Reform movement topples Stamford incumbent

Democratic candidate for State Rep. Terry Adams, an incumbent, talks with a voter outside Saint Bridget Church on primary day in Stamford, Conn. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Democratic candidate for State Rep. Terry Adams, an incumbent, talks with a voter outside Saint Bridget Church on primary day in Stamford, Conn. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Photo: Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Reform movement topples Stamford incumbent 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — It was early on primary day when Terry Adams realized he was up against more than just his Democratic opponent.

The two-term incumbent watched as waves of volunteers emerged from their cars at each polling location in blue shirts with the name of his challenger — David Michel — for the 146th state House of Representatives seat.

Adams knew he was about to be swept up by a growing movement known as Reform Stamford, a fledgling Democratic faction with a large presence on the city Board of Representatives.

Adams, 59, an eight-term member of the Board of Representatives and civic leader in the South End neighborhood where he has lived for four decades, knew he was doomed.

Michel had more than a dozen volunteers Tuesday spread across each of the 146th district’s four polling places.

Adams, meanwhile, had no campaign manager and volunteers “who didn’t show up.”

Michel has long been tied to the reform faction, which has pulled power from the Democratic establishment after several reformers were elected last November. Michel’s campaign manager was outspoken reformer Nina Sherwood, who alone has made waves on the 40-member city board.

“They ran a good race,” Adams said Wednesday. “To me, it wasn’t David Michel, it was a Reform Stamford race. I don’t think David could have won alone ... but I can’t fault anyone but myself.”

Stamford primary results Democratic House 146 Candidate Votes Vote % David Michel 1,063 68.49% Terry B Adams 489 31.51% Republican House 147 Candidate Votes Vote % Anzelmo Graziosi 616 69.76% Marcy Minnick 267 30.24% Source: Unofficial results, Connecticut Secretary of State

Unofficial results show Adams captured only 31 percent of the vote, compared to the 65 percent he rode to victory in the 2016 primary.

Adams said Michel switched parties to join a “winning team,” becoming a Democrat in 2016 after being a member of the Green Party. However, Michel did not switch soon enough and was not allowed to challenge Adams in the 2016 Democratic primary.

“He could never win as a green, so he was smart enough to switch to the winning team — and then he had Reform Stamford,” Adams said.

Michel refutes he was ever truly a member of the Green Party. He was a placeholder candidate for the party in 2014, he said, but “(has) been a Democrat my entire American life.”

Voter registration records show Michel, a native of France, was a registered Democrat before he switched to the Green Party in September 2013.

The Democratic primary for the seat — which represents the South End, downtown and Shippan — is often closely watched. Democrats have long defeated Republicans for the seat in November. Michel will face Republican Dan Pannone in the general election.

Michel, who was endorsed by the Democratic party over Adams earlier this year, said he is proud to be called a reformer, touting the title on campaign literature.

The 44-year-old eyewear distributor is known in Stamford for organizing frequent beach cleanups, and has made a name for himself as an environmental activist.

On Tuesday, he left polling places to help manage a small oil spill off Rasley Road in Shippan. Michel said he called the fire department and U.S. Coast Guard to put “pillows” around the spill to prevent more of the oil from flowing into the Long Island Sound.

Getting involved, he said, “is what I like to do,” although his various efforts left him weary, with fewer than three hours of sleep Monday night.

He described his campaign as a true grassroots effort, one that knocked on more than 10,000 doors in the urban district and handed out 1,300 carnations to prospective voters.

The flowers were also handed out last fall by Democrats running under the Reform Stamford banner.

“This is the people’s campaign,” Michel said as supporters gathered for a celebratory drink at Murphy's Townhouse Cafe Tuesday evening.

“Look, they’re all here,” he said.

barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton