In the meantime, a lot of money is spent and in many instances, the campaign is not successful, but the vendors have their money and they go onto the next campaign….no hard feelings…..no feelings at all sometime…..

If you happen to do a random survey of campaign expense reports, for the most part these vendors are not from Connecticut, and many are not even from New England. Campaign vendors handle multiple campaigns and most often there is a template for literature, strategies on-line and off-line, speeches, press releases, etc. etc. etc.. The individuality of each candidate often gets lost, and the cookie-cutter approach  is a status quo approach.

I’ve been involved assisting with election campaigns for more years than I care to count, yet that experience has become invaluable now that I am a candidate.  And that experience leads me to question whether or not I want to follow standard operating procedure when contracting for campaign services.

First of all, I know that in Connecticut (and in New England), there are campaign vendors more than capable of handling the requirements of a Connecticut state senate campaign.  What is fortunate in my case is that I know many of these people and I am comfortable that they [...]]]> When you stop to think of it, the campaign vendors who are there to help a campaign become  successful means that on Election Day, the candidate wins.

In the meantime, a lot of money is spent and in many instances, the campaign is not successful, but the vendors have their money and they go onto the next campaign….no hard feelings…..no feelings at all sometime…..

If you happen to do a random survey of campaign expense reports, for the most part these vendors are not from Connecticut, and many are not even from New England. Campaign vendors handle multiple campaigns and most often there is a template for literature, strategies on-line and off-line, speeches, press releases, etc. etc. etc.. The individuality of each candidate often gets lost, and the cookie-cutter approach  is a status quo approach.

I’ve been involved assisting with election campaigns for more years than I care to count, yet that experience has become invaluable now that I am a candidate.  And that experience leads me to question whether or not I want to follow standard operating procedure when contracting for campaign services.

First of all, I know that in Connecticut (and in New England), there are campaign vendors more than capable of handling the requirements of a Connecticut state senate campaign.  What is fortunate in my case is that I know many of these people and I am comfortable that they know my style and approach.

The presentations that I make to the voting public  are not going to be restructured or retooled into an image simply based on what the vendor insists is going to be successful.  Sticking with candidate image validity that is my own is a decision that I hope that the voters in the 26th State Senate District will value and come to appreciate.

Aside from maintaining the validity of my own campaign style and approach, the economic priority is to have the money paid for campaign vendor services kept in circulation right here in Connecticut.  This has far greater appeal to me than seeing checks go to Virginia, Washington D.C. or some other out-of-state  vendor center.

There is no guarantee that I will find 100% of all my campaign vendor services here locally, but it is an absolute of this campaign to begin by first looking at the talent and skills that are based in Connecticut, and to contract with those vendors to help move this 26th State Senate District campaign to success on November 6th.

To me, this is just a matter of common sense. Let’s just see how it works.

Comprised of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton, the district has historically voted Republican for the seat. 72-year-old Curry, a Democrat, remains unfazed.

“I think one of the reasons that has happened is that Connecticut has a history of electing very moderate Republicans like Chris Shays,” Curry said. “However, I think it’s a very unhealthy thing to do to let a Republican candidate run unopposed.”

Curry is referring to incumbent Sen. Tori Boucher, who she plans to challenge in the Nov. 6 election.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE….

Westporter Carolanne Curry mounting campaign against Sen. Toni Boucher for seat in 26th District.

The nominating and seconding statements made me momentarily wonder who was this person they were praising, as I listened to the inventory of my career activities become their reason and their motivation for choosing to put my name forward. I will tell you this though, everyone should experience at least once in their life, such an occassion of praise and “well-done”, so that you can personally feel the special energy and adrenalin that I felt.

Susan Cocco, the Democratic Town Chair of Ridgefield made the nominating statement.  Westport DTC members Eileen Flug and Jennifer Johnson, along with New Canaan DTC Vice-Chair David Kostek gave seconding statements.
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Good evening Fellow Democrats,

Thank you Susan Cocco, Eileen Flug, Jennifer Johnson, and David Kostek for placing my name in nomination this evening.

