Bethel Republicans Honor Gov. M. Jodi Rell, John Lennon and Mary Legnard Saturday
The Bethel Republican Town Committee honored three outstanding Republicans at their annual awards dinner Saturday evening at the Stony Hill Inn. Three awards were given out; the Denis J. Riordan Award, received by John Lennon, the John L. Thiele Award, received by Mary Legnard and the Republican of the Year award, received by former Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell.
Bob Legnard was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Legnard opened the evening with a moment of silence to honor former Bethel First Selectman Edward J. Mills, who passed away on Monday, May 9 at the age of 86. Mills, a Republican, was the First Selectman of Bethel from 1982-84.
Awards were presented after dinner. Beth Cavagna presented John Lennon with the Denis J. Riordan award. In his acceptance speech Lennon said, “Planning and Zoning is all about planning for the future. It’s hard to go against the grain sometimes and make the right decisions but I sit on a commission that is very balanced. It’s a lot of fun and very rewarding.”
Danielle Legnard honored her mother-in-law, Mary Legnard, with a speech before the presentation of the John L. Thiele award. Danielle praised Mary for all of her hard work not only serving Bethel but serving her family as well. “It’s a very special award for a very special woman.”
“She served as registrar of voters for almost 30 years and has been a member and integral part of the Bethel Regional Hospice for almost 25 years,” Danielle said.
She is a model citizen of Bethel,” she said.
Her husband Bob said he was proud of his wife and that he “married well.”
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Legnard.
The last award was presented to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, for Republican of the Year. Rell served as a Connecticut State Representative for the 107th District in Bethel and Brookfield for 10 years. She became Lieutenant Governor after the 1994 election and was re-electied in 1998 and 2002. She became Governor in 2004 after John Rowland's resignation and was elected to her own full term in 2006. Rell received the highest total votes for any gubernatorial candidate in Connecticut history, approximately 710,000. Rell is the state’s 87th Governor and the first-ever woman Republican Governor of Connecticut.
Bob Legnard thanked Gov. Rell for “all the time you spent away from your family for the good of us.”
Bethel Cavagna honored Gov. Rell by sharing her thoughts of Rell’s years of service. She remembered Rell’s last State of the State Speech.
“You said, ‘The spending has to stop, the borrowing has to stop, we have to live within our means.’ A very simple statement a teacher to her class based on years of experience and knowledge. This is the Governor I will always remember. Jodi the Governor, friend and neighbor, never forgot where home was,” Cavagna said.
“Your public service did mean something very special,” she said.
David Capiello said, “When she became Governor she restored faith in government. It is my honor to be here to speak about you. You didn’t serve the public to enrich yourself, you do this and did this because you care about the community, the state and the people you served.”
First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker spoke next to present a proclamation to Rell. Knickerbocker, a Democrat, garnished many laughs from the Republican crowd joking about “getting past security” and “taking particular care not to drive my wife’s car that still has the Obama sticker on it.”
Knickerbocker said when campaigning door-to-door what he hears from voters is that they want the government to work for the people, whether Republican or Democrat.
“When the campaigning is over, they want you to work for everybody,” he said.
Knickerbocker presented Gov. Rell with a proclamation declaring May 14 as "Gov. M. Jodi Rell Day" in Bethel.
State Senator Mike McLachlan, 24th District and State Senator Toni Boucher, 26th District both gave speeches as well, congratulating Gov. Rell for her award and years of outstanding service to the state and community. State Rep. David Scribner cold not attend the event due to family obligations but wished Gov. Rell well and congratulated her in a statement.
Gov. Rell said in her acceptance speech that many people ask her if she misses working. She responded, “I miss the people. There are some really wonderful people who work for you on your behalf, people who go to work every day who try to do what’s right for your town and your state.”
“In this state we have really good people, Republicans and Democrats, but we have a job to do as people and citizens of our state and that’s to get involved. That’s to be able to stand up and be heard. If you’re not you really can’t complain. You need to have a voice,” she said.
In closing Rell said, “To be recognized as the Republican of the Year is quite an honor and I truly appreciate it. You’re wonderful people, a great town, and good friends and I thank all of you.”
