Andy Thibault

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Cool Justice 
Soldier For Democracy Recognized
By ANDY THIBAULT, Columnist
Law Tribune Newspapers
August 1, 2005

   Thirty years ago my beat was bugs, corn, cows and small-town politics. Herman Weingart was my guide. Herman and his wife Pat had about 200 cows that gave milk a couple times a day. Maybe that's one of the reasons they had 10 kids. Some of them grew up to be farmers, some are teachers like their mother and some are in the military.

   There were more cows than people on my beat - which included Lebanon and Franklin --  as a rookie reporter for The Norwich Bulletin. I got to know hundreds of both species.

   Walking around the Weingart homestead in Franklin, I learned that farmers read The Wall Street Journal. They know who pulls what strings. They know how to count.

   Herman knows everything about the Republicans and a lot about the Democrats. His friend Vinny Majchier, across the street, knew everything about the Democrats and a lot about the Republicans. Herman has served many years as a member of the Republican State Central Committee. He's been a behind-the-scenes mover in every local legislative and congressional race since before I knew him. Vinny made his mark with the Democrats and was known for his fruit and vegetable stand and for all the parties he organized throughout the district. He also served as deputy agriculture commissioner.

   Eastern Connecticut, a major chunk of the Second Congressional District, has long been a Democratic stronghold. Chris Dodd took the congressional seat when Republican Bob Steele ran unsuccessfully against Ella Grasso for governor during Watergate. When Dodd advanced to the Senate, Sam Gejdenson began a two-decade run as the local [Democratic] congressman. During Sam's run and Chris's before him, Herman backed some strong and not-so-strong challengers. They included: Tony Guglielmo, now a state senator; attorney Tom Connell; professor Roberta Koontz; and Ed Munster, who came close enough to force recount with Sam.

   "Tony was greener than grass, but he had a lot of talent," Weingart recalled. "He had a campaign team of college kids who quit six weeks before the election. Still, we had a lot of close encounters over the years."

   Weingart is not the type of guy who knocks on doors or sits in the inner circles of campaigns. He helps candidates make connections with the movers and shakers in all the towns around the district. He helped establish the Republican organization Grassroots East, which kept the GOP flame burning during lean years. Then, decades of grassroots work paid off as Republican Rob Simmons defeated Gejdenson and got re-elected.

   "Rob is the action," Weingart said. "He's the energizer bunny. He's everywhere."

   Now in his 70's, Weingart is retired as a dairy farmer and as a pesticide inspector for the state Department of Environmental Protection. He still gardens. He still makes those connections for candidates on the move.

   And, after decades in the GOP vineyards, some recognition came his way. Gov. Jodi Rell nominated Weingart to receive this year's Fenton "Pat" Futtner Award for service to the state party. He was honored at the annual Prescott Bush Awards dinner in June. Past recipients have included Dr. Dorothy Lieb, a probate judge and former chairwoman of the New London Republican Town Committee; and the late attorney Ralph Elliot.

   "Citizenship and service have been cradle concepts in our family," Weingart said. "Membership in our local 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America provided early opportunities for service as well as introducing me to the wonders of parliamentary procedure … I am grateful for the support [of local citizens] and for the opportunity to meet people from across the state, the decision makers, and the policy makers. Most of all, their trust allows me to continue [living] the concepts of citizenship and service learned so long ago."

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