Washington, D.C. trip thrills Norwalk Dems

By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Spectacular, awesome, interesting – those are the words used by three Norwalk politicos to describe Monday’s inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Republican Mayor Richard Moccia, Common Councilman David Watts (D-District A) and former councilman and Democratic Town Committee member Travis Simms were among the Norwalk residents in Washington, D.C. to attend the inauguration.

“It was a spectacular event,” Simms said. “It’s history. You certainly want to be part of it, having the first African American president sworn in for the second time.”

Watts said he had gone to Capital Hill to visit the House of Representatives and to the Lincoln Memorial, but watching Obama’s fete was definitely the high point. “I had a great ticket to see the president and I really enjoyed his speech,” he said.

At Tuesday’s Common C0uncil meeting, Moccia said, “I think he had a better seat than I did.”

Moccia was there for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and stayed in the same hotel as leading state Democrats, who, he said, treated him well. As for the inauguration, “(He’s) still the president of the United States, whether I supported him or didn’t support him. It was an historical moment, it was interesting.”

Simms recommends that anyone thinking of going to an inauguration should go. “Don’t hesitate,” he said.

People were “extremely polite,” he said.

“There was phenomenal energy throughout the city.” he said. “It was overwhelming, spectacular.”