Meet Merrick Alpert

Early Years	Work Experience	Military Service
Small Business Ownership	Family	Campaign For U.S. Senate

Merrick as a boy with his brother Nevin and sister Amara	Early Years Merrick Alpert was born 43 years ago in Hartford and grew up in Colchester. Alma, a single mother, raised Merrick and his brother and sister while working full-time as a public school teacher and supplementing her income cutting bread at the Colchester Bakery. After graduating from high school, Merrick entered the University of Connecticut. He was fortunate to find so many other working-class kids striving to live the American Dream just like him at UConn. Merrick was a serious student, earning grades good enough to be admitted to Trinity College in Hartford as a transfer student for his junior year. Merrick excelled at Trinity, finishing 7th in his class. He was accepted to the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center in 1991. Like many college students, Merrick worked during school to help pay his tuition. At the same time, Merrick was drawn to politics. He identified with the ideals of the Democratic Party, and while in college and law school, Merrick became active on behalf of Democratic candidates, including organizing Connecticut students for Al Gore's 1988 presidential campaign. *"I cared about Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Social Justice. Because of those issues, I found a home in the Democratic Party."*
In Oklahoma with President Clinton Synchronizing watches with Al Gore	Work Experience It was a proud day when Merrick landed his first job as a lawyer at the prestigious law firm of Day, Berry & Howard in Hartford. The sacrifices his Mom made for him and his own hard work had paid off. Paying off his student loans was his top priority. To save money he moved back home to his Mother's house in Colchester and commuted to Hartford. Merrick found early success at the law firm, but felt unfulfilled as a blue chip lawyer. The passion he lacked for representing corporation clients he found in the promise of a Democrat in the White House. *"I took a giant step. I left the financial stability of the law firm to work for Bill Clinton and his quest for Universal Health Care."* Merrick joined the Clinton-Gore campaign and then the National Health Care Campaign, organizing in Oklahoma. Working in conservative Oklahoma on an issue like Universal Health Care was a challenge. Merrick endured heckling and hostility from the enemies of Universal Health Care, but he never quit. Although President Clinton was not successful in his quest for Universal Health Care, the Governor of Oklahoma was impressed with Merrick, and asked him to join his staff as a Policy Advisor. Following the governor's term, Merrick transitioned back into the private sector, working in Oklahoma at Smith Cogeneration, then in California at Pacific Gas & Electric Energy Services and Enron Energy Services. *"I learned a great deal working in the energy industry, including just how much influence rich special interests have in American politics."*
Taking the oath of enlistment for the Army National Guard Merrick in Sarajevo, Bosnia	Military Service Merrick felt a sense of duty to his country, enlisting in the Army National Guard and eventually receiving a commission as an Army JAG officer. After transferring to a helicopter unit in the Air National Guard, Merrick volunteered to serve in Bosnia in 1998 and 1999. As a US Air Force officer, Merrick helped oversee the establishment of free and fair elections in the war-torn region of Bosnia, while providing life saving medical assistance to an injured man and setting up a food, clothing and toy distribution network for orphans and impoverished children. For his actions and overseas service, he was awarded numerous medals including the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Today Merrick is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and belongs to VFW Post 3263 in Mystic. Merrick is also a member of the American Legion, and belongs to Post 114 in Groton. "Serving in Bosnia, I saw first-hand the dangers, difficulties and risks our soldiers are facing every day in places like Afghanistan. Our soldiers are highly-skilled, well-trained and extraordinarily brave." Merrick believes that, before US troops are committed in foreign wars, a four part test needs to be answered: 1. Is there a vital national interest at stake? 2. Were all available political, economic, and diplomatic means to resolve the conflict first exhausted? 3. Do our troops have a clear goal that has been explained to, and gained the acceptance of, the American people? 4. Can this goal be achieved with the forces we have available in a reasonable time frame? Merrick opposes our military effort in Afghanistan because it cannot pass this basic test for the deployment of US forces. "In November I walked 117 miles across Connecticut to protest the Afghan War. I started the walk because the Afghan War does not meet the test for our military involvement. By the time I finished, and saw the closed factories and run-down schools on the way, I realized that the Afghan War's $8 billion a month cost used money far better spent to rebuild Connecticut."
The registered trademark of Merrick’s first company	Small Business Ownership After returning from his overseas military service, in 1999, during the height of the technology boom, Merrick and a friend started a medical software company called E-Ceptionist. The company began on a bare bones budget. But Merrick's business plan was a good one, and more importantly, the hunger to turn their idea into a real, profitable company would not allow them to fail. Merrick travelled all over the world meeting with potential clients to make the dream a reality. Slowly but surely, the company's client roster grew. Amazingly, E-Ceptionist survived the dot-com bust. In 2005 Merrick sold his interest in the company. *"I learned that small business is the heart of the American economy and creating jobs is the most exhilarating feeling an entrepreneur can have."* With the successful launch of a high-tech company under his belt, Merrick's business acumen, work ethic and determination were in demand. He was hired as President of Turbine Generator Maintenance in 2005 and quickly set out to improve the operations of the company. In just eighteen months, Merrick's efforts led to a 72% increase in sales, and the doubling of the company's profits. Merrick managed the sale of the company to a private equity firm and stayed on to oversee the transition of ownership. "After travelling across the world as a business man, I saw how poorly positioned Connecticut is to adapt to a changing planet. We depend far too much on a few large companies with little allegiance to Connecticut or to the communities where they are located. And, the federal and state government do far too little to help small business compete in an increasingly competitive world economy. We do not train our young people to prosper in this new era. I think part of the reason for these failures is that too few politicians have ever actually had or created a private sector job."
With wife Alex, son Jaxon and daughter Emilia	Family Even though Merrick grew up with a single Mom, he had grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles as a part of his life. His close knit extended family was the key to making sure the values he grew up with would never be forgotten. Today Merrick is married to the former Alexandra Murillo. Merrick met Alexandra when both were working on Al Gore's presidential campaign. Alexandra graduated from UC Davis with her bachelor's degree, NYU with her Master's Degree in Public Administration, and is currently in the Political Science Ph.D. program at UConn, where she specializes in the analysis of Hispanic political activity in the United States. She is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Colombia. Merrick and Alexandra live in Mystic with their 3 young children in a house built in the 1870's that they have restored. *"Every day I realize how honored I am to be married to Alex. She is brilliant and beautiful, idealistic and practical, a great mother to our children and an incredible support to me."*
© theartofseeing.com Merrick and his family at the announcement of his candidacy for the U.S. Senate	Campaign for U.S. Senate On May 21, 2009, Merrick announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. He insists on clean and open government, and is not beholden to the special interests. He believes that government needs to act to create jobs in Connecticut. And he would rather have the government rebuild Connecticut before attempting to build Afghanistan or Iraq. "I am not a career politician. We need a Senator who will fight as hard for the working people of Connecticut as some politicians now fight for insurance companies and defense contractors. We need a Senator who understands the new economy and what it takes to create jobs for our future. Connecticut needs a strong voice, an independent voice, an energetic voice." You have the opportunity to help put this voice in the U.S. Senate. You have the chance to support somebody who understands the new economy, who has seen the aftermath of war first-hand, and who has fought on the front lines for democratic principles his whole life. You can be a part of history. Merrick is getting stronger in the polls, but so are the rivals from the Republican Party. Connecticut is in danger of losing a Democratic voice in the Senate. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. This is a grassroots campaign. We’ve made it this far, but with your help we can make it all the way to Washington DC, where Merrick’s voice will be heard loud and clear. Please make a contribution or volunteer today, and become a part of this historic campaign!

On The Road With Merrick

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