The two Democrats will be facing off in a debate in the Westport Town Hall on Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m.

The Easton Democratic Town Committee is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s John and Phyllis Neary Award for public service: Phyllis Machledt of Easton. The award will be presented to Mrs.Machledt at a celebratory dinner on Friday, May 11th, at 6:30 p.m., at Roberto’s Restaurant, 505 Main Street in Monroe.

The Neary Award is presented each year to an Easton resident with an exemplary record of public service in the distinguished tradition of John and Phyllis Neary, whose years of volunteer service to the town of Easton enriched the community in countless ways.

Phyllis Machledt has been an exemplar of compassionate public service to the town of Easton and the broader community for over 30 years. Her many town activities include energetic participation on the Easton Democratic Town Committee (and on its Nominating Committee), on the Easton Library Board, and as an Easton Girl Scout Troop Leader. She has been a tireless advocate for education in our town, serving as PTA President from 1990-92, as PTSA President at Joel Barlow in 1994, as a member of the Region 9 Board of Education, and as a member and then Chairperson of the Easton Board of Education. In addition, Phyllis has been a devoted supporter of the American Field Service, and has championed international student exchange programs as vehicles for cultural and intellectual growth; she served as President of the AFS chapter at Barlow. To all of these roles, Phyllis has lent her impressive organizational skills, initiative, and kindness.

The scope of Phyllis’s interests and good work have extended far beyond Easton. In 1986, she was a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of Bridgeport and was elected President in 1994; she currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors. She started the first campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Connecticut at Sacred Heart University and has participated in home-building projects in Bridgeport, Baltimore, Wilmington, Tucson, and Taos, New Mexico.

At Sacred Heart, Phyllis worked as Director of Service Learning and Volunteer Programs from 1994 to 2008. She has been involved in countless literacy and outreach efforts in Bridgeport, including coordinating the Sunshine Kids Mentoring Program with SHU students, serving on the Board of Mercy Learning Center for three years, and participating in the School Volunteer Association (SVA), of which she is currently a board member. As a member of the Golden Hill United Methodist Church of Bridgeport, Phyllis serves on the Society and Missions Committee and as its Chair for three years, participating in missions to El Salvador, Jamaica, and Bolivia.

Phyllis has been the recipient of numerous community awards and honors, including the Outstanding Administrator Award at Sacred Heart in 1999; the Alpha Home “Unsung Hero”

Kowalski, who currently serves as Easton’s Democratic Registrar of Voters, has been an energetic community volunteer and dedicated town leader since moving to Easton in 1994, serving as DTC Chair as well as on its Nominating, Policy, and District Leaders committees, on the Easton Police Commission as Chairman and Vice-Chair, on the Planning & Zoning Commission, and as a coach for numerous Little League teams. Kowalski’s history of volunteerism and strong leadership were hailed by the speakers at the dinner.

Senator Blumenthal directed his remarks to the Kowalski children, saying, “Now you may find this hard to believe, but your dad is actually a great guy. And I’ll tell you why. As a leader in the Easton community, he’s had the courage and vision to make good decisions, and in the face of controversy, to do what he thinks is right.” Blumenthal added, “In the political world, real friends are rare – to have that quality of loyalty and caring – and I consider Ron a true friend. Nobody works harder than Ron, or is freer with good advice.”

Governor Dannell P. Malloy with Ron Kowalski and his children, Alex, CJ, Kelly, Megan and Jason

Governor Dannell Malloy noted that “we have an obligation to leave our communities stronger,” and thanked Ron for his “great service” to Easton and to Connecticut. Congressman Jim Himes said, “Ron has been a friend for a long time and he is to be commended for his leadership of the Easton Democrats.” Kowalski was a key campaign strategist during the 2003 Democratic sweep in Easton, during which Democratic candidates beat Republican opponents to gain seats on all major town boards, in some cases for the first time in Easton’s history.

Easton’s elected officials focused on Kowalski’s effectiveness in town politics and lively sense of humor. In presenting the proclamation that designated May 6th ‘Ronald E. Kowalski II Day,’ First Selectman Tom Herrmann lauded Kowalski for his “profound competence and aplomb” as Democratic Registrar of Voters, as well as for being “a leading voice in shaping the Easton we all know and love.” Selectman Bob Lessler called Kowalski “a true creative master,” and thanked him “for making our work together so rewarding and productive and such a heck of a lot of fun.” Selectman Scott Centrella observed, “The thing that’s so wonderful about our town is that, except in election years, it’s not political. Hartford and Washington could learn a lot.”

In accepting the award, Kowalski reflected on his years of involvement in the community, and remarked, “The most rewarding aspect of my involvement has been having the opportunity to work with all of you, on issues that matter to our community.”

L to R: Democratic National Committee Member Ellen Camhi of Stamford, Neary Award Winner Ron Kowalski, former Norwalk DTC Chair Donna King and Connecticut Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull.

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