Barkhamsted RTC Fundraiser Highlights

Written by Juliana Simone

Barkhamsted RTC F/R (l-r) State Rep. Tim LeGeyt, U.S. Senate candidate Dan Carter, State Senator Kevin Witkos, BRTC Chair Juliana Simone, State Rep. William Simanski
Barkhamsted RTC F/R (l-r) State Rep. Tim LeGeyt, U.S. Senate candidate Dan Carter, State Senator Kevin Witkos, BRTC Chair Juliana Simone, State Rep. William Simanski

The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee held its biannual fundraiser on October 11th. The event was held at the home of the committee Chair, Juliana Simone. Committee members brought food and beverages for guests to enjoy. Candidates for state and federal office were on hand to talk to and later address the guests giving campaign speeches.

District candidates, Barkhamsted State Representative, William Simanski (R-62), who is running unopposed to serve his fourth term, and State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-8), whose district includes the town of Barkhamsted as well as ten other towns, is running for reelection to serve his fifth term in the Senate, after serving in the State House. He is currently the Deputy Minority Leader, second to State Senator Len Fasano, in senate leadership.

Simanksi and Witkos both used their time as speakers to acknowledge the failures of the Malloy administration, and how under two terms of this democrat Governor, things have only worsened.

First Congressional candidate Matthew Corey (CT-1), challenging entrenched democrat Congressman John Larson for a third time, is a small businessman who owns and operates two companies in Hartford and is a Navy veteran. {To see his recent interview on our RTC committee cable show click this link}

https://communityaccesstv.viebit.com/#WPoSvM0AP01E

U.S. Senate candidate, Dan Carter, who is presently a State Representative in Connecticut’s second district after being elected to office in 2010, is an Air Force veteran, and has a background in the health care industry.  {To see his recent interview on our RTC committee cable show click this link}
https://communityaccesstv.viebit.com/#bWb5oh5gZAGn

Corey and Carter used their time as speakers to acknowledge both the failures to Connecticut residents and taxpayers under the Democrat majority in our state legislature, and how the federal delegation that represents the Constitution State in Washington, D.C., that consists of five members of the House of Representatives, and two U.S. Senators, all members of the democrat party, have voted consistently with their caucus leadership, and fail Connecticut’s needs overall.

Corey is challenging U.S. Rep. John Larson (D), who exemplifies why term limits need to be imposed, after making a career in Washington for seventeen years. Carter is challenging one-term incumbent, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who has also made a lifetime profession working for the government, as Connecticut’s Attorney General for twenty years, before moving on to a federal seat.

Peter Lumaj, also gave a moving speech to the crowd. The 2014 Secretary of the State candidate, who doubled the amount of votes the prior nominee received four years earlier, currently has an exploratory committee for a statewide office race in 2018. Lumaj also sought the nomination to be the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in 2012. Barkhamsted RTC Chair, Juliana Simone, seconded his nomination at the state convention that year.

Lumaj reminded everyone “If you can’t vote for Trump, vote for Republican Party,” he said. “We must support any and every office we can. We cannot keep fighting each other. If you do not vote for Trump, it is a vote for Hillary.”

He also reminded people that he grew up in a communist country, and how he escaped to America to live a life of liberty and opportunity.  Like others with his background, he fears the country he came to embrace for its freedoms, he now sees becoming more like the country he and his brothers fled, with the liberal democrat agenda of making America a socialist nation.

State Representative Tim LeGeyt (R-17), who took over the Witkos seat when he moved forward to the Senate, also came to the event. Harwinton First Selectman Mike Criss, and Barkhamsted Selectman, Mark Hemenway (R), was another elected official present as well as Rich Tutunjian, who is a State Central Committee member for the senate district eight, in addition to BRTC treasurer, Rev. Steven Blackburn, Ph.D., along with former RTC Chair, Robert Brainard III, who serve on the Board of Assessment Appeals in addition to being RTC members.

