Community Corner

Southington Residents Attend Opening of McMahon's Farmington Office

Southington officials, residents help greet McMahon's campaign as she moves into her Farmington office.

Linda McMahon celebrated the official opening of her eighth field office - this one located at 1051 Farmington Ave. in Farmington - Friday evening with a crowd of local Republicans.

Former Town Council Chairman Mike Clark introduced McMahon, announcing his endorsement for her bid for U.S. senate. Farmington Town Council members CJ Thomas and Patty Stoddard, former Town Council Chairman George Reider and state Rep. Bill Wadsworth (R-21) joined Clark in endorsing McMahon.

The Farmington office, tucked into a vacant storefront at 1051 Farmington Ave. (behind ) was filled with Republicans from Southington, West Hartford, Avon and Farmington. The walls were lined with “Linda” posters and displays of the two-time senatorial candidate’s descriptors: "working mom, humble beginnings, businesswoman," cut out of colored construction paper. About a dozen college-age interns were dialing voters and others greeted visitors.

UConn interns Audrey Delgrosso, of Avon, and Stella Kim, of Southington, were among them.

“As a female, I look at her, she’s a powerful, local figure, which we need more of in Connecticut. Her platform is to benefit the Connecticut economy and she’s a businesswoman with first-hand experience,” Kim said.

Delgrosso said she’s done a lot of canvassing for McMahon and has received mostly positive responses.

“I think it’s important that she’s a businesswoman. That’s something we need more of. She’s not just a politician; she knows what she’s doing,” Delgrosso said.

Many supporters in the room said the same.

“I appreciate that she’s a small-business owner running for office," CJ Thomas said. "That’s particularly something we need now. She’s also an outsider so that’s two marks in her favor. She’s done a good job in the last two years getting her message and her name out there and both of the candidates on the other side are career politicians. What we’re looking for is to get someone new in there."

West Hartford Republican Town Committee Chairman Justin Clark has been volunteering with the campaign.

“She’s the only candidate in the race with a plan to turn the economy around and create jobs. She would be a breath of fresh air in D.C.,” he said.

Steve Hunt, Avon Republican Town Committee vice chairman, summed up the discussion.

“The prevailing theme is the economy," Hunt said. "There are obviously various leftist policies out there that haven’t worked. If you look at Europe, I think that’s where we’re headed. We have a chance to turn it around with Linda.”

Pragmatically, Hunt said he believes McMahon can win.

“She’s got far and away the best campaign structure in place.”

Mike Clark introduced McMahon, saying he’d gotten to know her well during her three years of campaigning and that he believed she was the right candidate for senate.

McMahon said she had taken a tour of the UConn Cell and Genome Science Building before the office opening and had been amazed at what researchers are doing. She invited supporters to stop into the office and lend a hand.

“We’re very honored to have you here in Farmington,” Mike Clark said. “We’re going to do everything we can to carry Farmington for you.”


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