Thank you to the seven Democratic Town Committee Chairs (Jim Ezzes,  Susan Cocco, Nick Vitti, Barbara Reynolds, John Kalamarides, Joe Ventricelli and Ginny Appy)  who have extended their support and encouragement, as I enter into this election campaign.

Thank you especially to the Town Committee members across the 26th District who [...]]]>

Joining (from left) DTC Wilton Chair John Kalamarides and the 135th General Assembly candidate Leon Karvelis.

At the May 21 State Senate convention at Westport’s Town Hall, delegates officially endorsed my candidacy and opened the door for me to start a full-fledged election campaign to serve as the 26th District’s State Senator.

The nominating and seconding statements made me momentarily wonder who was this person they were praising, as I listened to the inventory of my career activities become their reason and their motivation for choosing to put my name forward. I will tell you this though, everyone should experience at least once in their life, such an occassion of praise and “well-done”, so that you can personally feel the special energy and adrenalin that I felt.

Susan Cocco, the Democratic Town Chair of Ridgefield made the nominating statement.  Westport DTC members Eileen Flug and Jennifer Johnson, along with New Canaan DTC Vice-Chair David Kostek gave seconding statements.
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The following statement is my acceptance of this nomination:

Good evening Fellow Democrats,

Thank you Susan Cocco, Eileen Flug, Jennifer Johnson, and David Kostek for placing my name in nomination this evening.

Thank you to the seven Democratic Town Committee Chairs (Jim Ezzes,  Susan Cocco, Nick Vitti, Barbara Reynolds, John Kalamarides, Joe Ventricelli and Ginny Appy)  who have extended their support and encouragement, as I enter into this election campaign.

Thank you especially to the Town Committee members across the 26th District who have rallied to this campaign with their enthusiasm and help.

And finally,  sincere thanks to the delegates here this evening for your endorsement….and the trust that this endorsement represents.

In defining who I am, I want you to know that I am a life-long Democrat whose values and committment to public service came about in the same way as it has for many other deeply political people.

Congresswoman Rosa  DeLauro talks about the modeling of her mother, who was the longest-serving member of the New Haven Board of Aldermen.

State Treasurer Denise Nappier talks of her father who work tirelessly to elect the first African-American to serve on the Hartford City Council.

My lifelong embrace of Democratic issues and Democratic candidates comes as part of the legacy from my family as well.

I am grateful to my parents, my brother, and sisters for the standards I hold and the values I believe in.

For the past 40+ years I have found joy in the work and in the challenge of election campaigns each year.  Also during these years, I have handled the responsibilities of public service appointments on both State and municipal levels. Through all these efforts, it is the example and the teachings of my family that guide my political life.

With DTC Wilton Chair John Kalamarides .

I am running so that this year we can re-write the history of the 26th State Senate District.

As many of you know so well, this is a senate seat which has not yet been held by a Democrat.

In my conversations with State Democratic Party Chair Nancy Dinardo, she acknowledges the challenge, but she believes a win is doable this year. In other conversations with State  senators in Hartford, they confirm the difficulty, but they also tell me a win in November is doable this year. And in talking with many of the 26th District Democrats, they say they see the light at the end of the tunnel and can’t wait to get there with me.

For me, this state senate campaign will be an opportunity to contrast a Democratic Party philosophy that is inclusive of others and based on the spirit of cooperation.

It will not be a campaign that advances one person’s personal political agenda, one that is out of touch, and without compassion.

Essentially, I am running to represent everyone in this room tonight and every one in the 26th State Senate District. As it should be.

With me, you will know that your voice and your vote count.  With me, you will know that I will be actively listening to your concerns, and I will be learning how best to incorporate those concerns into effective legislation.

And finally, as your elected State Senator from the 26th District, I will lead with the passion and the purpose that is the hallmark of our Democratic Party.

Thank you again.

I’d like you to know that I am campaigning for the chance to represent the 99,000 people in Connecticut’s 26th State Senate District, comprising the 7-towns of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

I would like this blog to extend my own personal 7-town outreach to you,  by adding insight to our conversations when we meet personally or when we talk on the phone.

