Former U.S. Congressman Rob Simmons spoke at Thomaston Savings Bank's annual Business Breakfast this morning, and after hearing him speak, I wouldn't be surprised if he throws his hat in as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Chris Dodd in 2010, or a candidate for governor if and when Jodi Rell decides to step down.
The breakfast, first of all, was the best-attended in the 10 years that Thomaston Savings Bank has held it. More than 160 local businesspeople attended.
And Thomaston Savings Bank, in addition to providing the free meal, had some interesting stuff to talk about, including its new online business banking program, and a neat check scanning machine it can provide to customers that allows them to deposit their money immediately from their own office, without making the old trip to a bank branch with deposit bag in hand.
Simmons lost to Democrat Joe Courtney last time by only 82 votes in an election where well-liked moderate Republicans all over the country were being swept out of office over dissatisfaction with President Bush and the war in Iraq.
He's got a great resume - Vietnam War veteran, Army reserve, a career in the CIA, 10 years in the Connecticut Legislature, and six years in Congress.
And with an appointment by Gov. Rell as the state's new "Business Advocate," Simmons has the chance to gain exposure beyond his Congressional district. This could set him up perfectly for a run for statewide office, and his talk about small business today sounded like a political stump speech.
It seemed to impress the crowd at this breakfast, including this attendee, and was a great introduction for Simmons to community leaders in a part of the state that's not familiar with him.
Until now.