Malloy Publicly Endorses Dan Drew For Mayor

Calling Democratic mayoral candidate Dan Drew a “tremendous leader,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today endorsed the 31-year-old at AI Engineers in Middletown.

This is Drew’s second bid for the city’s top spot; he ran and lost a close election against incumbent Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano in 2008.

“I’m honored to accept your endorsement,” Drew told the mayor, in front of the dozens gathered, including AI employees, former Mayor Domenique Thornton and Democratic Common Councilmen Thomas Serra, Ron Klattenberg, Gerald Daley and Bob Santangelo. “This is the only governor in a generation to focus so squarely on job creation. The governor knows what it takes to get the people of Connecticut back to work and he’s doing it every day.”

Malloy said he already sees a long political future ahead of Drew.

“My message quite clearly right now to the Democratic citizens of Middletown is, ‘don’t waste this opportunity to express your support for a young man who is going to be tremendous leader.’”

The proof is they’re here,” Malloy said, about Drew and his wife, who live in Middletown and have chosen to raise their three young children in the city.

“This is the time of his life to select him as your new leader,” Malloy said, “and to recreate Middletown as a better model and one which is far more inclusive than that which you’ve experienced in the past.”

AI Engineers was chosen as the location for the governor’s support, Drew said, because it began as a home-based business 20 years ago in Middletown, and grew to be a successful engineering firm, with additional offices in New York City, Boston, Richmond, Va., and Cranston, R.I.

“My goal as mayor will be to target growing economic sectors,” Drew said.

“We have a great opportunity before us to bring people together to change City Hall here in Middletown and refocus our efforts on creating jobs in well-paying industries and growing industries like AI has done right here in Middletown.”

Drew said he promotes businesses in the city who employ hard-working middle-class professionals.

“By expanding our tax base, we can also reduce the property tax burden and that’s important to create a climate for job growth and business growth and enable this city to be more affordable to middle-class and working families and seniors,” Drew said.

Abul A. Islam, president and CEO of AI Engineers, was pleased at his company being selected for the governor's announcement.

“I am very privileged to have not only the governor here, but the next mayor of Middletown, Dan Drew,” he said.

Malloy said he first got to know Drew in 2008, during his first bid for the mayor's office.

“He has an inclusive style and that’s a style that is sorely missing in Middletown,” Malloy said. “He has the temperament to reach out and bring people in and surround himself with good, hard-working people and is willing to listen to them to get the job done.”

State Rep. Geoff Luxenberg, D-Manchester, who is managing Drew’s campaign, says has known Drew for three years.

“He has a long track record, he worked for State Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, helped U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st, in his 2008 successful bid, he’s served on the Board of Education [in Manchester],” Drew said of Luxenberg. “He’s familiar with government at all levels and his skills are highly sought-after.”

“He manages the day-to-day. He’s a nuts-and-bolts guy,” Drew explained.

Still, Drew will be challenged by independent Democratic mayoral hopeful Christine Bourne in a primary Sept. 13. The winner of that Democratic primary will face off against Giuliano Nov. 8. Bourne has said if she loses the primary, she will still be on the November ballot as an independent candidate.

“This race is expected to be the most competitive in the state of Connecticut,” Drew said.

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