To the Editor:
Both Democrats and Republicans in Stamford have access to their respective city committees, organized by district, with two committee members each across 20 districts.
Some municipalities follow a convention model—where committee members vote on endorsements—while others, like Norwalk, use a caucus system, where candidates bring supporters to vote for them directly.
A TIGHT-KNIT BUNCH
In Stamford, endorsements are controlled by committee members. In a primary, an endorsement places a candidate on Row A—a significant advantage. As award-winning journalist Angela Carella has powerfully documented, the Stamford Democratic City Committee is often weaponized against candidates who refuse to toe the line.
Recently, unnecessary and unofficial procedures have been introduced. Candidates are now pressured to appear before an “executive committee”—not part of the formal process—so this group can issue recommendations to all DCC members. These executive members are on the DCC and are trusted allies appointed by the Chair, giving disproportionate power to the leadership.
ADDED UNRULY PROCESS
As a former state representative, I always met with my delegates but consistently refused to take part in this added, non-transparent process. Why appear before a panel that is handpicked by the DCC Chair and serves an agenda? If a candidate speaks out against corruption or confronts the system directly, there is no incentive to participate in what has essentially become a rigged process. The endorsement becomes a tool for control, not democratic choice.
NO DECORUM
DCC meetings have been disturbingly hostile, lacking in basic decorum, with open bullying and dismissiveness. The public can’t witness this because the DCC, operating as a corporate entity, has refused media access for years. Several DCC members and party affiliates have tried to address the violations of Robert’s Rules and internal party guidelines—though these guidelines are vaguely defined and open to interpretation.
At one of the most recent meetings—focused on the Mayor’s endorsement—I was surprised to finally see a journalists present. Perhaps the DCC believed they had perfected the performance and no longer needed to resort to visible bullying, for that specific meeting.
WHO IS IN CONTROL?
When you connect the dots—and I include key excerpts from the CT Examiner article below—it becomes clear: Democrats supported by the DCC are overwhelmingly aligned with the Mayor’s agenda, which repeatedly favors large developers and special interests.
This is evident in numerous proposals from the Mayor’s office, and in the campaign financing behind local elections. The same network of influence that surrounded Mayor Martin now encircles the current Mayor, and it is propped up by the DCC.
DEMOCRAT VS. DEMOCRAT
I was raised by a father who sells intermediate steel and taught me to honor the dignity of labor, and a mother who was a teacher and union representative. I was taught strong Democratic values—values that our local and state party should reflect.
Instead, our local Democratic committee supports groups masquerading as community advocates—like People Friendly Stamford—founded by lawyers who work with and for big developers. This committee consistently ignores candidates who advocate strongly for our most vulnerable populations. They fail to support teachers or their unions. They undermine efforts to expand truly affordable housing—evident in the low percentage of BMR units in new construction and their backing of “fee-in-lieu” loopholes. Their actions support a brand of gentrification that is both racially and economically discriminatory.
They have labeled the Firefighters Union as a “special interest” when that union endorsed and donated to opposing candidates. They ignored environmental science and health concerns by attempting to approve a Verizon/AT&T contract to install hundreds of EMR-emitting devices across the city—even when top scientists like Dr. Devra Davis raised serious public health alarms. I would not be surprised this will come up with the incoming new Board of Reps as a large majority is now beholden to the DCC and the DCC and Executive branch agenda.
This is not the Democratic Party of decades past. This is a rogue, self-serving faction masquerading as a local party.
I urge everyone to review the Stamford Board of Representatives—our city’s legislative body—and examine which ordinances were passed in the last 4 to 8 years. You’ll find that the often-maligned “Reform Stamford” slate and their Leader Nina Sherwood, and their allies, have advanced policies aligned with true Democratic values, despite resistance from Democrats beholden to the DCC and executive branch. That failure to act independently is a dereliction of duty—and a betrayal of our system of checks and balances.
What has become of Democratic values in Stamford?
Too often, even at the state level, I see Democrats introducing or voting on bills that skew rightward—opposing healthcare for the undocumented, blocking environmental reforms, undermining unions, and opposing fair wages. When a former Democratic mayor tries to shutter a community center under false pretenses—and the next mayor, Simmons, pushes forward with its sale for half its value, claiming it will be affordable housing (when it isn’t)—can we still claim these are true Democrats?
The reality is, many elected Democrats are enacting right-wing policies. And some Republicans I’ve met have stronger Democratic values than these so-called Democrats.
This confusion is dangerous.
GERRYMANDERING?
How did we get here?
Gerrymandering has caused people of a party that is a minority to shift to the majority party so they can vote in a closed primary for only registered electors of that party.
Gerrymandering is part of it. So is the closed nature of our primaries and the practice of preemptive endorsements. Endorsements should be abolished. Let candidates compete on ideas. The DCC should remain neutral when two Democrats run for the same seat. That would be a truer reflection of Democratic values.
We saw this play out nationally: the Democratic Party’s failures through broad pretenses, allowed a fake populist like Trump to rise. Locally, the betrayal is even deeper, making it easier for future demagogues to take hold.
Let’s be clear: this is no longer the Republican Party—it’s the Trump Party. And if we don’t reform our own, we risk collapse.
The Democratic City Committee in Stamford must be dismantled and rebuilt—not as a corporate shell as it is, but as a representative body that genuinely serves the interests of all residents, especially working families, marginalized communities, and those who have been silenced.
The State Democratic Party has long been aware of Stamford’s dysfunction—from violations of Robert’s Rules to bullying and unethical tactics like withholding endorsements. While some officials, including party lawyers, privately acknowledge the madness, the panels of corporate lawyers who control the process dismiss legitimate concerns. We’re told this is “just politics.” That’s unacceptable.
FINAL CALL
The DCC, as it stands, is a disgrace. It must be taken apart and rebuilt—by people of integrity, by those who prioritize justice, equity, and community above all else.
It’s time for Stamford Democrats to wake up—and fight for the party and values we actually believe in.
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David Michel lives in Stamford and was a State Representative for 3 terms. He can be reached at: 914-843-7545
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Coverage by Angela Carella for CT Examiner
Simmons, seeking a second term on Nov. 4, now has the full endorsement of the DCC. Its members include Lauren Meyer, Simmons’ special assistant and director of policy and legislative affairs, who is DCC vice chair; David Stein, the DCC’s parliamentarian and a mayoral appointee who chairs the Zoning Board; Jackie Heftman, the DCC treasurer who led the Board of Education for many years; Michael Hyman, the DCC’s deputy treasurer and current Board of Education president; and DCC member Emily Gordon, principal housing planner in the Simmons administration.
Democrats who are critical of the DCC have long said that party insiders maintain power by commanding loyalty, under threat of not getting endorsed. Voters tend to choose candidates along party lines, so those with a party endorsement usually win elections, they say…
“I did not embrace all of this administration’s agenda, and I was penalized. The DCC promotes embracing the administration’s agenda,” Campbell said Wednesday. “They don’t endorse people who are good representatives. They endorse people who promise to support the party agenda.”
A majority of Democrats on the Board of Representatives have challenged Simmons for the last four years, particularly questioning her vision for Stamford. Simmons supports the continuing development of apartment high-rises, conversion of office buildings to residential, and adding other types of housing in residential zones.
Simmons clashed with Democrats on the board by enlisting the state legislature to block their attempt to make it easier for Stamford residents to appeal zoning decisions; allowing her appointees on the planning and zoning boards to keep their seats long after their terms expire; attempting to sell a community center to a housing developer; and attempting to build a library on park land that representatives say is already too scarce…