Democratic Town Committee Nominates Dan Drew For Mayor

The Democratic Town Committee last night met for their biennial convention to nominate candidates for Municipal elected offices. The cool Council Chambers was full, as almost all candidates and much of the Town Committee attended. The assembled enthusiastically endorsed their standard bearer of two years ago, Dan Drew.

Drew had said he would remain engaged in Middletown politics after losing his first race for Mayor. Councilman James Streeto said of him then, "I'm sure we haven't heard the end of Dan Drew."

Drew has fulfilled that prophecy, serving as an appointed Council member, and announcing in April that he would again run for mayor.
Council member Tom Serra enthusiastically nominated Drew. Serra started by wistfully recalling when he and Gerry Daley first stood for election 36 years ago. He said Drew "has wisdom and intelligence beyond his years." Serra praised his ability to listen, "He asks opinions of his fellow council individuals. ... If he's a mayor with our council he's going to do good things for our city."

Drew's nomination was seconded by Council members Daley and Robert Santangelo, by State Representatives Joe Serra and Matt Lesser, and by new Council candidate Todd Berch. Joe Serra and Lesser expressed their desire to work with a mayor from their own political party, Serra said, "When the legislative delegation comes to Middletown to see what the city wants, we don't have to watch our backs."

Drew graciously accepted the nomination for Mayor. He devoted most of his 3-minute speech to the issue of communication, calling for an end to the name-calling, demagoguery and ultimatums that fills the air in Washington, and he said was increasingly part of Middletown's politics.

"We need a return to civility, a return to the negotiation table, and the willingness to show respect and restraint through our differences. I don't think it's constructive to demonize the Republican party or scapegoat our civil servants for this recession or go to court to solve every internal problem we face."

He also highlighted issues which are traditionally associated with Democratic candidates for state-wide office, but which have not typically been issues which define Democrat-Republican differences in Middletown. He called for more support for the arts, for public transportation, for commuting by bicycle or foot, and for enironmentally sound public policy.

Drew received a prolonged standing ovation from the assembled Democrats.