Praise comes Donovan's way

So there was this guy from Meriden at "Chris Donovan this is your life" last week. His name was Jeffrey Freiser, and he is actually the executive director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition.

I mention him, because he is a local guy who has known Chris for years through the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, and while we had a nice chat, his comments never made it into my story. Like it or not, a reporter can't always fit everything they know into one article.

Anyway, Jeffrey, who first met Chris in 1991, was talking about how much the soon-to-be speaker of the House likes people. (It's a good thing, because Chris had to mingle and make the rounds Thursday. More than 400 people showed up at the CCAG fundraiser.)

Jeffrey also spoke about how years ago, politicians were the enemy for community organizers like Chris. Community organizers were always angry that policians would not listen or make committments, he said. Now as a politician, Chris doesn't want to repeat those sins, Jeffrey said. People can be so cynical about politics and Chris wants to show that there is a different way to represent communities, he said.

Jeffrey was not the only one to praise Donovan last week. He got a lot of praise from many different people, including his wife and kids and his colleagues in the legislature.

Rep. John C. Geragosian, a Democrat from New Britain, mixed his praise with several jokes, including a reference to when Chris began to plan his climb up the leadership ladder. He had plenty of time to plan after former Speaker of the House Moira Lyons stripped him of a chairmanship about six years ago, Geragosian said, and the packed room at the Four Points laughed. Moira was sitting in the audience.

Geragosian also referenced Donovan's ties to labor unions. He works for one, but says he will leave his job when he becomes speaker next month. Unlike some, Geragosian didn't see Donovan's union background as a negative.

"I say it's about time that we have a speaker that is for working families," he said.

These details show that many are excited that Chris will be taking the reigns. They see him as a charasmatic and capable leader. My question to Political Potpourri leaders is; what do you see? After reading the newspaper stories, watching him in action and possibly meeting Chris, what do you think he brings to the table? And who do you think he will represent as speaker of the House?