New Britain Democrats Choose New Leader

New Britain Democrats elected a new leader for the local Democratic Party, choosing political organizer Andrew McIndoo as Party Chair.

McIndoo succeeds Democratic Party Chair William Shortell, who served as Democratic Party Chair since 2016. Shortell did not seek re-election.

McIndoo was elected as the New Britain Democratic Party’s new Chair by a unanimous vote of the Democrats’ Town Committee. He was nominated by Frank Gerratana, who praised McIndoo’s, “great political instincts,” and political experience. McIndoo, Gerratana said, has close contacts with other town committees and office holders and, “works for the State Treasurer doing community outreach.”

“I am excited about Andy taking over,” as Chair, Gerratana said.

Democrats re-elected Ronald Davis as Party Vice-Chair.

Ann Speyer was elected Recording Secretary and April Lewis was elected as Corresponding Secretary.

John Tully was elected as Party Treasurer, and for Assistant Treasurer, Nate Simpson was elected.

Democrats elected Rosemary Klotz, Chris Porcher and Willy Justiniano as Trustees.

McIndoo spoke about some of his goals for the future of the New Britain Democratic Party, saying, “it’s really just about getting back to basics.”

The first goal, he said, is fundraising.

Anticipating excitement around the 2020 presidential election, he talked about getting people involved in the Democratic Party in New Britain. “We need to give them a reason to get excited about us, locally.”

He talked about New Britain Democrats having a strong message. “I think we need, more, as a party, to talk about what we are good at, and what we believe in, and give people what we are offering as an alternative.”

“People agree with us,” he said. “We are a Democratic city.”

Finally, he said that it is his goal for New Britain Democrats to win elections. That was a point that drew applause. New Britain Democrats faced significant defeats in 2019, from the State Senate special election to their fourth mayoral election loss in a row and loss of the majority on the City Council.

McIndoo and the other Democratic Party leaders were elected to lead the local Democratic Party for a two year term.