Walker: Somers “crashed the party” at Christie extravaganza

SomersChristie.jpeg

Dave Walker wasn’t on the list.

But Heather Bond Somers, one of Walker’s rivals in the GOP lieutenant governor’s race, got past the proverbial velvet rope Monday night to hobnob with Chris Christie at an exclusive fundraiser for the Connecticut Republican Party in Greenwich.

And it tweaked Walker, who had been under the impression that the reception was open to only the party’s endorsed candidates for statewide office.

“She crashed the party,” Walker, the U.S. comptroller general under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, told Hearst Connecticut Media. “I would never crash a party.”

Somers’ campaign dismissed Walker’s claims, saying that the former Groton mayor and medical device entrepreneur was at the event legitimately and paid the minimum $1,000 to attend.

“Heather attended a fundraiser for the state party after being invited by multiple hosts of the event,” said Jonathan Conradi, Somers’ campaign manager. ” There was a tremendous outpouring of support from the Republicans in attendance for Heather’s outsider message as Republicans statewide continue to coalesce behind Heather Somers as the strongest GOP candidate for Lt. Governor.”

State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Stafford, the party’s endorsed candidate for lieutenant governor, was not in attendance and was campaigning in Danbury.

State GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. declined to comment about the matter.

 

Neil Vigdor