New Britain Democratic activist and newspaper publisher Darek Barcikowski has been elected to Democrats’ State Central Committee.
“I am honored and humbled by the support of New Britain, Berlin and Farmington Democrats who have cast their votes today to elect me as their voice on the State Central Committee,” Barcikowski said, “and look forward to working with JoAnne Angelico Stetson and so many other amazing party leaders in the months ahead.”
“I also want to thank John McNamara,” Barcikowski added, “for his support, guidance and for his many years of service on the State Central Committee.
John McNamara had told New Britain Democrats in April that he was not seeking re-election, and was supporting Barcikowski for the seat.
Barcikowski was elected, together with Berlin Democrat Joann Angelico-Stetson, at the Democratic State Convention today, Saturday May 9, 2020.
The Democratic State Central Committee consists of two members, a man and a woman elected by Democratic State Convention delegates from each State Senate district. The Committee selects the statewide Democratic Chair and other officers who lead the Connecticut Democratic party, among other functions.
New Britain Democrats and Berlin Democrats, who share the Sixth Senatorial District with a part of Farmington, typically each choose one Democratic State Central Committee member each.
Barcikowski had told members of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee at its April 16, 2020 meeting that he was running for Democratic State Central Committee, saying that, “our entire party – on the local, state and national level needs to be energized and organized like never before.”
“We like to say that each election cycle is the most consequential yet,” Barcikowski had said. “They are, in fact, all consequential. But I truly believe that the 2020 election in November is unlike any other that we have or will ever participate in.”
Barcikowski has said that his political activism began, “organizing Polish Americans to support John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.” He said that, “My involvement with Democratic politics did not end with that race. It had just begun.”
For the last 16 years I have worked with the DNC on a national level to engage ethnic Americans and on the local level to build grassroots support for Democratic candidates running for various elected offices.
Some of my most notable experiences include serving as the VP of the DNC’s National Ethnic Coordinating Council, running the National Polish Americans for Obama Committee in 2016, a two-year tenure as DTC chair and working on Elizabeth Warren’s first US Senate campaign
His website says that, “Barcikowski is the founder and managing partner of White Eagle Media where for over 12 years he has served as publisher of a series of Polish language newspapers published throughout the country.”
“He has been a lifelong advocate for Polish – American involvement in civic affairs and public service,” the website says. “In 2008, Barcikowski launched the ‘Polonia Votes’ project with a mission to get one million Polish Americans to the polls during the Presidential Elections.”
Democrats held their State Convention online to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans are holding conventions online, as well.
At the Convention, Democrats elected Democratic National Committee members and Democratic State Central Committee members and nominated candidates for Presidential Elector in online voting in the morning.
In the afternoon, Democratic Party leaders announced the results of the voting. Democratic delegates then heard speeches from Democratic State Chair Nancy Wyman, Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT), Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D-CT), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and others at a video conference held on a social collaboration platform.
