No, Greenwich isn't importing palm trees. The town's GOP elite will find itself quite at home at thissummer's Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., however. Better than one out of every four of Connecticut's allotment ofdelegates to the conservative confab, which is scheduled for Aug.27-30, will hail from Greenwich, according a roster released thisweek by the state Republican Party . The reliably blue state will send 25 regular delegates and 25alternates to the GOP's coronation of Mitt Romney as itspresidential nominee, plus three super delegates that are made upof the party chairman and Connecticut's two Republican National Committee representatives. Tom Foley , a venture capitalist like Romney who ran unsuccessfully forgovernor in 2010 and served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland underPresident George W. Bush , made the cut to be a delegate. "They want to reward their people who've helped them with theircampaign, but they also want to make sure the delegates are peoplewho are actually going to vote for the nominee," Foley toldGreenwich Time. This will be Foley's third time as a delegate, the previous three being for Bush in2004, 2000 and Bob Dole in 1996. "It's real politics. It's where the human side of politics is atits best," said Foley, who is a finance committee member ofRomney's campaign in Connecticut. Greenwich will account for seven regular delegates and fouralternates at the convention. The magic number for Romney, theformer Massachusetts governor and Bain Capital founder who rescuedthe 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, is 1,144 delegates tocapture the nomination. "I think the 50 individuals represents a cross-section ofsupporters, both political and financial, of Governor Romney and the state party," said Jerry Labriola Jr., the state GOP chairman. State Sen. L. Scott Frantz , R-36th District, who has hosted Romney at his Riverside homemultiple times, most recently for a May 20 fundraiser that wasexpected to net the presumptive GOP nominee $1 million, is on thelist of delegates. Frantz, who is also a venture capitalist, was an alternate delegatefour years ago in St. Paul, Minn. "I didn't ask for it, but it's certainly an honor to be sent to theconvention as a delegate," Frantz said. "I'm looking forward toproudly representing the state of Connecticut in Florida." Delegates are typically chosen among major money bundlers for thecandidates and other dignitaries. Three must come from each of thestate's five congressional districts, with 10 chosen at large. Romney is assured of getting all 25 of Connecticut's regulardelegates by virtue of breaking the 50.1 percent thresholdstatewide and in each of the five congressional districts in theprimary. He got about 67 percent of the vote in the April 24primary, which came just a few days after Romney rival Rick Santorum dropped out of the race. Labriola characterized the selection of delegates as acollaboration between the state GOP and Romney's campaign. One Greenwich notable that is conspicuously absent from the rosteris Linda McMahon , however. The favorite to win the Aug. 14 GOP Senate primary declined aninvitation by the Romney campaign to be a delegate later that monthso she could focus on the general election. "Linda will be showing her support for Governor Romney here at homein Connecticut that week by laying the groundwork for a win against Chris Murphy in November," said Erin Isaac , a spokeswoman for McMahon. In contrast, former Congressman Christopher Shays , who McMahon bested 2-to-1 during an endorsement session at the Connecticut GOP Convention May 18, accepted the invitation to be a Bridgeport delegate. Leora Levy , a retired commodities trader turned community volunteer fromGreenwich who is also on Romney's finance committee, will be afirst-time delegate in Tampa. "I'm very concerned about the direction our country is taking,"Levy said. A member of the RNC's national finance committee, Levy has helpedorganize several fundraisers in the area for Romney, includingserving on the host committee of a $25,000-per-plate dinner May 20at the Belle Haven Club with the two-time White House hopeful. "I was hoping to make a difference in a positive way for ourcountry," Levy said. The roster of Greenwich delegates also includes auto magnate Malcolm Pray Jr.; Donald K. Miller , who gave $25,000 to a pro-Romney super PAC and is chairman ofAxiom International Investors, a global equity asset managementfirm based in Greenwich; Patrick Durkin , managing director Barclays Capital; and Mark Shenkman , founder of Shenkman Capital Management and one of UConn's biggest boosters. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; twitter.com/gettinviggy. I am an expert from rfid-smart-cards.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Rfid Wristband Manufacturer , Rfid Smart Cards, Rfid Business Cards,and more.
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