GRE September 2014 Newsletter

Paid for by Grassroots East - Federal, P.O. Box 979 Westbrook, CT 06498 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

GRE Officers

Ed Munster
Chairman

Jonathan Gilman
Vice Chairman

Betty Wagner
Secretary

John Ferrara
Treasurer


“We must reject the idea
that every time a law’s
broken, society is guilty
rather than the
lawbreaker.”
~ Ronald Reagan



Newsl etter
Grassroots East
September 2014
Connecti cut Republ i can Party – 2
nd
Congressi onal Di stri ct
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
GRE Billboards 1

Chairman’s
Message 1
Castle Event 2
Meet Tim Akert 2

McLaughlin for
Comptroller 3

Events Calendar 3
About GRE 4
Gerald Nagy, Grassroots East Director
How many times have you been appalled to read that Connecticut ranks #50 in this and
#49 in that? We Republicans complain to each other, but now it is time to tell the voters
how bad things are.

Grassroots East is producing a series of 4’x 8’ four-color, one-sided political billboards which
you can display in your town. Each billboard highlights one outrageous Democratic
achievement: “Out-of-Control Spending,” “Highest Gas Taxes in U.S.,” ”Worst State Debt in
U.S.,” and “Highest Cost-of-Living in U.S.” Here is a sample of how it looks:



The cost of one billboard is $80 which includes corrugated plastic sign, wooden supports,
instructions for installation, and free delivery. Grassroots East will underwrite 70% ($110) of
the cost for the first two versions listed above. For just $50 your town will receive those two
billboards. You may also purchase versions #3 and #4 for $80 each. The total cost to
purchase all four versions is just $210.

Order your signs on our website www.grassrootseast.org. Click “Republican Billboards” on
the top of the home page. It takes two weeks for production. Our goal is to deliver your
signs over the weekend of Sept. 20-21. This will give you six full weeks to display your
billboards during the heart of campaign season.

Grassroots East Billboards Available

A Message from the Chairman…
Ed Munster

At our conventions and in our primaries this year, Republicans have chosen their candidates for
offices, from State Representative to Governor, and we are grateful for the sacrifices that
these people make when they run for office. Because we live in a blue state, it takes great
candidates and a lot of campaign effort for Republicans to win in Connecticut.

The climate is right for Republicans because of the miserable record that Governor Malloy has
accumulated in our State over the past three-plus years. If you add that to the general
discontent even the media are admitting on lots of fronts with the Obama administration, we
have our best chance in years to win the Second Congressional seat, the Governorship, the
State Constitutional offices as well as to pick up seats in the State House and State Senate.

(continued on page 4)
Paid for by Grassroots East - Federal, P.O. Box 979 Westbrook, CT 06498 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.





page 2
Grassroots East
State Representative Tim Ackert was elected into the 8th General Assembly District communities of
Columbia, Coventry, and Vernon in 2010 and was re-elected to a second term in 2012 after redistricting added Tolland to
the district. Rep. Ackert is a member of the legislature’s Education Committee, Higher Education & Employment
Advancement Committee, and Human Services Committee.

During his first term Rep. Ackert joined House and Senate lawmakers in supporting bi-partisan legislation that aimed to give
small businesses assistance. The Small Business Express gave the options of the job creation matching grant program, the
job creation incentive program, and the revolving loan fund.

During the 2011 legislative session Rep. Ackert was proud to cosponsor legislation that encouraged cleaning up our
environment and the development of contaminated land by reducing costs for municipalities and state agencies.

He also co-sponsored another bill regarding school bullying which expands the types of conduct considered as bullying in
an effort to improve their environment at school.

To protect our community, Rep. Ackert supported a bill that will help keep criminals off the street but also keep innocent
people out of jail. The bill requires that anyone arrested for any of the 39 serious felony offenses must have a DNA sample
taken upon their release from custody.

Rep. Ackert is a small business owner and an Air Force Veteran. Ackert has a long history of service to his community,
participating on the Board of Trustees for Connecticut Community Colleges, Vice-Chairman of the Police Building
Committee, American Legion Officer, and President of the Connecticut Jaycees.

Rep. Ackert has resided, with his wife Teddie, in Coventry since 1987.

Meet State Representative Tim Ackert
Fundraising Event at “The Castle”
Wine, Beer and Hors d’oeuvres
Sunday, September 14, 2014
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

You are invited to join fellow Republicans on Sunday, September 14th at The
Castle at Cornfield Point, 12 Billow Road, Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Our hosts
will be Wayne and Maria Rand.

