December 2016

Grassroots East
Join Us for the Annual GRE Dinner on January 27, 2017
Norwich Holiday Inn

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Meet Joan Oros

Meet Anne Dauphinais

Humor

Our program will honor all of the Republican State Senate and
State Representative candidates in the 2nd Congressional
District.
We will also present a panel discussion about what to expect
with the new State Legislature now that we have picked up more
Republican strength.
Featured Panel Speakers:
Senate Leader Len Fasano
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides
CT GOP Chairman J.R. Romano

GRE Newsletter Staff:

Editor: Sharon
McLaughlin
Interviews: JoAnn
Baldwin
Humor: Joe Broder

5:00 p.m. GRE Membership Business Meeting

5:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour & Registration
7:00 p.m. Dinner
8:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
In addition to celebrating with our candidates, you will have an opportunity to
meet and talk with candidates who are exploring options for the 2018 CT races.

Contributing Directors:
Jonathan Gilman,
Gerry Nagy

This year we are making some serious upgrades to the menu, so we look
forward to a nice meal followed by an informative program.

Sign on to our website to purchase tickets. Also consider setting up a table with
your friends. Contact Joan Oros @ 860-742-9077 if you would like to reserve a
table: www.grassrootseast.org
Don't miss the CELEBRATION!
Paid for by Grassroots East-Federal and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Denise Mizla, Treasurer. Your donations will be used in
connection with a Federal election and are subject to limitations and prohibitions of the Act 1025(a)(2)(ii) and (iii.) www.grassrootseast.org

page 2

Grassroots East December 2016

Meet GRE Board Member Joan Oros

A native of Bridgeport, Joan Oros has served on the Board of Directors of
Grassroots East since 2013. Dad was a Mayor Jasper McLeavy socialist* and
Mom was apolitical, but my grandmother was conservative and I probably inherited
some of my values from her. Joans entre into local politics was serendipitous.
My husband was teaching in Cornwall and we had two small sons. I went to work
part-time for the tax collector, which was an elected position there. When the Tax
Collector resigned, I ran as a Republican and was elected. This was back in the
70s. The Tax Collector Association started a certification program that consisted of
three courses, and I was quite intrigued by the Government courses. I joined the
Republican Town Committee and had my sons at my side while I was campaigning.
That was their exposure to politics. By the end of their college years they were both
politically conservative., she says proudly.
Joan worked as tax collector and assessor in a number of CT towns before the Oros
family finally settled in Coventry. She and her husband Bill, now a retired educator,
are both active in Coventrys Republican town activities and politics. In addition,
Joan serves on the Assessment Board of Appeals and Bill serves as Chair of the
Board of Education. Everyone who knows Joan will attest that she is a doer. Too
many people sit back expecting someone else to carry the water. Joan believes
that being active in your community brings a certain balance to life. Everyone has
a talent, no matter how small they think it is, they can make a difference. I have
learned so much by getting involved. I have had the opportunity to meet so many
different people over the years.
Joans leadership and planning expertise have been instrumental to the success of
35 is Alive! a CT State PAC which benefits Republican Town Committees and
candidates within the 35th Senatorial District. She has helped produce events for
the 35ths 13 towns that provide an opportunity for residents to interact with their
political representatives as well as to meet other residents. Joan believes this type
of event strengthens relationships and builds camaraderie within the district.

My advice is simple, says Joan.

Be willing to give something back. Donations

are always helpful, but try to take some time to see what you can do for the
community. Just get out there. Be seen and DO something!
*See Wikipedia: Mayor Jasper McLeay was a fiscal conservative and longtime mayor of Bridgeport, CT

Paid for by Grassroots East-Federal and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Denise Mizla, Treasurer. Your donations will be used in
connection with a Federal election and are subject to limitations and prohibitions of the Act 1025(a)(2)(ii) and (iii.) www.grassrootseast.org

