“Conservative Chat” – Tonight, January 28th, 2018, at 7:30PM on Charter Cable Channel 191, State Representative William Simanski (R-63) and Barkhamsted RTC Chair and host, Juliana Simone, discuss the state budget process and why it took so long this year to pass one.
This program is airing for the last time tonight but can be seen online using the links below. For those not in the viewing area or who are not Charter/Spectrum subscribers this episode will be online at www.ctv191.com and YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZhdYLPAF6lQ
Barkhamsted, Connecticut, Tuesday January 16th, 2018–
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee is proud to announce its endorsement of Peter Lumaj for Governor of Connecticut in 2018. The Republican Town Committee held its monthly meeting Monday January 15th, 2018 where a motion for endorsement was made to all present voting members. The motion was discussed, voted on, and passed by the members in the room.
“We’ve been strong supporters of Peter Lumaj for many years. I have always admired his deep love for this country and the individual freedoms it offers to its citizens. The Barkhamsted Republicans appreciate Peter’s strong work ethic and staunch commitment to conservative principles. His ideas and policies encourage limited government and he has a strong belief in upholding the Constitution as our Forefather’s intended,” said Chairwoman Juliana Simone.
“Peter’s story personifies the American Dream.” Simone continued. “He is the ideal candidate for Governor because he is a political outsider who won’t continue the business as usual mentality in Hartford. His personal background, his conservative positions, his business acumen and his ability to win – make Peter stand out in an overly crowded field. Our committee members have always been impressed by Peter whenever they’ve heard him speak. We are confident that we’ve made the right choice.”
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee is the second town committee to endorse Peter Lumaj for Governor in 2018. The Plymouth Republican Town Committee endorsed Lumaj in December of 2017.
To learn more about Peter or to get involved/donate to the campaign please visit peterlumaj.com
“I came here as a refugee. The first job I held was flipping burgers. I started with nothing — not a penny when I came to the United States, but I went to night school and eventually became a lawyer.
Anyone can realize his dream if he is willing to work.”
— PETER LUMAJ, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR
KATHRYN BOUGHTON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN Gubernatorial candidate Peter Lumaj addresses the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee on Monday night.
Barkhamsted GOP backs Lumaj for governor
BY KATHRYN BOUGHTON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN BARKHAMSTED — The Republican Town Committee has thrown its support behind gubernatorial candidate Peter Lumaj.
Lumaj, who ran for secretary of state in 2014 and U.S. Senate in 2012, appeared before the committee on Monday night to explain his campaign positions.
Barkhamsted Town Committee Chairwoman Juliana Simone, who is Lumaj’s director of communications, said the local committee has strongly supported the candidate for years. “I have always admired his deep love for this country and the individual freedoms it offers to its citizens,” she wrote on the committee’s website.
In his presentation, Lumaj encouraged Republicans to be proud and to own their allegiance to President Donald Trump.
“We have no reason to be ashamed of being Republicans,” he said. “I think it’s the reason we lost in 2014 — gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley was ashamed to be a rich, white guy. Isn’t that the entire reason to live in a free country — to do better? We had the same problem with Mitt Romney. If we do it again, the Democrats will smell weakness.”
He said Republicans have “done a poor job in defining ourselves. We have been defined by the media. We cower in the corner and defend ourselves. We’re not bad at all. If we were a racist party, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
He contends that President Trump won because, despite his wealth, he connected with the common people.
“The Trump base in our state, a large percentage didn’t vote Republican before. He identified with them,” Lumaj said. “His character is to fight for what he believes in. I stick by those principals of Trump voters. There is no reason to run away from that.”
RTC MEMBER DAVID MOULTON asked how Lumaj, an attorney from the Bronx, N.Y., with a home in Fairfield, would connect with voters.
“I work with a lot of bluecollar guys and hardly any voted for Foley or Romney,” Moulton said. “They said, ‘He’s the rich guy; he doesn’t care about me.’ How do you convince those guys on the shop floor to vote for you?”
Lumaj referred to his own history, which includes escaping from Communist Albania nearly 30 years ago and making his way to the U.S. He worked as a porter and doorman to help support his family, and to pay for his education at the City University of New York, where he earned a degree in political science.
“I came here as a refugee,” he said. “The first job I held was flipping burgers. I started with nothing — not a penny when I came to the United States, but I went to night school and eventually became a lawyer. Anyone can realize his dream if he is willing to work.”
Lumaj said he can identify with the middle class.
“Most Republicans can identify with the middle class if properly approached,” he added. “Wealth doesn’t define you.”
Lumaj’s platform is decidedly aligned with Trump. He pronounces himself a “Second Amendment guy,” opposes amnesty for illegal aliens and condemns “sanctuary cities” that are sheltering them. He criticizes Connecticut’s welfare system, saying illegal aliens should be ineligible for benefits.
