Democrats host meet and greet barbecue

LAKEVILLE — The Salisbury Democratic Town Committee held a barbecue and candidate meet-and-greet at the town Grove in Lakeville Sunday, Sept.29.

Attendees had numerous food choices, including the option of a boiled or grilled hot dog.

State Representative Maria Horn (D-64), running for a fourth term in the General Assembly, and Justin Potter, running for the state Senate seat that has been in Republican hands since 1978, moved through the large crowd, greeting voters and trying to be heard over the din.

Promptly at 5 p.m., town committee chair Al Ginouves took the microphone and called the boisterous crowd to order, with the assistance of Jane Kellner, who clanked her silverware on a plate to ask for quiet.

Potter gave an energetic speech describing himself as a “practical Democrat,” he described his party as the party of compassion.

“Compassion for the woman who has to make a difficult decision,” he said “Compassion for the family who lives in the fear of gun violence.”

Horn noted that her district includes parts of three different state Senate districts, all represented by Republicans. She said she works well with those legislators, “but it would be nice if you sent me a friend.”

Horn said she was focused on getting the entire Democratic ticket elected. She noted that Democrats enjoy large majorities in the legislature and hold all statewide offices, and that they use that power “to govern for the good of all.”

She also reminded voters that the race between U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) and challenger George Logan was very close in 2022.

Salisbury “through no fault of its own” was one of the last towns to report results that year, and helped with the 2000 vote margin of Hayes’ eventual victory.

“Let’s do that again, shall we?”