My hope is that I present a sufficiently different choice of representation for you, from the way the 26th District is currently represented in the State Senate in Hartford.

My candidacy gives you a chance to hear more than just one side of any important issue, and it is a given that it is the viewpoint of the District that the elected state senator should advance as priority, not their own viewpoint.

I am determined to do the work that will let you see me as the candidate you want to vote for.

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I hope also that by Election Day (November 6, 2012), that you will have built up a trust in the ability of my knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver a greater impact for the people of the 26th in securing needed State funding or resources.

My intent as your state senator, is to introduce a far more amicable [...]]]> Dear Visitor:

I’d like you to know that I am campaigning for the chance to represent the 99,000 people in Connecticut’s 26th State Senate District, comprising the 7-towns of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

I would like this blog to extend my own personal 7-town outreach to you,  by adding insight to our conversations when we meet personally or when we talk on the phone.

My hope is that I present a sufficiently different choice of representation for you, from the way the 26th District is currently represented in the State Senate in Hartford.

My candidacy gives you a chance to hear more than just one side of any important issue, and it is a given that it is the viewpoint of the District that the elected state senator should advance as priority, not their own viewpoint.

I am determined to do the work that will let you see me as the candidate you want to vote for.

______________________________________________________

I hope also that by Election Day (November 6, 2012), that you will have built up a trust in the ability of my knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver a greater impact for the people of the 26th in securing needed State funding or resources.

My intent as your state senator, is to introduce a far more amicable and persuasive voice in the work of serving as state senator on behalf of the 26th District.

My intent is to build  strong working relationships in Hartford for the benefit of the 26th District.

______________________________________________________

To accomplish any of this, my first challenge is to qualify for public campaign financing.

Public campaign financing is meant to equalize the playing field and let  candidates like myself, who would have, previous to this program, rarely had the chance to become an endorsed party candidate for the state senate.  We are all too aware of the amounts of money now required.

All 36 state senate seats are eligible for public financing.  Since public financing was first used in 2008, there isn’t a long history to know whether it can sustain itself and there is no clear pattern yet of the candidate profile that  emerges from public financing.  But I can tell you that I am deeply aware of the chance that public financing gives me.

A condition to qualify for public financing calls for raising $15,000 (fifteen thousand dollars) in campaign contributions from individuals. The contribution allowed, is in a limited range of $5.oo to $100.00.  Less than $5.00 doesn’t qualify and more than $100.00 has to be returned.

That strikes me as an amazingly fair range.  I know I could not even begin to think of asking for the amounts I’ve seen previous candidates chase in order to finance their campaign.  I personally have worked with different kinds of candidates when it comes to raising campaign funds: some who chew through every call with almost robotic persistence and those who froze up at the very thought of a call for campaign money.

And of utmost importance;  public financing frees up the candidate from the hold of special interest money, which tends to limit and control the information necessary for equitable decision-making and which limits the independent thinking that should be processing solid, unlimited information.

Public financing frees me and every other candidate of these suffocating burdens.

I will continue to post about our progress, I hope to hear from you.  I want to work with a team of volunteers who see the positive effects for the 26th that the Curry for State Senate campaign can generate.

But know this, I consider myself having been given an enormous and timely gift.  The gift of circumstances resulting in the nomination and endorsement by the Democratic Party Leadership of the 7-town 26th State Senate District for my candidacy for the  26th State Senate District seat.

Just consider this…

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By the end of this campaign we will have had a chance to talk about the many issues we have in common. Issues we can truly face together and we can determine solutions together that make sense for the 26th District.

The formal nomination to become the official candidate (I am unofficial until then) comes on Monday, May 21, Westport Town Hall at 7:30.

Can you come and enjoy the event with me.

I would be remiss if I didn’t ask if any visitors to the blog who may already know me, would they be willing to make a campaign contribution?

That’s it for this first post.

I’ll be back shortly.