Around 150 members of Connecticut’s Working Families Party will meet Saturday Morning for the fast-growing minor party’s Annual Meeting.
Four potential candidates for Governor will be participating in the party’s Gubernatorial Forum, where WFP members will ask questions about Working Families’ priority issues, like healthcare, the economy, education and paid sick days.
Former Speaker of the House Jim Amann, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, State Senator Gary LeBeau and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy will be participating in the Gubernatorial forum.
The Annual Meeting will be held at CCSU’s Institute for Technology and Business Development at 185 Main St, New Britain, on the 2nd Floor. The Gubernatorial Forum will run from 9:30 to 10:30.
Unlike other minor parties, Working Families often cross-endorses a major party candidate who committed to the party’s priority issues, like affordable healthcare, good jobs and fair taxes.
In the 2008 elections, about 85,000 Connecticut voters cast their votes on the Working Families Party Line – or about 5% of the vote statewide. Many observers say that many votes could make the difference in a close statewide race.
Major party candidates who receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party appear twice on the ballot: once on the major party’s line and once on the Working Families Party line. Votes cast on the Working Families Party line count toward the candidate’s total. But Working Families leaders say, voting on the Working Families Party also sends a powerful message.
“When you vote on the Working Families Party line, your vote counts for the candidate, but it also sends a powerful message to all politicians that it’s time to focus on the issues that really effect working families, like affordable healthcare, good jobs, fair taxes and quality schools,” said Art Perry, political director of SEIU local 32NJ and member of the Working Families Party State Committee.
The Working Families Party has announced endorsements in municipal races around the state. In New Britain, the party is cross-endorsing Tim O’Brien for Mayor, Suzanne Bielinski for Town and City Clerk, Greg Gerratana for Tax Collector, Mike Trueworthy and Paul Catenzero for Aldermen at Large, Marie Lausch for Alderman, Ward 1 and Phil Sherwood for Alderman, Ward 4.
After the Annual Meeting, members of Working Families will hold a press conference in support of Tim O’Brien for Mayor of New Britain at City Hall.
“I have always believed that it is important to stand up for working people – for good paying jobs, affordable quality health care and family-friendly policies,” said Tim O’Brien. “That is why, as the Democratic candidate for Mayor, I am proud to accept the Working Families endorsement.”
The WFP has also announced cross-endorsements in Norwalk, Waterbury/ In addition, WFP is fielding some of its own candidates for Board of Education in Hartford and Bridgeport.
In Hartford, WFP members currently holds two seats of nine of the City Council and one of the four elected seats on Board of Education. In 2008, Working Families made history in Hartford by electing Urania Petit the first minor party Registrar of Voters in Connecticut history.
Working Families is a minor political party in Connecticut formed by a coalition of community organizations, labor unions and neighborhood activists who united to fight for a fair economy. The Working Families Party was formed to inject issues like healthcare, quality education, and livable wages into the public debate, and to hold politicians accountable on those issues.
