Photo: Charlene Abdal, assistant to the first selectman, gives Ned Lamont a hug during the Democrats’ celebration Saturday
by Ken Borsuk, Greenwich Post
L’escale restaurant was wall-to-wall Democrats Saturday night and the party faithful was in the mood to celebrate.
At what Selectwoman Lin Lavery pledged would be the first annual “Greenwich Celebrates Change” event, more than 280 people arrived to mark what they hoped was a new era in Washington after a successful fall for local Democrats. Not only did President Barack Obama become the first Democrat presidential candidate to win the town’s vote since Lyndon Johnson did in his 1964 landslide victory, but former Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes defeated 21-year incumbent Republican Christopher Shays to become the congressional representative from the 4th District.
But those in attendance stressed the night was not just about last fall’s victories and that people from all political persuasions were in the crowd.
“People are out here tonight to celebrate change and to raise a glass to the President of the United States and to Jim Himes,” Ms. Lavery told the Post. “We couldn’t be more thrilled. People worked very hard to make it happen. It’s a wonderful moment in history.”
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Dave Roberson called the crowd “amazing” and praised the work of Cathy Farricker and Laura Grad for making the event happen. Upon his arrival, Mr. Himes joked to Mr. Roberson that Greenwich Democats had “gone upscale” since he left town..
..Ned Lamont, who challenged and defeated Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Ct.) in 2006 in the primary, spoke at the event as well, as did state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who said the Greenwich victory for President Obama is “the beginning of a trend.”
Mr. Lamont, a former selectman, joked that being a Greenwich Democrat used to be like rooting for the Chicago Cubs but Saturday the party was turning people away at the door because there wasn’t room for them….
L’escale restaurant was wall-to-wall Democrats Saturday night and the party faithful was in the mood to celebrate.
At what Selectwoman Lin Lavery pledged would be the first annual “Greenwich Celebrates Change” event, more than 280 people arrived to mark what they hoped was a new era in Washington after a successful fall for local Democrats. Not only did President Barack Obama become the first Democrat presidential candidate to win the town’s vote since Lyndon Johnson did in his 1964 landslide victory, but former Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Himes defeated 21-year incumbent Republican Christopher Shays to become the congressional representative from the 4th District.
But those in attendance stressed the night was not just about last fall’s victories and that people from all political persuasions were in the crowd.
“People are out here tonight to celebrate change and to raise a glass to the President of the United States and to Jim Himes,” Ms. Lavery told the Post. “We couldn’t be more thrilled. People worked very hard to make it happen. It’s a wonderful moment in history.”
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Dave Roberson called the crowd “amazing” and praised the work of Cathy Farricker and Laura Grad for making the event happen. Upon his arrival, Mr. Himes joked to Mr. Roberson that Greenwich Democats had “gone upscale” since he left town..
..Ned Lamont, who challenged and defeated Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Ct.) in 2006 in the primary, spoke at the event as well, as did state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who said the Greenwich victory for President Obama is “the beginning of a trend.”
Mr. Lamont, a former selectman, joked that being a Greenwich Democrat used to be like rooting for the Chicago Cubs but Saturday the party was turning people away at the door because there wasn’t room for them….
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