EDISON — Middlesex County Democrats reached beyond state borders to bring Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy to the party's annual campaign kick-off dinner tonight. Malloy, a Democrat who took office in January, gave a vigorous partisan attack before about 1,000 party members from Middlesex County meeting at the $40-a-plate dinner at the Pines Manor in Edison. "Republicans don't realize that...
Conn. Gov. Dan Malloy, left, listens to former N.J. Gov. Jim Florio at the Pines Manor in Edison before tonight's fundraiser for Middlesex County Democrats.EDISON — Middlesex County Democrats reached beyond state borders to bring Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy to the party's annual campaign kick-off dinner tonight.
Malloy, a Democrat who took office in January, gave a vigorous partisan attack before about 1,000 party members from Middlesex County meeting at the $40-a-plate dinner at the Pines Manor in Edison.
"Republicans don't realize that when they are reducing state taxes, they are shifting it to the municipalities and the homeowners," Malloy said. "A win in November is in your best interests," he told the party faithful.
Peter Barnes Jr., chair of the Middlesex County Democratic Committee, said the organization has invited prominent out-of-state party members in the past year for the annually dinner.
"We think there's a kind of dichotomy between Gov. Malloy and Gov. Christie," Barnes said.
When Barnes was elected chair in a hotly contested race last spring, Party members said they expected a GOP push in the November elections.
Democrats control all seven county freeholder seats, and the county clerk's office and sheriff's office. Two freeholder seats are up for election, as well and mayors seats in 14 of the county's 25 towns.