Mayor Drew Honored to Be Delegate at Democratic National Convention

Editor's Note: Middletown Patch is checking in with state Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-100, and Middletown Mayor Dan Drew daily as they take part in the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., through Thursday. They are among 88 members of the delegation from Connecticut who will nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for a second term and approve the Democratic Party platform.

Middletown Patch reached Mayor Dan Drew late Monday morning at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Charlotte Airport, as he was about to leave for the National Office of Democratic Mayors Welcoming Convention.

“Today’s a pretty light day,” Drew said. Still, he said, "We’ll be busy all day.  [Tuesday] night is the keynote address for the convention.”

Drew left from Middletown at 9 a.m. on Sunday, driving to Washington, D.C., to pick up state Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-100, at his family's place.

“His parents live in D.C. I drove from Middletown to Washington and then to Charlotte and got here around 10 last night,” Drew said. He looks forward to the three-day convention — and considers it an honor to be in attendance.

“This is an incredible, extraordinary historic moment for our country — the re-nomination of Barack Obama. I think President Obama has done an extraordinary job of moving this country forward and things are difficult, but he was handed a terrible situation and we’ve seen 27 months of job growth," Drew said.

And the president's work has trickled down to the level of municipalities, Drew said.

"The city of Middletown — we’ve been able to keep our teachers employed, our firefighters employed, our police employed without any layoffs, in large part because of the decisions that he’s made on the federal level."

"I think the President has really emphasized small business growth and it’s exciting to see a president taking the reigns of leadership and moving the country forward. It’s really exciting to be a part of it," Drew said.

The mayor has attended several of former President Bill Clinton’s speeches and has seen several of the DNC speakers in the past. However, Drew said, “this is the first time I’m going to be seeing Barack Obama in person."

It's quite an honor — personally and politically.

Check back with Middletown Patch Tuesday, as we'll offer dispatches from both Mayor Drew and Lesser — direct from Charlotte.

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