Navy Veteran Angel Fernadez Giving Incumbent a Run for His Money

Candidate Angel Fernandez for the 100th District

Unlike our incumbent state representative Matt Lesser, who seems “proud” of everything he touches, challenger Angel Fernandez, the first Hispanic to run in this district, is a humble man who considers it a privilege and an honor to engage in public service.

 Angel is a retired US Navy man, Master at Arms Second Class. Angel was part of an elite anti-terrorist team. He served in Desert Storm and was deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He served 19 years before being retired, due to injuries he received in combat. He takes seriously, his oath to “uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies”, and as our representative in the General Assembly, will continue to fulfill that oath and protect the rights of all citizens.

Angel is active in our community. He is Deputy Director of Emergency Management in Middletown. He has served in this position for five years. He is also an active member of the PTA, serves on his child’s school advisory board and is the Executive Director of the 65th Infantry Historical Society.

Growing up in Hartford’s urban north end, Fernandez saw and experienced first-hand, the day to day struggles of low income and middle class families. He now works in a priority school district with at-risk children.

Angel is the owner of a small security consulting business.  Angel is aware of how the state’s current economic policies and taxes strangle small business, interfering with the development of new business and curtailing the growth of current business.

 As our representative, Angel Fernandez will work to reverse the 371 new taxes Gov. Malloy and the Democrats have imposed on us. Reaching across the aisle, he will keep the federal government out of local education, resist unfunded mandates, whether they are from the state or federal government, and work to implement sensible policies to help returning veterans reintegrate into our communities.

 On November 4^th, I'll cast my ballot for Angel Fernandez, a man who says what he means and means what he says; a true man of the people. I urge you to join me in doing so.

Middletown Veteran & Candidate Angel Fernandez Receives Award for Rescue Efforts

Angel Fernandez

Local veteran & Deputy Chief of Middletown's Emergency management Angel Fernandez reminisces as he marks the decade anniversary of his receiving a special award for going above the call of duty to serve the public. Fernandez, who is also the Deputy Director of the  National 65th Regiment Historical Society and former Amvet Warrior Transition Coordinator (a national position with a 1 year term), was honored for heroic actions which helped to save lives. Fernandez received this honor in 2004, and 10 years later, still recounts the day as one that made him want to better serve his community by running for public office.

Currently, Fernandez, a conservative Republican, is running for State Legislator in the 100th District, much of which is comprised of Middletown. Fernandez studied Public Safety Administration and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University. Fernandez is a veteran, having served in combat during wartime.  Fernandez was enlisted in the U.S. Navy from  1989 to 2007. Upon retirement from the Navy in 2007, he received the J. Edgar Hoover award. Fernandez has young children in the Middletown public school system, and is the father of a soldier currently serving overseas.  

When asked for this article what he learned in his military career that will make him suitable as a state representative, Fernandez said:

Conceptualized over 4 years ago, 

The Five Conflict Memorial 

 Middletown was dedicated this past 

Memorial Day . Fernandez played a key role in 

working with local, state, & national

 Veterans' organizations to bring the project to fruition. 

Having himself served in combat, this project was

 particularly important for Fernandez.

“What I learned in the military is that you listen to your people and take care of them. Be honest during good and bad moments. Honesty will take you a long way. Lying will do nothing but diminish your character as a leader. That's my game plan as a legislator; to use my leadership skills to help people understand that I am living and sacrificing on a daily basis. I know what it is to struggle in our state's current economy. I can relate to any resident because that’s what I did whenever I went to foreign country; I trained to understand people of different cultures and diversities.”

Fernandez, founder/president of  Eleven Charlie LLC, a security training company,  previously captured the spirit of altruism & giving back to the community when he donated specialized disaster training to Middletown Emergency crews and police.

Read about this training project in our previous article here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/06/citizen-angel-fernandez-donates.html

More information about Fernandez & his campaign for the 100th District can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/angel.fernandez.5015983

The full article, published at Dolphin News, serving New London's Naval community, explaining Fernandez's heroism award is below:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By:JO3 Steven Feller
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=13403

West Hartford, Conn. - The last thing Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Angel Fernandez (PJ) expected to deal with as he drove down Interstate 84 on March 12 was a multi-vehicle accident, but that was exactly the hand life dealt him. Six weeks later, Fernandez was recognized by the West Hartford Police Department (WHPD) for his role in responding to the accident and rendering first aid to the victims.

