hartford and Trinity College, traveled to Hartford to lobby Connecticut state legislators to support various education reform bills currently before the General Assembly. To kick off the day, the Dems hosted a kickoff event where State Representatives Toni Walker (D-New Haven), Jason Bartlett (D-Danbury), and State Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo spoke about the importance of education reform and student involvement in the political process.
The bills (HB05491, SB0440, HB05421, SB0438, and HB05066) focus on reducing the achievement gap, alternative routes to certification for school educators and administrators, the establishment of data gathering on effective teaching methods, teacher evaluation, lifting the cap on charter school funding, and providing educational stability for foster children. Besides being efforts that will improve the state’s educational system, the plans should better Connecticut’s application for federal Race to the Top funding.
The Dems delivered petitions gathered from Yale students and New Haven residents in support of education reform to House Speaker Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) and met with legislators and their aides to speak about the importance of the bills’ passage. After doing so and leaving literature for the representatives, the Dems called it a day and headed back home. A major thanks to all who planned the event and to all who attended!
This past Tuesday, Congressman Jim Himes, the first Democrat to be elected to the 4th district’s seat since 1966, journeyed to New Haven to speak to the Dems. The Representative spoke for about half an hour about his experience in Congress, the passage of health care reform, and the prospects of the Senate passing an energy reform bill to further the House’s efforts. He then fielded questions from the audience and engaged in a discussion on a wide range of issues. Pictures below.
On Monday, the Dems hosted Mary Glassman, First Selectman of Simsbury, who is currently exploring a run for governor of the state. Glassman spoke about her background as a native of Connecticut and the importance that education played in her own upbringing and success, using it as a basis for her call to improve education and opportunity in the state so as to prevent the current “brain drain” of young graduates leaving the state. She highlighted ideas such as increased transportation to Boston and New York and a Connecticut “Research Triangle” between Yale and UConn as proposals that would help to counter the current problems.
Press and pictures below:
She Wants YOU to Stay in Connecticut
On Thursday, February 25th, the Dems hosted “Racing to the Top: Education Reform in New Haven and Connecticut” to kick off efforts for education reform in the state of Connecticut. Featuring performances from WORD, Yale’s spoken word performers, and an address from New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., the event was a major success. Numerous students showed up to listen to the progress of education reform in New Haven, which is serving as a model for some in the state legislature, as well as others nationwide. Lobbying Coordinator Mike Gocksch ‘12 then spoke to the students about how they could become more involved in encouraging the state legislature to reform education, gathering petition signatures and letters from the students to send to leaders in Hartford.
Branford’s common room was invaded this past Monday by politicians from all over Connecticut. The Dems hosted Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, introduced by Dems’ President Ben Stango as “our next Senator,” who spoke about the his plans and vision for Connecticut and the country. Beginning with his ardent support for a federal consumer protection agency, Blumenthal continued, mentioning his support for further financial reform, military tribunals, federal education reform, and reforming the rules of the filibuster in the Senate.
Following the Yale Law alum, Yale College alum Susan Bysiewicz, the current Secretary of State of Connecticut running to become the state’s next Attorney General, spoke on the state of the campaign, and the issues she would pursue most as Attorney General, such as controlling the state’s energy costs, the highest in the continental United States.
Also present at the meeting were Aldermen Mike Jones and Roland Lemar, New Haven’s state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, and former Alderman Gerry Garcia. Lemar is seeking election as a state representative, while Garcia is running to follow Bysiewicz as the next Secretary of State.
Press roundup and pictures below.
Obama becomes issue in CT Senate race
Blumenthal not sure if Obama will campaign
Blumenthal unsure if he wants Obama to campaign for him
Blumenthal noncommittal on Obama help in campaign
Yale politicians talk elections
Blumenthal speaks to Yale Dems
Blumenthal Runs Away from Obama
This past Monday, the Dems co-hosted an immigration panel with MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán) de Yale. The panelists, Prof. Michael Wishnie of the Yale Law School, Kica Matos, formerly of the New Haven Mayor’s Office, Dartmouth Professor Lourdes Gutierrez Najera, and Henry Fernandez of the Center for American Progress, who spoke about the current state of immigration reform in the United States, the effects of the Obama administration has had on it, and the experiences of immigrants in New Haven and around the country. After an hour of discussion, the panelists joined students for small group discussion, question-and-answer sessions.
This past Monday, Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield and current exploratory candidate for governor, visited the Dems and spoke about his plans to reform education, transportation, and the Connecticut economy, as well as his avid support for public financing of campaigns. The New Haven Independent was on-hand at the event (see their coverage below).
Mr. Clean Money Comes to Town
On Monday, the Dems hosted Ned Lamont, formerly the Democratic nominee for Senate and currently exploring a run for governor of Connecticut. The Yale SOM graduate spoke at length about the state of Connecticut’s economy, his plans to remedy what he called Connecticut’s “brain drain,” and how his business experience makes him uniquely qualified to create more jobs in the state. Press coverage below, as well as our own photos of the event.
Lamont SOM ‘80 talks to Dems
Lamont: “I Won’t Fight With One Arm”
This evening, the Yale Dems gathered at Blue State Coffee to phonebank for Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts special Senate election. After two hours, fifteen volunteers made 570 calls to help elect the State Attorney General on January 19th. See some of our awesome volunteers in action:
Yale Democrats that are looking to move to different states after graduation call upon
Movers to pack and transport their larger items.
College democrats in New Haven utilize
custom promotional pens when preparing for meetings with other democrats from Ivy league universities.
College democrats seek out
best credit card offers so that they can garner the most reward points possible, which can be used for spring break trips and college merchandise.
College democrats enthusiastic about law can reach out to
Seattle DUI Attorneys to understand how law and politics directly affect one another.
