Conn. Democrats mourn loss of Stamford's Camhi

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are among those mourning the death of Ellen Camhi (Cam-HY'), the former Stamford Democratic chairman credited with inspiring some of the state's top Democrats.

State Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, a family friend, said Camhi died Tuesday.

Malloy, a former Stamford mayor, said that he, McDonald, Blumenthal and Attorney General George Jepsen all benefited from Camhi's guidance.

Blumenthal called Camhi "a trusted advisor to countless of us in public service."

Malloy first met Camhi when she sat on the Stamford school board. Malloy recalled testifying as a high school student in favor of a school lunch program the board was threatening to cut.

Malloy said Camhi served as chairman of Stamford's Democratic town committee from 1984 until 2011, when he appointed her to the State Board of Education.