“IT PAYS TO BE ILLEGAL and come to our state,” he said. “People are moving into this state that are barely producing anything. If you join welfare today, you will make more than $40,000 a year without doing anything. The Democrats want government dependency. Look at the crime rate, the unemployment rate. … Republicans should point out that everything (Democrats) touched is broken. We are the party of solutions.”
Lumaj said he believes tax relief is the key to kick-starting the state’s recovery.
“I think we have to start with tax relief so people have more money,” he said, adding “you could feel the economy change right away” after Congress passed its tax reform.
“How do you defend against the charge that it is making the deficit worse?” Moulton asked.
“First thing you have to accept is that the Democrats will blame us,” Lumaj replied. “But we have to say, ‘We tried your methods and it got worse. Let’s try ours.’ As Republicans, we have to say we will uphold our agreements with the voters. We should be very forceful about these things.”
Lumaj said his greatest weakness — a lack of governmental experience — also can be seen as a strength.
“Professional politicians are thinking of getting elected and using that as a steppingstone,” he said. “I am not looking for a promotion. I could practice law and be happy with it.”
He said he has enjoyed a positive reception as he tours the state. Lumaj noted that three of the 10 Republican candidates — Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, former Trumbull First Selectman Timothy Herbst and himself — are polling in double digits.
Peter Lumaj, CT Republican Candidate for Governor 2018
January 15, 2018
Barkhamsted, CT
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee held its first meeting of the New Year, with guest Peter Lumaj, Republican Candidate for Governor. The committee has always been inspired by this conservative Republican who stands on strong principles and is a firm supporter of the Constitution. Barkhamsted’s three delegates at the State Convention have always cast their votes for Lumaj.
In 2014, Lumaj, ran for statewide office as the Republican Secretary of the State candidate. Lumaj’s opponent, an incumbent with a long history in the Connecticut General Assembly who was close to her party leadership, was tough to beat. However, for someone new to state voters, Peter appealed to people across the board, and gained almost a half million votes with his message for change in corrupt election law.
Now, as a candidate for Governor, in an open race since sitting Democrat Governor Malloy is not seeking a third term, as the most unliked Governor in the United States, Lumaj is one of many seeking the Party nomination.
In his view, he said in the second debate held in Hebron last week, “I am the only real Republican on this stage.” As a man of conviction, vision and who as an outsider can take office without any binding strings beholding him to the status quo in Hartford, Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee members endorsed him Monday night. A few members who also planned to cast their votes for Peter, were unable to attend but support the committee’s decision.
For more information on Peter and his plan for a fresh start in Connecticut, or to make a donation, visit: http://peterlumaj.com/
An upcoming interview on the Barkhamsted RTC’s Charter cable show, “Conservative Chat” hosted by Chair Juliana Simone, now in its fourteenth year, can be seen with Peter Lumaj. For those outside of the viewing area, this program can be seen on YouTube. Please check this post for links when available.
Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee Chair, Juliana Simone, held a Christmas party and campaign fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Peter Lumaj in mid-December at her home. Some of the guests included Avon RTC Vice Chair Stephen Hunt, newly-elected Barkhamsted Board of Selectman Nick Lukiwsky, former veteran Waterbury Alderman Jerry Padula, Winsted’s Ray Robago and Rev. Steve Blackburn, Ph.D. who is the treasurer for the BRTC and also served in this capacity for Lumaj’s Secretary of the State campaign 2014 and Padula’s Judge of Probate campaign this past municipal cycle 2017.
Christmas carols were played and a variety of food was laid out for guests including a punch bowl of seasonal eggnog. Republican and conservative candidate, Peter Lumaj, was happy to have one-on-one conversations about the future of Connecticut. He discussed his plans as Governor on how to give Connecticut a fresh start by implementing business friendly legislation to keep or bring corporations and jobs here, in addition to relief for the heavily burdened taxpayers who for many years have paid some of the highest taxes in the country.
Lumaj, surprised both the Democrat Party and the media covering his race in 2014 against Secretary of the State, Denise Merrill, when he came close to winning the constitutional seat by four points, and on Election night was often ahead in returns until the large city results came in with their usual Democrat strongholds. Lumaj fought heavily against continued voter fraud, voter I.D. qualifications and cutting spending in the SOTS office, whereas incumbent Merrill ran on making all votes cast easier, sooner and with less interest into voter fraud complaints.
As a candidate for Governor, although Lumaj’s policies are much broader as the head of the state, the category and importance of election law is still important to him after learning firsthand how corrupt the system is when seeking this office.
Look for the next episode of the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee’s cable political interview show starting its fourteenth year, “Conservative Chat,” in January 2018 with Peter Lumaj. For those outside the viewing area, this show will be seen on Charter Communications and online on www.ctv191.com and YouTube.
For more information on Peter Lumaj and his candidacy for Governor:
