Coca-Cola regional vice-president Tony Anaya was proud to show off the sprawling Main Street bottling plant to Democratic nominee for governor Dan Malloy and his running mate, Nancy Wyman on Tuesday.
At least we assume he was as the announced tour of the plant was closed off to the press. Concerns about security post 9-11 was the reason given in spite of the fact that State Representative Henry Genga invited the press to go along. Instead, the two members of the press who showed were kept waiting in the break room with all the company's workers as the production line was shut down completely to accomodate the distinguished visitors.
Biding his time was Irvin ‘Slim' Garland, a 37-year employee of the plant. At age 87, Garland, who flew bombing missions in World War II, has heard his share of politicians.
"I don't vote. I don't trust any of them," summed up Garland's position before Malloy and Wyman and the mayor passed by to shake his hand.
To his co-workers at Coca-Cola, Slim is a legend. Indeed, the octogenarian, who works to maintain the conveyors and mechanical systems at the brick bottling facility, declared "I was here before they built the plant around me. None of this existed."
Coca-Cola has invested millions on upgrading its East Hartford facility, consolidating its warehouse and shipping operation from three locations into one with some help from Town Hall, acquiring a nearby shopping plaza to expand on Main Street over a decade ago when Bob DeCrescenzo was mayor.
Anaya introduced Malloy, Genga and Currey noting that it was important for the company to stay in touch with political leaders, reminding employees of their letter-writing efforts of the past to elected leaders making decisions on issues such as the bottle bill and taxes that impact the company.
Malloy touched on his position on jobs and energy which are spelled out in detail on his website. "Any governor that doesn't fight for jobs before the announcement is made that they are moving out of Connecticut is not a good governor," said Malloy.
Coca-Cola was the second East Hartford plant Malloy and Wyman visited during their campaign; the last being the Cellu-Tissue paper menufacturing plant on Forbes Street before the Democratic primary. The Coke building was cool and climate controlled; a big change from the hot, steamy work of making paper pulp - but energy use is vital to both operations he realizes.
Saying "I'll bet you know how much your electric bill is each month," Malloy noted Connecticut's energy costs have risen from 35 percent higher in 2004 to 76 percent higher compared to states such as Tennessee.
As all elementary students know, Tennessee has enjoyed low-cost electricity costs since President Roosevelt authorized the Tennesee Valley Authority in 1933. The TVA has 29 hydroelectric dams and is working on bringing its seventh nuclear power plant on line in 2013.
"You are spending $100,000 a month on electricity while a plant in Tennessee spends $300,000 a year. It is not a level playing field," noted the former law school professor and 14-year mayor of Stamford. Malloy suggested investing in a co-generation power plant similiar to the one he saw at Cellu-Tissue. That prompted a Coke employee to announce the company will be installing fuel cells to power its plant in a few months' time.
Malloy's policy positions, and a 12-step plan for the state's economic recovery, are posted at www.danmalloy.com/policy.