In a ceremony at City Hall last Friday, Fernandez and seven other citizens, were awarded the WHPD Recognition Award, which is given to citizens and officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist the WHPD and the general public.

Fernandez said he had just left work and was on his way to a medical appointment when fate steered him in another direction."I was driving west on I-84 when an eastbound driver crossed the median and hit a vehicle," said Fernandez. "Nobody was stopping; so I turned around, turned my lights on, deployed flares and secured the scene."

After a passing motorist called 911, Fernandez was working solo for five minutes before two officers from the WHPD arrived on scene.

"When we (WHPD Officers James Mahon and Brian Wallace) arrived, we saw that Fernandez had shut down a traffic lane by himself...and that's not easy. We have trouble doing that with our cruisers," said Wallace.

While other emergency personnel were en route to the scene, Fernandez began first aid. One victim was lying in the middle of the road and the others were trapped in their vehicles.

"There were a lot of broken legs and head and chest injuries," said Fernandez. "As emergency personnel extracted the victims from their vehicles, I relayed information to the emergency personnel. I also talked with the victims, maintained their vital signs and helped get them stabilized."

Assistant Police Chief Robert McCue said it is difficult to measure the amount of lives saved by Fernandez' actions.

Republican Common Council Candidate Angel Fernandez Seeks to Expand Latino Political Influence in Middletown

Below is an article originally written by blogger Robert Cyr at CT Latino News and published at:http://ctlatinoe news.com/blog/2013/09/06/middletown-candidate-seeks-to-expand-latino-political-influence/.
Read out previous post about Fernandez, who is volunteers Deputy Chief at the City's Emergency management department. Fernandez is a husband, father, veteran and small business owner of Eleven Charlie LLC, a company that recently donated over $10K worth of training to the City of Middletown. Fernandez is running as a Republican for a seat on the Common Council.

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/06/citizen-angel-fernandez-donates.html
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Angel Fernandez Republican Candidate
 for Common Council Middletown

Middletown Candidate Seeks to Expand Latino Political Influence

By Robert Cyr

As the Latino population in Connecticut’s Middlesex County grows, so does their political influence. Angel Fernandez, who is already a well-known name in Middletown, Conn., political and public service circles, is a prime example of this trend as he seeks a seat on the city’s Common Council expanding the role Latinos play in the city.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the county’s Latino population rose 9.79 percent between 2011 and 2012, and is now home to about 8,600 Latinos residents.

He’s the first Latino to head the city’s emergency management operations and has taught courses on terrorism response to Office of Emergency Management staff.

Now he is poised to possibly make history in Middletown again this November. He is the first Hispanic running for the Common Council as a Republican.

“I’ve always been a Republican since the day I joined the military,” Fernandez said of his decision to run for the GOP in a city where Hispanics traditionally are Democrats. Even his family says he is the unusual one, he said.

He believes that the GOP better represents the needs of the U.S. military, as well as better following the Constitution in the way they govern.

Fernandez said entering local politics was a tough decision for him, but the state’s new restrictive gun laws were enough to force his hand.

“I just figured the only way to make changes is through the local politics then go to state level to make the changes and to really listen to the people and do what the people (voters) ask of you,” he said. “ Is not the other way around, I see politicians who forget that the voters put them in office to do the right thing for them and not what is beneficial to you as a person”

He added, “So, basically, I said my job is not done serving my country now. It is my city and state that I have to go and serve.”

His military career began in 1989, and he retired with an honorable medical discharge due to injuries from the current war on terrorism.

He served in Southern California as an aviation ordnanceman from 1989-91 and was in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He later served in the Army from 1991 until 1995 as an infantry soldier. In 2000, he was called to serve back in the Navy as a military police officer in an anti-terrorist unit and did a short stint as protective service.

“I was General Frank’s body guard during Sept 11, 2001, then I was working with NATO Forces in Crete, Greece. I was in Little Creek, Va., and did multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,” he said.

Fernandez retired at Sub-base New London in 2007. He was awarded numerous commendations and awards, including being the first US Navy Hispanic inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame. He also received  the J. Edgar Hoover Award for training excellence of Law Enforcement Personnel around the world.

Fernandez said his background influenced his decision to run for office.

“It’s not just being a Latino but as an American, I have come from a poor family that worked its way up to what I am now,” he said.. “I can relate to everybody from all walks of life because I have been there.”

“The Latino population is really growing in Middletown. In the past 17 years I have been here I saw a increase the past 2 years which is great and that’s one of the other reason I want to run for office so the city and county can be part of the changes in our community.

