Bartolotta Endorsed as Democratic Mayoral Candidate

Full disclosure, Ed McKeon was elected on the endorsed slate for Common Council.


In a contentious, hours-long meeting that included challenges to a slate of candidates, Common Council member Mary Bartolotta was elected as the mayoral candidate endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee.

Bartolotta won that endorsement by one vote over the candidate recommended by the Nomination Committee, Ben Florsheim.  Parking Director Gene Thazhampallath, who was also nominated from the floor came in a distant third in the first round of voting.

Declared democratic candidate, Bill Russo, did not appear at the meeting, nor was his name nominated.  Russo supporters on the DTC were noticeably absent from the meeting.

Russo declared that he will attempt a primary challenge by collecting signatures to get on the ballot.  Thazhampallath has also declared he will collect signatures.  And Florsheim is also considering a primary run.

In the first round of voting for endorsement, no candidate reached the simple majority of 29 votes.  Florsheim received 28.  Bartolotta received 19.  Thazhampallath received 10.

In the second round of voting, all of Thazhampallath's votes migrated to Bartolotta.

In other voting, the Common Council selected a slate in a vote that included a floor challenge from DTC member Pat Alston.  While Alston received many votes, she ultimately failed in her bid to be included on the endorsed slate.

The endorsed Common Council slate, and slates for other commissions are as follows:

Common Council

Rob Blanchard
Chris Drake
Grady Faulkner
Vinnie Loffredo
Ed McKeon
Gene Nocera
Bobbye Peterson
Jeanette White

Board of Education

Deborah Cain
Rose-Daniels DeLita
Sanji Lawrence
Justin Taylor
Anita Dempsey-White

Treasurer

Steven Kovach

Planning and Zoning

Beth Emery
Catherine Johnson
Thom Pattavina
Rich Pelletier

Planning and Zoning Alternate

Kellin Atherton
Shanay Fulton

Board of Assessment Appeals

Kathy Adams
John Kilian