Political action group recruits civil/public service workers

Brookfield CT

15 December, 2021

6:48 AM

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Brett Broesder Eric Adams Caroline Simmons Political Action Committee By Scott Benjamin MILFORD – Although it was established just last May, Democrats Serve has a won-loss record that is the envy of any college basketball team. The political action committee was 28-0 in the 2021 state and municipal elections – with candidates in Connecticut, Arizona, Alabama, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, New York, New Mexico and New Jersey. Executive Director Brett Broesder believes its success is largely due to a roster comprised of civil/public service professionals - firefighters, teachers, police officers, judges, prosecutors, public defenders and health care workers. The marquee names were New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams, a former police officer, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, who worked at a mental health project out of the Yale School of Medicine, and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, a former chief of police in Norwalk who was elected to another term as the city's top elected official. "Public service people connect with independent voters," said Broesder, a member of the Milford Board of Alderman. "Many of these jobs have strong community ties. These people interact with people on the ground day to day," he added in an interview with Patch.com. When Simmons was asked by Patch.com last June as to what she learned at Harvard, where she majored in Government, that has helped her while serving in elective office, she said there is a disconnection between what is taught in the classroom and what goes on in public service jobs and government. She said that she acquired information on state powers, federal powers and political theory. "It is all informative and helpful," she explained regarding her college studies. "However, it is nothing like it is when you get on the ground. You really learn on the job." She annexed more than 52 percent of the vote against former Major League Baseball player/manager Bobby Valentine, who ran as an unaffiliated candidate. Civil/public service professionals are sometimes revered within the community. Former longtime Hartford educator Ray Petty said in a 1990 talk at Wesleyan University that while he was on the Board of Directors of the Hartford Visiting Nurses Association, he would urge the nurses to wear their white uniforms when they went into the housing projects, saying that "no one will hurt you." Democrats Serve stated in a flier that "90 percent [of the people surveyed] trust teachers to handle the nation's toughest challenges." So if teaching, policing, social work, nursing, mental health services and firefighting are in "the people business," then why are so few members of these professions in elected office, since government is also considered to be in "the people business"? Broesder commented, "They are often reluctant to run for office because they have to raise a lot of money. However, we can help with leveling the playing field." Broesder, who has a bachelor's degree from Rhode Island College in Politicval Science and Communications, said that in 2010, Peter Kilmartin, a state legislator who had been a police captain, was being outspent 4-1 and 3-1 in the race for state attorney general in Rhode Island. "He was a terrific candidate, but just didn't have the resources," Broesder explained. He said that Kilmartin received an independent expenditure from the Democratic Attorney Generals Association, which helped him win the election, and he served for two terms. Thus, Democrats Serve installed a hybrid structure in which it is both a traditional Political Action Committee (PAC) and a Super PAC. Broesder said that as a traditional PAC, Democrats Serve and help candidates directly with strategy. As a Super PAC it can raise and spend contributions from corporations or individuals in support of candidates, but can't work directly with candidates on the Super PAC side. In a flier distributed by Democrats Serve, George Gascon, a Los Angeles District Attorney and former Mesa police chief, stated, "Front line workers have firsthand expertise on the most challenging problems facing our communities. To turn that experience into positive change they need support, expertise and access to resources." "There is no existing group that is devoted to assisting candidates with civil/public service backgrounds," said Broesder, who has been a communications advisor or online specialist for officials ranging from Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Greenwich), Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D-Middletown), former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. He also was the Connecticut coordinator in 2020 for former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign. Looking ahead, Democrats Serve has endorsed U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5) of Wolcott, the 2016 national Teacher of the Year, who was a Social Studies instructor at Kennedy High School in Waterbury. Hayes is seeking a third term in the 2022 election. Said Broesder, "She knows what the people in the community are looking for." He said that Hayes is the only one of the five U.S. House members from Connecticut that is serving in a "swing district." Broesder said that aside from providing money, Democrats Serve also offers valuable feedback to its endorsed candidates. He said that it mentors them on how to function effectively. Broesder said one former state representative once confided that "it took me two terms to fully learn how to call for a point of order." He said he also asks candidates if they "are comfortable with sitting down and making fund-raising calls for four hours a day." Broesder also said that he notes that elective office also can disruptive to family life. It can be difficult on a family. Particularly when you choose to attend the town committee clam bake in West Muffin instead of seeing your daughter play the lead in the middle school production of The Wiz. Broesder explained, "The one dominant thread is how does your family feel about you being frequently gone the whole election cycle, and also after you are elected." Research: .Simmons Focuses On Job Creation In 'The City That Works' | Brookfield, CT Patch