Cliff Thornton Wins School's Mock Election

Green Party of Connecticut
www.ctgreens.org

Thornton for Governor
www.votethornton.com
Contact: Ken Krayeske, 860-995-5842

November 06, 2006
Released November 03

CT Green Nancy Burton wins Attorney General race!

HARTFORD --  The Griswold Elementary School poll has predicted Election Day upsets before, and while Cliff Thornton's 3-to-1 margin of victory over incumbent Gov. M. Jodi Rell in the Griswold poll is unlikely to be repeated on Nov. 7, Thornton is nonetheless elated that young citizens of Griswold chose him.

"I am thrilled that the fourth and fifth graders of Griswold Elementary thought I had the best solutions for the future of the state of Connecticut," Thornton said. "This bodes well for the future of the Connecticut Green Party. In just seven short years, these young people will be actual voters, and they will be ready to vote for change in the state. It is good that at such a young age, they are sophisticated enough to know honesty and integrity."

Thornton was the second highest vote getter with 104, just behind Judge of Probate candidate George Kennedy with 108. Students also elected Green Nancy Burton as attorney general, Democrat Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate and Republican Rob Simmons for Congress.

Enrichment Teacher Russell Salvador, who runs the candidate forum and mock election, emailed the results out this morning.

"I remind you that we have accurately predicted upsets before," Salvador wrote.

Thornton was the only gubernatorial candidate to show up at the forum, held on Tuesday, Oct. 17. This has been the case most of the election season, where Gov. Rell has shunned multi-party events on the campaign trail, and Democratic challenger Mayor John DeStefano in turn has avoided appearing with Thornton. Rell received 32 votes in the mock contest, DeStefano earned 9, and Concerned Citizens' candidate Joseph Zdonczyk garnered 6 votes.

The students are looking out for their future, Thornton said.

"This shows we earned the respect of these young people," Thornton said. "This is a building block for the Connecticut Green Party, and it predicts that if not this year, in the future, the Greens will come to dominate Nutmeg state politics."