Pam Sparkman candidate Selectman 07-20-17

Meet the 2017 Darien Democratic Candidates: Intros, Acceptance Speeches from the Caucuses

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If you don’t know some of Darien’s Democratic candidates for office this year — or even if you do — here’s how they were described at the Democrat’s caucus on Wednesday night. For Selectman candidate Pam Sparkman, Selectman Rob Richards gave a nominating speech. For the other candidates, David Bayne, chairman of the Darien Democratic Town Committee, gave the caucus these short descriptions in nominating them (all Bayne’s remarks are as prepared, and they’re excerpts).  

Below the nominating speeches, we’ve attached speeches from Selectmen Marc Thorn and Selectman-nominee Pam Richards. The statements and speeches:
Glenn Ritch: Board of Assessment Appeals
Glenn is a commercial real estate professional who will fit in well with the baord.

Democrats Slate 2017

Democrats Pick Selectman Rob Richards to Contest First Selectman Office with Incumbent Jayme Stevenson

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Selectman Rob Richards was chosen by Democrats on Wednesday as their candidate for First Selectman, opposing incumbent Republican Jayme Stevenson. “My ability to solve problems and smile often has brought our community together and put to bed many longstanding issues,” Richards said in his acceptance speech to the town Democratic Caucus. Richards said he worked with both sides in two of the most contentious community disputes in the past couple of years: The conflict over bringing lights for night games at Darien High School and the battle over whether to have paramedics based in town full-time. In both cases, Richards said he sought out people from both sides, listened to their concerns and worked to promote a compromise or a settlement. “Rob is a listener, a thinker and problem solver,” said Democratic Town Chairman David Bayne in nominating Richards for the job.

Rob Richards 2015 campaign

First Selectman Candidate Rob Richards’ Acceptance Speech to Darien Democratic Caucus

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Here’s the full-text of Rob Richards’ acceptance speech, delivered at the Democratic Town Caucus on Wednesday night:

First I would like to thank the Darien Democrats for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Serving our community as a Selectmen has been an honor and a joy. None of this would have been possible without your support (the Darien Democrats) and the community that elected me. The privilege of serving my community has allowed me to meet many new and wonderful people, forged new alliances, and connect to the community in a way I never thought possible. My love for my neighbors, friends and community has guided me as I worked hard to solve Darien’s most contentious issues.