As chairwoman of the New London Republican fundraiser Beyond the Sea, I am grateful to all who attended and those who worked tirelessly to make our first gala at Ocean Beach Park a success.

Seeing the Port n' Starboard room bustling with supporters Aug. 21 confirmed that the New London GOP is energized, invigorated and committed to making our city the best it can be.

I salute Rob Simmons and his lovely wife, Heidi, who took time out of a relentless schedule to attend our gala, show support for our local GOP candidates and deliver one of the most passionate and purposeful speeches I've heard in a long time.

I appreciated the Glenn Hansen Orchestra supporting New London Republicans with such high-caliber, unique entertainment.

And Bill Vogel, Kathy Sitty, Margaret Hansen, Heather Somers and Everett Munro believed in this event from its inception and volunteered countless hours to ensure it exceeded our expectations. Without them, our gala wouldn't have gotten off the ground.

I'm humbled by the overwhelming support we received and hope attendees enjoyed our celebration. Events like this make me proud to live in New London and to call myself a New London Republican.