By Melissa Johnston
Orange Democratic Town Committee
Melissa Johnston
The end of the school year is always such a busy time. I’m certainly feeling it now as we head into the home stretch filled with concerts, celebrations, graduations and all the memorable moments that come with June. I’m also feeling all the emotions that come with watching my youngest graduate from elementary school and prepare to head off to middle school next year. This season is a reminder that growth and change often happen all at once.
While June feels like a whirlwind, May was also an especially busy month for members of the Orange Democratic Town Committee. Many of our members were elected as delegates to conventions where candidates were endorsed for state, national and local offices. Over the course of several weeks, we attended the Connecticut Democratic State Convention, the convention for the 3rd Congressional District, four conventions to endorse state legislative candidates and a convention to endorse a candidate for probate judge.
State Sen. James Maroney and state Reps. Mary Welander and MJ Shannon were endorsed at our convention for state legislators. These lawmakers have played important roles in shaping and passing legislation that positively impacts Connecticut families.
Newcomer Alex Armstrong was endorsed for state representative for the 119th House District. Many residents in his district, myself included, will likely be seeing Armstrong at our doors in the coming months as the campaign season ramps up. Armstrong is focused on preparing our communities for the challenges of a changing climate, addressing the rising cost-of-living crisis facing working families and reforming Connecticut’s utilities to provide cleaner, more reliable and more affordable energy.
Ben Gettinger was once again endorsed for probate judge for Milford and Orange.
I hope you will all join us for our annual Candidates Picnic on Aug. 21 to meet them.
Rosa DeLauro received the party endorsement for the 3 Congressional District. Our incumbent lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer and secretary of the state all received endorsements as well. Ned Lamont received the endorsement for a third term as governor, while challenger Josh Elliott earned enough delegate support to qualify for the primary ballot on Aug. 11.
Between now and the primary, it is our responsibility as Democrats to learn more about the candidates, their priorities and their visions for the future. Primaries are a healthy and important part of the democratic process. They allow more ideas to be heard and debated. But at the end of the day, we often share many of the same core values. Once voters have made their voices heard, we move forward together, focused on ensuring those values are represented in November.
In addition to participating in conventions, we also welcomed two new members at our May meeting. Although Mother Nature disrupted our plans to march in the Memorial Day Parade, it was still wonderful to see so many familiar faces at the ceremony at High Plains Community Center. We celebrated the raising of the Pride flag in Orange in recognition of Pride Month in June, and we are looking forward to participating in the upcoming Milford Pride event. We are also very excited to sponsor upcoming events connected to the America 250 celebration in Orange.
Our next meeting will be held on June 16 at 7 p.m. at HPCC, and we encourage anyone curious about what we do to join us. We also publish a comprehensive email newsletter, Orange Happenings, which includes local events, news, board meeting updates and more. Anyone can sign up on our website at OrangeCTDems.org.
As we move through this hectic but meaningful time, I hope that once the flurry of June settles, everyone is able to take time this summer to relax, recharge and enjoy the moments that matter most. Just as this season brings transitions in our families and our community, it also reminds us of the importance of staying engaged in our democratic process, showing up, staying informed and participating in the decisions that shape our shared future.
Melissa Johnston is the chair of the Orange Democratic Town Committee.