It doesn't look like the story I assume is in today's paper made it online (we're currently supposed to post most news at bristolpress.com, but the reality is something less than the ideal, as in most things).
So here's the story:
By Steve Collins
The Bristol Press
BRISTOL – In an unexpected twist in an already chaotic political scene, Republican Ken Johnson said Thursday he plans to declare his candidacy for mayor next week.
Johnson, a water commissioner who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2003, said he will make the announcement at Monday’s Republican Town Committee meeting.
He said he has already mailed letters to GOP committee members to tell them of his plans.
“There’s nothing here that I’m going to deny,” Johnson said, adding that he wants to wait until Monday to lay out his rationale for seeking the city’s top job.
It isn’t clear yet whether Mayor William Stortz, also a Republican, will run for re-election this year. Stortz, who also served as mayor in the early 1990s, won the post again in 2005 by ousting Democratic incumbent Gerard Couture.
Stortz has repeatedly declined to say what his political intentions are this year. He has often over the years waited until the last minute to either enter a race or refrain from jumping in.
City Republican Chairman Art Mocabee said he’s spoken with Stortz, but doesn’t know what the mayor plans. “He’s just not committed one way or another. He may run. He may not run,” Mocabee said.
“My gut feeling is that he will do what he normally does, to make a decision on that question at the last hour,” the GOP boss said.
“It’s just a situation where the process is going to have to wean its way through,” Mocabee said.
“In the meantime, our process is carrying on. People are not going to be held hostage or wait and wait and wait,” he said.
Mocabee said that Johnson and “a few council candidates” have been working things out for a joint campaign during the past several months to come up with ideas and themes that will reflect their vision of how “to make our community better positioned to be a great place to live.”
Mocabee said he doesn’t know if Stortz will seek re-election and isn’t taking sides in the mayoral contest yet.
Mocabee said. Stortz “knows the game. He knows the ropes. And I trust he will respond appropriately.”
Johnson said that he considers Stortz “a friend.”
“I would appreciate his support,” Johnson said.
There may be other GOP contenders eyeing a possible mayoral run as well.
“I never rule out anything,” said Zoning Commission Chairman Frank Johnson, one of those who admit to considering the idea. He said he is still watching closely from the sidelines.
On the Democratic side, longtime city Councilor Art Ward is already running for mayor. Another councilor, Ellen Zoppo, is expected to join the contest Monday.
Zoppo said that she will let the Democratic Town Committee know Monday what her political plans are for the year. She could still choose to run for council again.
“There is an electoral process in place and it’s flexing its muscles at this point,” Mocabee said.
Johnson and Stortz were once allies, but it took the Democratic-controlled council to keep Johnson on the Water Board recently after Stortz moved to oust him for missing too many meetings.
Johnson is a licensed real estate broker and owner of A Buyer’s Market. He is also president of Municipal Energy Consulting Group, which was hired by the city to help it fight for more money from Connecticut Light & Power’s billing mistakes for street lights over the years.
Johnson, who worked for Northeast Utilities for 21 years before resigning to start his own business, is a 1976 Bristol Eastern High School graduate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia in 1980.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children.
Mocabee said that voters are going to be happy with the new Republican candidate lineup that will be unveiled shortly.
“It’s good growth for Bristol Republicans. It’s exciting,” he said. “And I think the public will be pleased with what we’ve been working on all winter long.”
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment