Dems open new headquarters
Shelton Weekly, Tuesday, September 02, 2008
SHELTON - The building designated for the new Democratic headquarters downtown is modest, with a torn-up carpet and lettering on the outside of the windows from the business that was there before.
But for Jim Himes, a candidate for the House of Representatives in the 4th Congressional District, the space is exactly what is required.
"This is where we're making history, and we better make history," Himes said at the opening of the headquarters Tuesday.
Residents gathered for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and to hear remarks by Himes and Cheryl Jansen, a candidate for state representative in the 122nd District. The headquarters will be aiding the two candidates' campaigns, as well as working for the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.
For many of the volunteers and residents who attended, it was a small but important step at what they described as a historic political moment.
"There's going to be a lot of movement here in Shelton," said Maura Keaney, Himes' campaign manager.
After what many view as the failures of the Bush administration, Keaney said the hunger for change at the national level has carried over onto the local level.
She said that people have been energized by the current presidential campaign and are volunteering their time to serve not only the Obama campaign but also the campaigns of local candidates.
"More than ever we need a change," she said, particularly in light of the failed economic policies of the last few years, both at a national and a regional level.
Like Obama, Himes was raised by a single mother. He attended Harvard and studied at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship before working first as a banker and then for the nonprofit Enterprise Foundation, now known as Enterprise Community Partners.
Keaney said he is an appealing candidate in part because he is not a career politician and has achieved his successes through hard work and determination.
"He's lived the American dream," she said.
Now voters just need to get to know him better and learn to trust him, she added.
Addressing the small crowd gathered at the headquarters, Himes said he was drawn into politics by his concern over his own two young daughters and their future prospects.
"You look around at where this country is right now, and for the first time we're looking at our kids and our grandkids, and we're not so sure" about their futures, he said.
Himes said this country has given him so many opportunities in spite of his modest background. Now, those opportunities are no longer available to many, even those who come from solidly middle-class families.
He described a recent encounter with a small business owner who told him that this year he and his wife were choosing to pay for their daughter's college education and forgoing purchasing health insurance because they simply couldn't afford to do both.
"That was never supposed to happen in this country," Himes said.
Job loss, rising costs, and foreclosures are all symptoms of an economy in trouble, and many are already feeling the squeeze.
"It hits them at the kitchen table," he said.
On the positive side, Himes said he has observed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, especially among young people, who often for the first time in their lives feel motivated to engage in the political process.
Creating economic growth, working towards universal health care coverage, bringing troops home and ending the war in Iraq, and creating jobs by becoming energy independent are some of the priorities Himes and his team are focusing on.
"This year, our party is standing up for American values and ideals. We are standing up for some very patriotic things and we have to do it at every level," he said.
"That's what gets me out of bed every day."
Education, taxes, and the environment are also important issues on people's minds these days, Jansen said.
Locally, people are concerned about the quality of their schools, the cleanliness of the Housatonic River, and the maintenance of infrastructure, she said.
And the economic strain is only making things worse.
"People are stretched as far as they can go," she said.
Jansen said she has noticed a large increase in voter registration. First-time voters who may be away at college also need to be informed about how to register and vote, she said.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Dave Gioiello said that the number of unaffiliated voters in the city outnumbers the combined Democrats and Republicans. It will be important for these unregistered voters to sign up and become involved at this pivotal moment, he said.
"The unaffiliated are the targets," he said.
Staff at the headquarters plans to install a phone bank and to canvass on behalf of their candidates. They also will be distributing campaign literature and will be on hand to answer questions at the headquarters, said volunteer and organizer Denese Deeds.
Deeds said staff will arrange transportation for those who need rides to the poll. She also hopes to get more people involved and interested in local politics.
"That's what really makes a difference in people's lives," she said.
"But people don't care. They don't come out [to local elections.]"
Elaine Matto, the vice chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, said she has seen a lot of hard work and hopes that local elections can ride on the coattails of the national campaign.
Jansen said she is optimistic as well.
"I think Obama is gathering steam and he's going to run away with it," she said.
"More and more people are inspired by what's going on."
At a local level, she said it is meaningful as a candidate to hear how interested people are in engaging in discussion on the issues.
"There's growing momentum around the district. People are eager to work," she said.
Gioiello said he thinks this is the beginning of a new trend.
"It's a great year to be a Democrat," he said.
Deeds said she hopes to see a turnaround as well.
"I pray for that every day. It's my dream," she said.
Visit the Democratic headquarters at 448 Howe Ave.
