This article was written by Donald Eng and published on TheValleyGazette.com on October 21, 2014. Click here to read the full article online.
The Phil Tripp Senate campaign brought in a familiar face (and voice) to drum up support for his campaign Monday, with actor John Ratzenberger the guest of honor at a meet-and-greet at Ansonia’s St. Sebastian Club.
Ratzenberger is best known for his portrayal of postal worker Cliff Clavin in the long-running show Cheers. He also has voiced numerous characters in Pixar movies Toy Story and Cars, and hosts the Travel Channel show Made in America, a documentary series that takes viewers inside modern factories.
During the two-hour event, Ratzenberger shook hands with fans of all ages, speaking to children in his Pixar character voices and spending time speaking to veterans about how humbling it was to portray military men in such movies as A Bridge Too Far and Yanks.
Ratzenberger said he supported Tripp because the two shared a common outlook, particularly about the role of industry in the state and national economy.
“He’s like Mr. Made in America,” Raztenberger said. “He’s a big supporter of trade schools, and that’s the real strength of America, our manufacturing base.”
Tripp’s life experience also was attractive to Ratzenberger.
“He’s not like a lot of politicians that have a background in theory. Phil comes from a place that’s real,” Ratzenberger said. “He’s a lietenant colonel that served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn’t get any more real than that.”