CALLING ALL DEMOCRATS….IT’S TIME TO GET OUT THE VOTE

New Britain’s Get Out The Vote push on behalf of Row A Democrats is  ramping up  in the final six days of the 2016 campaign.

On Wednesday, November 2nd U.S. Senator Chris Murphy will join Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty and New Britain  legislators seeking re-election for a rally at the 18 Main Street headquarters at 4 p.m.

On Saturday, November 5th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. join the Democratic Town Committee for a Getting Out The Vote Breakfast at Cafe Beauregard, 2 Main Street, next door to headquarters.  Hear from special guests  Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Comptroller Kevin Lembo before the canvassing and calling begins on the final Saturday before E-Day.  Donations of choice are welcome to the DTC and all are welcome.

There are seven ways to help between now and when polls close on Election Day.

1. Canvass your neighborhood for our candidates
2. Join the Get Out The Vote Phone Bank at headquarters
3. Put up a lawn sign
4. Contact at least five people you know at work or church and remind them to vote
5. Give rides to the polls
6. Poll stand at a voting place for the A team (6 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday)
7. Make a financial contribution

Democratic Town Committee Urges No Vote on Four Year terms, Changing The Way Salary Hikes Will Be Granted To Elected Officials

The Democratic Town Committee (DTC) is urging a no vote on city charter changes that if approved would create a four-year mayoral term and change the way the Mayor and other municipal officials can raise their salaries.  At its September meeting the 48-member DTC unanimously opposed charter change on all three questions.

In a statement released November 1st DTC Chair Bill Shortell said “granting a four-year term to the mayor means there will be less accountability to taxpayers.”

“At a time of property tax increases, higher fees and diminished services there is a need for voter oversight of the executive branch at every municipal election not every other one. A four-year term with no provision for term limits or recall  will upend the checks and balances that currently exist between Mayor and Council that are codified in the City Charter.  Unlike the Mayor,  the Common Council members would still have to run every two years, a difference that will diminish the oversight and authority of the legislative branch of city government.  In municipal years with no mayoral election that participation is likely to further decline, making City Hall further removed and less accountable to citizens. Mayoral and Council terms should be the same.”

The DTC statement also takes issue with question 3 which Shortell called “a hodge-podge of 11 changes, some of which are minor, but others that have a direct financial impact on the city.”

“The current charter says that any pay raises have to be done in odd-numbered years, meaning election years. Trying to change the raises to non-election years is hiding them from the voters. Also, the granting of pensions to certain appointed officials and altering the method of assessing water bills constitute more than “technicalities” and need to be decided by voters independently of one another.

“Let’s keep municipal government accountable to residents every two years. Say no to longer terms and no to less oversight when it comes to granting pay raises to elected officials.”

NAACP, Black Democrats Mobilize For Election Day: Voter Engagement Thursday, Nov. 3rd

The New Britain NAACP and three other groups in the city’s African-American community are organizing a Voter Engagement Day meeting on Thursday, November 3rd, at 6 p.m. at the Pride of CT Elk Lodge, 24 Elm Street in downtown New Britain.

All voters are welcome to attend.

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