Opinion: Together, Gov. Dan Malloy and Mayor Dan Drew Achieve A Lot

Opinion piece written by John Milardo; posted by Cassandra Day.

Editor's Note: Middletown Mayor Dan Drew says two points are factually inaccurate. Drew traveled to China on an invitation from the U.S. Department of Commerce Middletown office in March 2012. Malloy visited China in September 2012. They never visited together. Also, Drew never spoke to anyone in the Malloy administration about Attorney Smith.

To the Editor:

When Daniel Drew lost his first mayoral bid attempt to then republican Mayor Sebastian Giuliano in 2010, the local Democrats had enough. Giuliano was a three-term Republican mayor in a democratically controlled city, and that had to end.

(Quite frankly, in Middletown, any mayor who has more than a couple of terms under his/her belt is ripe for the picking — anyone being elected as mayor the past three terms is pretty amazing.)

What could the Democrats do to win the mayoral seat back? The local Democrats ran to Gov. Dannel Malloy, and asked him for help. He endorsed Democratic mayoral candidate Daniel Drew in 2012.

The governor made some personal appearances, and made sure Drew was in the public eye as much as possible — Drew became mayor. We know Drew spends a lot of time in Hartford rubbing elbows with everyone. Maybe Malloy has bigger and better things planned for him?

As like many politicians, I presume the governor’s motive is power and control over Drew. He’s got Middletown’s mayor on his side for support no matter what the issue may be. 

Why would Gov. Dannel Malloy bring novice Mayor Daniel Drew with him on a trip to China? What could Drew offer Malloy or the Chinese? Did Drew learn about communism, poor wages and working conditions or forced labor? Did they bring back anything to the citizens of the state of Connecticut that would enhance our technology or manufacturing industries?

I haven’t seen anything that the Chinese trip has done for our state's economy. 

One of the first things Mayor Drew did when elected was to authorize a committee to look into reorganizing and consolidating City of Middletown departments. It is said to be for the purpose of saving money and being more efficient. I can assure you it is for other reasons. Mayor Drew put the committee together and made sure it contained Gov. Malloy's insiders. 

When negotiations began between the City of Middletown and Teamsters Local 671, Mayor Drew hired a law firm that had connections to the Malloy campaign. I can assure you, as I have first-hand knowledge that Mayor Drew is not very labor-oriented or -friendly. When Gov. Malloy recently informed Connecticut towns that state grants and subsidies were going to be eliminated and/or severely reduced, Mayor Drew said nothing. 

Other towns and cities, no matter whether they had Democrat or Republican mayors, decried the loss of state funding. Mayor Drew and his Democratic council members have been silent.

Mayor Drew recently hired a new city attorney named Brigham Smith, from Lansing, Michigan. How could there be a Malloy connection? No way! Mr. Smith wants to be close to his family who moved back to Connecticut, and if you look really, really close … perhaps the former Mrs. Smith has a Stamford connection. 

John Milardo, Middletown
Retired Parks and Recreation Director

“And Justice For All” is a newsletter involving city of Middletown resident and recent retiree John Milardo opinions, views, and commentary as a lifelong Middletown resident. As a 41-year city employee, he have a different perspective regarding how and why public figures do what they do.