March 2015

Grassroots East
Looking Ahead A Message from Our Chairman
As you may have heard me say in the past few months, Republicans in Eastern Connecticut can point with pride to
the accomplishments of our candidates for the state legislature. In November 2014 we captured six seats in the
State House and one seat in the State Senate which were previously held by Democrats. Five of those victories
came as the result of defeating Democrat incumbents. These results are significant!

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Meet Aundr Bumgardner 2
Meet John Ferrara

Humor

Leadership

Calendar of Events

But now is not the time to rest on our laurels. This November we have local elections. Electing Republican leaders
in our towns means that voters trust us to provide the services that impact them most: keeping town taxes under
control, providing good schools, roads, libraries, fire departments and ambulance service, etc. This confidence
carries over and can help us elect Republican leaders in 2016 in our state legislature, Congress and even the
Presidency. Although some of us may have visions of sugar plums fleeting though our thoughts when thinking
about the 2016 election, it is important for GRE and RTC members to focus this year on these local elections.
In victory and in defeat Republicans are known to be tough and quick to find fault with one another, with members
of their RTC or their party leaders at various levels. Let us stay positive, look for ways to work together more
closely and strive to improve our Republican infrastructure at all levels. It is important that we listen carefully to
each other and incorporate this thinking into our efforts going forward.
As we look to the 2016 Presidential election I find the prospect of some of the potential Democratic candidates
frightening: Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden. As we consider who we would like to support among the
Republican potentials, I caution that we do not try to tear down one candidate in an attempt to advance our
personal favorite. Candidates by necessity need to take positions on immigration, social issues and health care.
There will be perceived or real differences on the nuances of these positions. While these differences will impact
our personal support leading up to a presidential primary, these differences will amount to nothing but hot air if in
the process we allow a Democrat to continue the agenda of the far left. I urge caution as we get into this critical
period of selecting our Republican nominee for President.
Respectfully,

GRE Newsletter Staff:

Editor: Sharon
McLaughlin
Interviews: Jonathan
Gilman
Humor: Joe Broder
Contributing Directors:
Ed Munster and Gerry
Nagy

Edward Munster
Chairman, Grassroots East

GRE Campaign Training March 21, 2015

Saturday, March 21, 2015
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Colchester Town Hall
127 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT
$20 per person payable at the door or online
Workshop Topics include:
The Secret to Winning Elections in CT John Kleinhans
How to use Social Media in a Campaign Kyle Reyes
Using Voting Lists to Target Key Voters and Get the Vote Out Mary Ann Turner
RTC Best Practices Gerry Nagy
For reservations please contact Jonathan Gilman: jonathangilman01@gmail.com 860-222-3296

Buy Tickets Online Here: GRE TRAINING

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Bring your questions and bring your best ideas to share with other participants
during the Best Practices session. REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE HANDBOOK will be made available.

page 2

Grassroots East March 2015

Meet State Representative Aundr Bumgardner

st

State Representative Aundr P. Bumgardner proudly serves the 41 General Assembly

District representing Groton and New London. Aundr won the seat held by Elissa Wright,
a four-term Democrat, by a scant 39 votes. At age 20 he is part of a new generation of
young Republican leaders that are remaking the Party. Aundr won by out-working his
opponent - knocking on more than 5,000 doors. Rep. Bumgardner was elected to his first
term in 2014 and serves on the legislatures Finance, Revenue & Bonding, Education,
and Transportation committees for the 2015-2016 session.
Representative Bumgardner was born in New London and raised in Groton. He attended
The Regional Multicultural Magnet School and The Interdistrict School for Arts and
Communications, both in New London, and earned an academic scholarship as A Better
Chance Scholar to the Cambridge School of Weston. He graduated from the Cambridge
School after serving as student representative and voting member of schools Board of
Trustees. Rep. Bumgardner attended Stetson University, before moving back to Groton
permanently.

Quarterly Quote:

"The greatest
leader is not
necessarily the one
who does the
greatest things. He
is the one that gets
the people to do
the greatest
things."
Ronald Reagan

Daylight Savings Time

begins Sunday,
March 8, 2015

Aundr has amassed an extensive rsum over the course of his career, which enabled
him to work with local leaders and activists from a young age. He began his political career
as a volunteer for former Congressman Rob Simmons, followed by an internship with Tom
Foleys campaign for Governor. He also worked as a political aide to Rob Pero during his
campaign for mayor in 2011, and served as Field Director for Paul Formicas 2012
congressional bid. In 2014, He was elected to the Groton Republican Town Committee for
a two year term.
Rep. Bumgardner is the son of Elizabeth Bumgardner, a longtime bilingual schoolteacher
in New London Public Schools who currently serves as school principal for North Windham
Elementary School, and Pierre Bumgardner, who works for Water and Sewer Department
in the town of East Lyme. He also has two wonderful younger siblings, Lourdes and
Benjamin.
.

