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| Sen. Jospeh Lieberman (left) speaks with First Selectman Rudy Marconi (right) as Monte Frank looks on. |
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| DTC Chair Jim Diamond (left) and First Selectman Rudy Marconi (center) speak with Attorney General Dick Blumenthal (right). |
April 10 -- Ridgefield Democrats joined with colleagues around the state in honoring Sen. Joseph Lieberman tonight. Lieberman, the guest of honor at Danbury's Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Day dinner, regaled the audience with anecdotes from his campaign for Vice President and from the Florida vote count saga. First Selectman Rudy Marconi and DTC Chair Jim Diamond led a group of Ridgefielders, which included Democratic activists Grant Perry, Monte Frank, Joseph Heyman, and Dave Nichols, to participate in the annual event.
First Selectman Marconi met and talked with Sen. Lieberman, congratulating him on his precedent-setting run for the Vice Presidency. Marconi reminded the Senator of the strong support Ridgefielders provided him in the recent election. He also spoke of the efforts to secure the release of Jack Tobin, a Ridgefielder who has been arrested and is being held in Russia. Marconi said, "Sen. Lieberman thanked us for the strong support he received from Ridgefield in the election, and spoke of his efforts in the Senate to continue the economic, social, and environmental initiatives of the Clinton-Gore administration. He also affirmed his support for US efforts to resolve the situation with Ridgefielder Tobin and secure his release."
Marconi, Diamond, and the other Ridgefield Democrats also visited with Rep. Jim Maloney, Ct. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, and Attorney General Dick Bluementhal. Said Diamond, "This annual event is a great opportunity for Democrats from the Fifth Congressional District to meet with national and state leaders. Tonight was an outstanding opportunity to show our appreciation for Joe Lieberman, and thank him personally for his historic run with Al Gore last fall."
Virtually every Democratic leader in Connecticut attended tonight's event. Ridgefield Democrats enjoyed the opportunity to renew friendships and catch up on the latest news. Our congressman, Jim Maloney (photo, below left) was the featured speaker to introduce Sen. Lieberman. Here Rep. Maloney chats with First Selectman Rudy Marconi and Monte Frank (right). (Photo, right) Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is another good friend of Ridgefield Democrats. Here she catches up on the latest happenings with Jim Diamond.
As a result of the 2000 census, Connecticut is losing one of its 6 congressional seats. There is a great deal of jockeying among state political leaders as to how the new district lines will be drawn. Ridgefield Democrats have come out strongly in favor of maintaining the current Fifth District, and having it incluide Danbury and Ridgefield, with our congressman Jim Maloney as the incumbent. (Photo, left) Jim Diamond used the occasion of tonight's dinner to explain to Ct. State Central Chairman John Olsen the rationale for keeping the Fifth District intact. (Photo, right) Jim and Rudy Marconi also spoke with Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen (photo, center), who will be a key player in the redistricting. It's rumored that Sen. Jepsen may run for statewide office in 2002.
Rudy Marconi talked with Rep. Maloney about a number of matters of local importance. Among other things, he brought the congressman up to date on efforts to secure the return of Jack Tobin, a matter which Maloney has been following closely and supporting.
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