“Let’s give her a platform in our state to magnify her voice and try to disrupt the status quo to bring more opportunity for all of our state’s residents.”
Tom MichaudMichaud said the 2020 election cycle highlighted the importance of state legislatures.
“Fighting to protect individual rights and pushing back on government overreach starts at the state level,” he said. “We must send our strongest Republican voices to Hartford.”
He described Levy as the definition of the American dream. “Her family fled communist Cuba in 1960 to come to the US in search of a better life. Her family settled during the Jim Crow era in North Carolina, where she focused on learning English as a second language and practiced her faith.”
He noted Levy then graduated from Brown University and served as a commodities trader on Wall Street where there weren’t many women.
“For the past 33 years Leora has made Greenwich her home,” he continued. “Somehow Leora has also found time to become a pillar in our community, a go-to leader when something needs to get done – chairing events and boards, including the Bruce Museum and a local animal shelter.”
“She was elected as the Republican National Committee woman where she represents our state on the national stage. Ultimately, Leora was tapped by the president of the US (Donald Trump) to serve as our abassador to the Country of Chile. Those are incredible accomplishments and do represent what the American dream is.”
Jan Schaefer from New Canaan seconded Michaud’s nomination of Ms Levy.
“We have an opportunity to elect a vibrant, self made women who has overcome barriers of every aspect of her life,” Schaefer said. “We have an opportunity to elect a Latina from the 36th district as our state senator, who was in fact nominated by the US president to be our country’s ambassador to Chile.”
“In this brief campaign, some folks have accused Leora of being haranguing,” Schaefer said. “Her proven track record shows she always gets the job done.”
There was a roll call vote:
Fazio: Nisha Arora (by proxy), Carmella Budkins, Fred Camillo, Paul Cappiali, Fred DeCaro, Irene Dietrich, Rich DiPreta, Marc Ducret, Debra Hess, Icy Frantz, Joe Kelly, Pam Pagnini, Dan Quigley, Lauren Rabin, Jackie Budkins, Andrew Brooks, Whitney Williams, Patrick Donovan, Daniel Labutata, Ralph Laguiole.
Levy: Karen Fassuliotis, Tom Michaud, Jane Sprung, Peter Tesei, Ed Dadakis, Jan Schaefer, Tom Lombardo, Dennis Mahoney, Barry Weston.
The vote were 20 votes for Fazio and 9 for Levy. A majority of 15 was required, so Ryan Fazio became the nominee.
“In Connecticut…our people have experienced the worst economic growth of any state in the country, the second highest taxes, and among the highest cost of living,” Fazio said. “Our most vulnerable families are facing a horrendous surge of crime and violence, with homicides up 35% on our state’s largest cities. Our politics are becoming more divisive and for the last 12 years one party has had complete control of our state government, but I know we can do better.”
“We simply need a change in leadership to thrive like never before,” he added. “I still believe the best days are ahead of us in Connecticut, if only we can create a positive change first. That change starts right here on Aug 17 in this special election.”
Last week the Democrats voted unanimously on Alexis Gevanter to represent their party in the Aug 17 special election.
Ed Dadakis said Ms Gevanter was “a far worse candidate than Alex Kasser,” describing her as “a left winger” and a “San Francisco progressive.”
See also:
Arora Won’t Seek Republican Endorsement for State Senate 36th District after All
Democrat Blankley Goes Rogue; Petitions for Spot on Aug 17 Special Election Ballot as Independent
Democratic Delegates Vote Unanimously to Endorse Gevanter for 36th District State Senate Seat