Written by Juliana Simone
Riverton, CT – On October 7th, 8th and 9th the Riverton Fair held its annual event on the Riverton fairgrounds. 2016 marks the 107th anniversary of what is known as the last county fair of the season in the state. The fair was established in 1909. Located in the southeastern portion of Litchfield County on the Farmington River, the fair brings people from near and far to take in the tractor pulls, wood chopping and judges of oxen and steers, in addition to the traditional animal exhibits, amusement rides and music. Area craftsmen exhibit their goods, as do local farmers who sell their home grown honey, maple syrup and garlic.
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee, set up it’s booth to showcase Republican state and federal candidates who will be on the ballot this November 8th, including our party’s nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Popular State Senator Kevin Witkos spent time at our booth Friday night, which is known to town and area residents as “local’s night.” Serving in the state house before becoming a State Senator, he is currently the Deputy Minority Leader in the Republican Senate caucus. Witkos also works for Northeast Utilities and owns a local eatery in his home town of Canton.
Barkhamsted State Representative, William Simanski, joined Witkos Friday night and returned on Saturday to spend time with his fellow colleague, Dan Carter, who became a member of the House Republicans the same year he did in 2010. Simanski, respected by the majority of constituents in the four towns he represents, is running unopposed again this year.
Carter, who still holds the title of State Representative, is now the Republican U.S. Senate candidate for the CT GOP who is taking on one-term Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal. A link to his interview on our RTC cable show is on this website home page.
Matthew Corey, also joined the candidates on Saturday. Corey, is a small business owner of two businesses: a tavern in downtown Hartford, and high-rise window cleaning service. He is also a navy veteran. Corey is taking on long-serving democrat Congressman John Larson, who is a true example of a career politician and why term limits are needed. Larson is up for his ninth term in Washington, D.C., and supports all of his democrat caucus leadership and agenda.
This is Corey’s third attempt to try and replace Larson. His first run was as an Independent as the CT GOP chose financial advisor John Henry Decker as their nominee. Corey was the CT GOP nominee in 2014 and is again in 2016. Routinely, Larson has agreed to one debate amongst any challenger, to be held in its usual place in West Hartford by the League of Women Voters.
All candidates spent many hours talking to voters and introducing themselves to attendees, who all were anxious for change. The biggest request we received all weekend was for anything Trump. Bumper stickers which joked about being a ‘Trump Deplorable’ disappeared as fast as we could put them out.
A nice nonpartisan story, is about a husband and wife who came up to inquire about a destination t-shirt hanging from our booth. They told us they were married in the Barkhamsted town hall, in the midst of a bad snow storm, twenty-three years ago, I believe, if memory serves me correctly, and because of this they return to the fair every year out of respect for their marriage. Because of this, the wife wanted the shirt as a sentimental keepsake.
With the weather perfect both Friday night and Saturday, it was only Sunday that was a literal wash out with pouring rain. As Chair, six and a half hours was tough duty in these conditions. Coveted Trump signs were given to those who endured this same day in the chilly rain.
The sun finally did break through around 4PM, a couple of hours before the fair came to a close this important election year. As fair goers showed up to grab one last smoked turkey leg or bag of apple fritters, our committee was proud to have informed voters about both state and federal politics, produced the candidates whose names they will see on their ballots, and either serve them in our general assembly, or who would like to serve them in Washington.
Special thanks to Ed, Tom, Ernie, Mark C., Dave, Mark H., Stephen, Mat, Marie Gillen, all of our candidates plus any staff, and supporters who stopped by.