Grassroots East December 2016

page 3

A Conversation with Anne Dauphinais

For Republicans, the recent general election was perhaps the most exciting in our history.
So, we were anxious to talk with Anne Dauphinais of Killingly, who unseated Democrat
incumbent Christine Rosati Randall to become State Representative for Connecticuts
44th District. Anne has been very active in state politics since 2008. I was alarmed by
President Obamas liberal agenda and our potential loss of freedoms, and I was
concerned about our childrens future if we didnt start standing up for our rights. Anne
and her husband Dale were inspired by the Tea Party message so they attended Tea
Party rallies in Washington DC and started attending a local Tea Party Patriots group
which still meets regularly.
In 2012 Anne stepped up to fill a vacant seat as the 44th Districts representative to
Connecticut State Central. Along with some like-minded colleagues, Anne started the
Dump Don campaign to unseat Don Williams, the 29th Districts state senator for nearly
20 years in opposition to his liberal tax and spend record. Im a rebel, Anne admits with
a wry smile. She is also active as a member of the Killingly RTC and as a Director of
Grassroots East.
So, how did the campaign go for this first-time candidate? I was surprised to hear my
opponent and her supporters claim that I was running a negative campaign. I just ran on
her record which clearly contrasted with my own conservative political beliefs. The truth is,
Malloy has a 24% approval rating. He is a failed governor, and Randall voted with him
96% of the time.
A tireless campaigner, Anne knocked on doors, meeting and speaking with her electorate
every day from the second week of July through November 8th! Theres no substitute for
meeting people face-to-face, she says, though Anne also believes politicians need to
exploit the power of social media. She also noted that the intense rhetoric coming out of
the national campaign filtered down to her at the local level. The most difficult question,
and I heard it repeatedly, was, Who are you supporting for President?. It was a kind of
litmus test. I believe I may have lost a few votes in those conversations. But Anne also
uncovered a very real need for educating the public. Some people equate the word
liberal with liberty. During an event at Quinebaug Valley Community College students
really responded to the idea that liberal politics is actually eroding our freedom!
Finally, we asked Anne, Is the GOP alive and well in Connecticut? I think so, she said,
nodding thoughtfully, giving credit to Republican State Central Chair JR Romano. JRs a
strong, dynamic leader. We won 8 house seats and 3 senate seats in this election, which
is the closest we have been to a majority in the legislature in 40 years. Republicans need
to change their message and JR is good at helping us to do that. During her campaign
Anne registered over 200 new voters. I was educating people about the importance of
voting for Republican state reps and senators and the fact that the Governor is powerless
to act without support from the legislature. When people asked, What will you do for
me?, I said Ill vote differently. Thats how well get the job done.
Congratulations Anne!
Paid for by Grassroots East-Federal and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Denise Mizla, Treasurer. Your donations will be used
in connection with a Federal election and are subject to limitations and prohibitions of the Act 1025(a)(2)(ii) and (iii.) www.grassrootseast.org

page 4

Grassroots East December 2016

HUMOR
Funny Ronald Reagan Quotes:
Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite
on one end and no sense of responsibility on the other.
One picture is worth 1,000 denials.
One way to make sure crime doesnt pay would be to let the
government run it.
If you cant make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
Ive never been able to understand why a Republican contributor is
a fat cat and a Democratic contributor of the same amount of
money is a public-spirited philanthropist.

Quarterly Quote:
You have to
starve the Beast.
Thats one of the
most important
things about tax
cuts. If you leave
the money in
Washington, its
going to be
spent.
Steve Chabot

GRASSROOTS EAST
Were on the Web!

See us at:
www.grassrootseast.org
We are also on

Facebook!

www.facebook.com/GrassrootsEast1

May 1, 2017 Municipal Election Calendar from the Secretary of States Office:
(The November Municipal Election Calendar had not been posted yet, on the
SOTS website.)
Key Dates:
Party endorsements

January 9-17, 2017

Certification of endorsements:

January 17, 2017 (4:00 p.m.)

Primary and nominating petitions filed by: January 31, 2017 (4:00 p.m.)
Primary (6:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m.)

March 6, 2017

For additional information:

http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/calendars/2017_election/2017may.pdf

Paid for by Grassroots East-Federal and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Denise Mizla, Treasurer. Your donations will be used in
connection with a Federal election and are subject to limitations and prohibitions of the Act 1025(a)(2)(ii) and (iii.) www.grassrootseast.org