Rocky Hill Democrats met in June to honor Democratic changemakers and community servants within Rocky Hill and the State of Connecticut.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong receives the Billiy Ciatto Award
Attorney General William Tong was the keynote speaker. He urged everyone in the room to fight against the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. Tong also shared a story of why he remains hopeful. “Let me tell you in this difficult moment what gives me hope. What gives me hope is I walked in here and Joe Cohelo pulled me aside. He said, ‘I remember your parents ran a restaurant on the Silas Deane Highway, and I remember you, as a little kid, working in the kitchens, working side by side with your parents.’
“Growing up in a Chinese restaurant isn’t easy. It’s not easy to watch your parents work seven days a week, twelve to fifteen hours a day. It’s not easy to watch them sacrifice so much, and to see them suffer. And it’s not easy when, in sixth grade, when business starts to go the wrong direction, and when your parents do the only thing they can do: they call their children off the bench. Friday, Saturday, nights and weekends, I was in that restaurant working side by side with my parents in that hot Chinese restaurant. But in one generation I went from that hot restaurant in Wethersfield to being the Attorney General of the state of Connecticut. That is the enduring strength and beauty of our country.”
Other award winners included:
Democrat of the year: Allan Smith
Allan Smith is a candidate for mayor of Rocky Hill. Allan is a long time resident, vice chair of the Rocky Hill Democratic Town Committee, and member of Rocky Hill’s Affordable Housing Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Economic Development Commission. Allan was recognized for his tireless community service and passion for improving the town.
Town Service Award: Recipients Joe Cohelo, Sandi Kelly and Ken Goldberg between them share more than a century of service to town boards, commissions, and advisory bodies.
Unsung Heroes: Residents and community servants Shilpa Gohil and Maria Librio Judge were recognized for their long term public service. Shilpa and Maria have embodied public service through philanthropic work and volunteering.
Young Democrat of the Year: Logan Prentiss was recognized for his service in the National Guard and his focus on supporting Democratic campaigns.
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