Hard-working reporter, Kathryn Boughton, came to cover the occasion for The Republican American, a respected state newspaper in circulation for over 150 years, known for its conservative investigative reporting*.  Ms. Boughton spoke at length to all the candidates and published a fine report that accurately described the candidates’ positions in the October 13th edition. {Editor’s note: see attached scan}

Party members and unaffiliated voters came from both native Barkhamsted and towns around the state. A good time was had by all. Thank you to the many committee members who came out in support of our RTC, and to our candidates and guests who made the evening memorable and informative.

Vote November 8th, for all of our Republican candidates, everyone! The difference in how the future of America will proceed is monumental.

BRTC F/R - Chair Juliana Simone and U.S. Senate candidate Dan Carter
BRTC F/R – Chair Juliana Simone and U.S. Senate candidate Dan Carter

 

BRTC F/R - First Congressional candidate Matthew Corey (CT-1) and BRTC Chair Juliana Simone
BRTC F/R – First Congressional candidate Matthew Corey (CT-1) and BRTC Chair Juliana Simone

 

BRTC F/R - BRTC Chair Juliana Simone and Harwinton First Selectman Mike Criss
BRTC F/R – BRTC Chair Juliana Simone and Harwinton First Selectman Mike Criss

 

BRTC F/R - Peter Lumaj, former candidate for SOTS and exploratory committee candidate for Governor 2018
BRTC F/R – Peter Lumaj, former candidate for SOTS and exploratory committee candidate for Governor 2018

 

 

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BRTC F/R 2016 Peter Lumaj, Cassandra D. , two ROV’s and town clerk

 

BRTC F/R - (l-r) Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone and William Simanski
BRTC F/R – (l-r) Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone and William Simanski

 

BRTC F/R - (l-r) Matthew Corey, Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone and Bill Simanski
BRTC F/R – (l-r) Matthew Corey, Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone and Bill Simanski

 

BRTC F/R 2016 (l-r) Matthew Corey, Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone, Bill Simanski {photo: Brock Weber}
BRTC F/R 2016 (l-r) Matthew Corey, Peter Lumaj, Tim LeGeyt, Dan Carter, Kevin Witkos, Juliana Simone, Bill Simanski {photo: Brock Weber}

 

BRTC F/R 2016 (l-r) RTC Treasurer Rev. Steven Blackburn, Ph.D., Mike and Susan Day (VOR -R) Barkhamsted
BRTC F/R 2016 (l-r) RTC Treasurer Rev. Steven Blackburn, Ph. D., Mike and Susan Day (VOR -R) Barkhamsted

 

BRTC F/R 2016 - Mark Mahoney, SC and BRTC member Rich Tutunjian, Ernie L.
BRTC F/R 2016 – Mark Mahoney, SC and BRTC member Rich Tutunjian, Ernie L.

 

BRTC F/R 2016 - former Chair and RTC member John Lavieri and Mike Day
BRTC F/R 2016 – former Chair and RTC member John Lavieri and Mike Day

 

Senate Republican staff member and former CM for Peter Lumaj SOTS campaign, Brock Weber, and fellow Lumaj staff worker Cassandra D.
Senate Republican staff member and former CM for Peter Lumaj SOTS campaign, Brock Weber, and fellow Lumaj staff worker Cassandra D.

 

BRTC F/R 2016 - RTC member Tom Palmer and BOS member/BRTC VC Mark Hemenway
BRTC F/R 2016 – RTC member Tom Palmer and BOS member/BRTC VC Mark Hemenway

 

BRTC F/R 2016 - Avon RTC VC Stephen Hunt and resident cat
BRTC F/R 2016 – Avon RTC VC Stephen Hunt and resident cat

 

Barkhamsted RTC F/R 2016 - BRTC and BAA member Robert Brainard III and Juliana Simone
Barkhamsted RTC F/R 2016 – BRTC and BAA member Robert Brainard III and Juliana Simone

 

BRTC F/R 2106 -WMHJRESQ and resident cat
BRTC F/R 2016 -WMHJRESQ and resident cat

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