Fernandez, 44, studied public safety administration and criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1989 to 2007. He has three sons, including a platoon sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps serving overseas.

Citizen Angel Fernandez Donates Training to Middletown Emergency Management

https://www.facebook.com/elevencharlie

Office of Emergency Management Deputy (OEM) Chief Angel Fernandez's company Eleven Charlie LLC donated $10K worth of Training to Middletown Emergency Management this year.  Eleven Charlie LLC specializes in security and anti terrorism training and planning. The training included over 40 hours of classroom instruction and hands on type training. Participants received tactical training from  US Navy Seals as part of the course. Fernandez and Chief of OEM Bruce Driska are responsible of the operation of the department to respond to any emergency of man made or natural disaster. The Emergency Management Department of the City of Middletown is part of the Rapid Deployment Team of the Mobile Field Hospital for Connecticut Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. OEM provides additional resources to police,fire, and public works when the need arises.for operation of equipment. The City has always been well protected by police and fire.Fernandez saw a need for more training for the volunteer department as far as emergency support,, and there being none funded, stepped up to the plate to see to it that proper training was available.
Now that is being a pro active member of the Middletown Community Fernandez! Well done!

How Cuts in Emergency Management effects Public Safety: Emergency Management took a big cut in its operation costs in the budget proposed by Mayor Drew. Even more cuts were made in the budget presented by the Democratic Majority of the Common Council, which were adopted. Vaccinations for staff against communicable diseases they are likely to encounter in emergency situations were nixed. While the Office of Emergency Management has a chief, Bruce Driska, he must follow orders of the Mayor. It is the mayor who is ultimately in charge of operations & distribution of city resources during an emergency like a blizzard for example, with the chief and deputy chief as his advisers. The chief and deputy chief make suggestions for the budget, but like the other departments, the mayor can choose whether or not to include these items when he writes the budget presented to the Common Council. 
What about the safety of Middletown schools?:Private defense companies are in high demand through out the state right now in school districts looking for ways to improve security  in the wake of the Sandy Hook Tragedy. Middletown Public Schools has had emergency plans since the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks and has and always will have the full support of local police and fire. Many Middletown parents are asking for improved additional specialized security which doesn't just include cameras, additional local police at schools (currently done by one officer for all schools), but also specialized training of staff by private security companies in tactical planning.

A local parent, who asked not to be named," The kids are told to hide under their desks should an intruder enter, to me that is counter productive. More [security measures] should have been in the  superintendent's school budget."

Danbury, for example, hired private security to protect/patrol elementary schools at the request of parents. The private security was an addition to regular police. http://danbury.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/danbury-hired-private-security-for-its-elementary-schools

Why the donation of Training comes in the nick of time:Training and other equipment provided to Emergency Management staff was not provided for under the Drew 2013 budget which passed the Common Council in early May. The budget, which included cuts that effect public safety during emergencies, raised taxes, and included an increase the amount of the stipend given to each councilmember, passed  7-5 with Republicans and 1 Democrat voting against it. The donated training that took  place prior to the budget vote certainly would not have been possible as part of the adopted 2013 fiscal budget. 
Read about what the training entailed here on Patch: http://middletown-ct.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/middletown-ems

Fernandez teaching "Intro to Terrorism"
a class about defense against terrorism

About Fernandez: Angel Fernandez studied Public Safety Administration and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University. Fernandez is a veteran, having served in combat during wartime.  Fernandez was enlisted in the U.S. Navy from  1989 to 2007. Upon retirement from the Navy in 2007, he received the J. Edgar Hoover award. Fernandez has young children in the Middletown public school system, and is the father of a soldier currently serving overseas.

 Fernandez gave a humble response to why he donated his services," [We] are just doing the right thing for the guys at OEM. We have been working for over a year  providing standard training for them." 

Fernandez taught the OEM staff a course called Intro to Terrorism. Fernandez said 
"It is important teaching Public Safety Personnel how terrorism is organized and their ideology. It is imperative to teach personnel about situation awareness."


Fernandez is no stranger to volunteering. He recently helped out with a Free NRA Gun Safety Class for youth held at Kings 33 Defense in Southington on May 26th.

Pistol Permits by L.I.S.A  provided instruction. The session also included discussions with parents on how to talk to their kids about gun violence and safety.

At the Free NRA Youth Gun Safety Class.

Lisa Mezzio & Angel Fernandez.

Hosted by Kings 33 in Southington. 

photo credit. L. Mezzio