Gary Franks: “last Friday night I attended a testimonial in honor of former alderman and police commissioner Howard Tinney of Ansonia…”

“last Friday night I attended a testimonial in honor of former alderman and police commissioner Howard Tinney of Ansonia, CT. Mr. Tinney has had some medical problems of late and the 400-plus people in attendance at the Rapp's Restaurant wanted to honor him for all the good work he has done for the city of Ansonia and for the State of Connecticut. As a black Republican for three decades, Howard Tinney has been a political inspiration for many of us, myself included. We actually have a lot in common beyond being black Republicans. We both have grown up in the same city which we live in today. We both have beautiful wives, Donna for myself and Esther for Mr. Tinney. We both have three children. We both have lovely mothers that are alive and well. We both served on the board of directors of our local YMCA's. And we were both all-star athletes, though he was far better than I had ever hoped to be. We were both the first black Republicans to have been elected to the board of aldermen in our respective cities. Howard served as a police commissioner, and I served as a fire commissioner. Howard Tinney, however, accomplished his feats more than 10 years before I even got involved in politics. Howard Tinney was a trailblazer. He made it easier for people like myself. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Howard Tinney has been an outstanding parent, husband, role model, and community leader.”