NEW BRITAIN – Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara will join locally elected officials from around the country associated with the Municipal Democratic Officials (DMO) organization at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago August 19-22.
McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, is one of 12 5th Congressional District delegates elected to represent Connecticut at the convention where Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) will be formally recognized as the nominees for President and Vice President. Connecticut’s Democratic Party is sending 74 pledged and district delegates to the convention.
DMO is a national association of elected Mayors, City Council Members, School Board Members, and other municipal leaders “who identify with the values of the Democratic Party.” It also helps “to connect, elect, and empower municipal elected officials by leveraging its national network of members, alumni, and strategic partners and providing training and other resources.
“I am looking forward to hearing ideas and ways that municipal governments can address homelessness, school funding equity, aging infrastructures and affordable housing that are key issues New Britain and other cities face in sustaining and building healthy communities,” said McNamara, who will participate in a first Democratic Local Elected Officials (DLEO) Council meeting on the first day of the DNC. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will address local officials.
Connecticut delegates, including Governor Ned Lamont and the state’s Congressional delegation, will gather each morning of the convention to hear from party leaders and luminaries. Committee meetings and caucuses of labor, women, LGBTQ, seniors and other constituency groups will follow before evening sessions gavel in for speeches, adoption of the party platform and a ceremonial roll call for the Harris-Walz ticket. Delegates nominated Vice President Harris in a virtual roll call completed August 6.
A tribute to President Joe Biden with remarks from the President and Dr. Jill Biden are expected on the first night of the DNC and acceptance speeches from Governor Walz and Vice President Harris will conclude the convention. In between delegates will from Hillary Clinton, and former Presidents Clinton and Obama and others leaders.
The 74-member delegation includes 12 members from the 5th Congressional District led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5). Other 5th CD delegates include: Elaine Werner of Avon, City Councillor Cheryl Smith of Danbury, Riju Das of Farmington, Atty. and State Party Secretary Audrey Blondin of Goshen, City Council President Pro Tem Sandra Martinez-McCarthy of Waterbury, Joyce Petteway of Waterbury, Joseph Malcarne of Wolcott and Vanita Bhalla of Woodbury.
“I am privileged to represent New Britain Democrats as part of the state delegation in Chicago and will work to mobilize support for the nominees and Congresswoman Hayes for the November 5th Election,” said McNamara, who served as Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee from 1994 to 2016 and is a first term alderman.
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 