page 3

Grassroots East March 2015

Meet GRE Board Member John Ferrara

John grew up in the very Democrat dominated town of Port Chester, NY, where he watched his very
conservative Republican fathers involvement in local politics. This was a great background for his
future in Connecticut politics.
John has a Catholic education from kindergarten to his graduation from the University of Dayton in
Ohio where he met his wife. They have 2 grown children. John moved his family to Westbrook in
1977 following his job with Moroso Performance to Guilford. John left his last position after 19
years when Pilot Corp. escaped Connecticuts unfriendly business environment to Florida in 2009.
Since then he has served on the Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteers and is currently their
Executive Director.
When John moved to Westbrook, he immediately became involved in the community serving as
Boy Scout Master, Little League coach for both his sons and daughters teams, and the Westbrook
Republican Town Committee. John has served on numerous WRTCs, including publishing their
newsletter, as well as heading up training session for local campaigns, serving as town coordinator
for several state office campaigns, and as campaign manager for two State Senatorial candidates,
three candidates for the State House and for a successful first selectmans race. He was also kept
busy serving on town appointed commissions and ad hoc committees, including chairing the
Charter Commission. He was elected to the Connecticut State Central Committee for two terms the
late 80s and early 90s
After all his work on various campaigns, John ran for the Westbrook Board of Finance and was the
top vote getter! More recently he worked as Field Coordinator and Area Coordinator for the
campaigns of two Republican Congressional Candidates.
John shows no sign of slowing down. Currently he is Treasurer of the 33rd Senatorial District
Council as well as being Treasurer for Grassroots East. He is a Certified Mentor for the
Southeastern Chapter of SCORE and serves as the organizations vice chairman.

Humor

The Perfect Home for LiberalsTheir own gated community.

page 4

Grassroots East March 2015

Leadership Best Practices

What makes a great leader? One of the most important qualities is commitment. A
commitment starts with a promise, but not just a casual promise. It is a promise that you
mean what you say. It is a pledge that you are going to keep to yourself and to other
people.

GRASSROOTS EAST
Were on the Web!

See us at:
www.grassrootseast.org
We are also on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/ GrassrootsEast1

There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in
doing something, you do it only when its convenient. When youve committed to
something, you accept no excuses, only results. Ken Blanchard.
One of the best ways to lead a new project or event is to be committed and passionate
about it yourself. We have seen examples of commitment and passion in candidates like
Tim Herbst. Tim was either working or campaigning during the last election cycle. He
was truly inspirational in his commitment to reach as many voters as he could. His
passion and commitment encouraged other candidates (including me) to push harder.
Commitment also means meeting obligations. Missing deadlines, missing meetings, not
returning phone calls, etc. sends a negative message about our level of commitment and
caring. And sometimes we might forget that others deal with the negative consequences
of a missed deadline by creating more work and stress for them. For a candidate,
missing a deadline could result in losing votes, being fined or a general perception of
lack of commitment. Great leaders keep their word and meet their obligations on time.
Strive for excellence in leadership by applying these principles!
Submitted by
Sharon McLaughlin

CALENDAR of EVENTS

From Abraham Lincoln:

Always bear in mind that

your own resolution to
succeed is more important
than any other.
I leave you, hoping that
the lamp of liberty will
burn in your bosoms until
there shall no longer be a
doubt that all men are
created free and equal.

(More info on www.grassrootseast.org - events)

March 6, 2015 Stonington RTC Reception, Rob Simmons Home, 6:00
p.m. Contact Rob Simmons (860) 535-8378 or email at
rrsimmons@comcast.net
March 12, 2015 Old Saybrook Lincoln Day Dinner, Saybrook Point Inn,
6:00 p.m. Contact Gerri Lewis (860) 304-2947 or email at
gerri_lewis@yahoo.com
March 14, 2015 Deep River RTC Dinner & Raffle, Deep River Town Hall
Auditorium, 6:00 p.m. Contact Tom Linder (860) 575-0871
March 20, 2015 7th Senatorial District Lincoln Dinner , Skyline
Restaurant, 6:00 p.m. Contact Mary Ann Turner (860)-745-4649 or email at
maryannturner@cox.net
March 21, 2015 Grassroots East Campaign Training, Colchester Town
Hall, 10:00 a.m. Contact Jonathan Gilman (860) 222-3296 or email
jonathangilman01@gmail.com
April 9, 2015 16th Annual Holbrook Awards Dinner, Waters Edge Inn and
Resort, 6:00 p.m. Contact Harry Ruppenicker, Jr. (860) 391-5166 or email
hruppenicker@westbrookrepublicans.org
Submitted
April 30,
by2015
Sharon
35McLaughlin
is Alive Lake View Fundraiser, Lake View Restaurant,

6:00 p.m. Contact Joan Oros (860) 742-9077 or email

orosjoanmary@snet.net