In addition to great food and drink (and the opportunity to talk with many of the
candidates who are running for office this November), there will be live music
performed by Stew Gillmor.

The money raised at this annual Grassroots East event helps to fund important
projects, including GRE’s $5,000 campaign contribution to the 2
nd
Congressional
District candidate. This year, the recipient was Lori Hopkins Cavanaugh. Your
support for events such as this is vital in order to continue the work of Grassroots
East in the 2
nd
district.

Donation is $30 pre-paid. Tickets can be purchased online at grassrootseast.org.
For more information, contact Co-Chairs Betty Wagner (860-537-5327), or Gerri
Lewis (860-304-2947).
“I think it is a great error to
consider a heavy tax on wines as
a tax on luxury. On the
contrary, it is a tax on the health
of our citizens.”
~ Thomas J efferson
Representing the communities of
Columbia, Coventry, Vernon, and Tolland
Paid for by Grassroots East - Federal, P.O. Box 979 Westbrook, CT 06498 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.



New Leader. New Vision. New Direction.
Sharon McLaughlin, GRE Board Member is
Running for State Comptroller!

A native of Ellington, CT, Sharon attended Ellington public schools, and has lived and worked in Connecticut most
of her life. She has a variety of business expertise, including 15 years with ENTEX/Siemens where she significantly
helped reduce inventory costs and streamline reporting. Her work history also includes internal accounting roles
and business operations. She is currently serving as the Treasurer (an elected officer) of the Ellington
Congregational Church. Previously she served almost two years as Assistant Treasurer.

Her undergraduate degree concentration is business administration, and she holds a graduate certificate in
accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of the
Delta Mu Delta honor society.

Sharon is serving her third term as Secretary of the Ellington RTC. She is a director of the Grassroots East Board,
Chair of GRE Communication Committee, and past Chair of the Nominating Committee. She is also involved in
civic activities, and has been a member of the Ellington Winterfest Committee since inception in 2003. She has
been very active serving her church and past service there includes secretary for the Stewardship Committee,
secretary for the Growth & Nurture committee, Program Chair and Acting Treasurer for Women’s Fellowship.

Sharon won the endorsement of the CT Republican Party at its convention at Mohegan Sun in May and won the
primary election in a landslide victory over her opponent on August 12
th
with over 75% of the vote. She will take on
the current Democrat Comptroller in November.
Sharon McLaughlin for Comptroller
page 3
Grassroots East
September 4
th
– 7
th
2014 Hebron Harvest Fair, 347 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT

September 7th Canterbury RTC Annual Dinner, “Meet the Candidates”
1 Municipal Drive, Canterbury, CT, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Contact Chris Johnson at [email protected]

September 11
th
– 14
th
Four Town Fair, Egypt Road and Billings Road, Somers, CT

September 13
th
Tolland RTC Lobsterfest at Rockville Fish & Game
Contact Laura Roberts at [email protected]

September 14
th
GRE Wine & Cheese with the Candidates (See details in this newsletter, page 2)

September 19
th
– 21
st
Guilford Agricultural Fair, Guilford Fairgrounds, Lovers Lane
2014 Events Calendar
Paid for by Grassroots East - Federal, P.O. Box 979 Westbrook, CT 06498 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

GRASSROOTS EAST
P.O. 979
Westbrook, CT 06498
E-Mail:
[email protected]
We’re on the Web!
Visit us at:
grassrootseast.org





Newsletter Editors
Gerald Nagy
Linda Grzeika

In spite of the positive political climate we are fortunate to have this year, the Democrats
will work hard to smear our candidates and they will do their best to defeat us. Your
efforts for our Republican candidates will make the difference.

Pick a candidate or two or three and work hard for these candidates. Please spend your
time telling people why the Republican is the better choice. The conventions and the
primaries are over. The opportunity for success in November is great. We need all hands
on deck pulling together. We Republicans must come together as a team to win in
November.
A Message from the Chairman…(cont’d)
The purpose of Grassroots East is to seek out and secure the election of qualified
Republican candidates for public office. Grassroots East will be an active and influential
force to support and promote the principles of the Republican Party in Connecticut’s
Second Congressional District. Grassroots East will raise funds, provide campaign
services to Republican candidates and Republican Town Committees and will carry out a
program to disseminate information about the Republican Party and its candidates in the
Second Congressional District. Grassroots East shall also constitute a Political Action
Committee which supports multiple candidates for the purposes of classification by the
Federal Election Commission.
About Grassroots East…
GRASSROOTS EAST
PO BOX 979
WESTBROOK, CT 06498
page 4
Grassroots East
“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest
bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be
worth a dime.” ~ Babe Ruth