Meriden Democratic town committee Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson said four Meriden delegates had supported Gerry Garcia because Meriden is a diverse city. When Torres-Ferguson heard about the deal made between Garcia and Jonathan Harris, she said she demanded to know whether Garcia would ask his supporters to vote for a specific candidate, or whether they would be free to vote their conscience. Many were upset that Garcia asked them to release their votes to Harris, Torres-Ferguson said.
"They were Denise voters to begin with," she said, referring to House Majority Leader Denise Merrill, who eventually won the party's endorsement for secretary of the state.