BRISTOL – Democratic challenger Art Ward easily won Tuesday’s mayoral primary, catapulting himself into front-runner status to become Bristol’s next mayor and putting an end to city Councilor Ellen Zoppo’s campaign for the city’s top job.
"I have no idea what it's going to feel like to be elected mayor, but this is one hell of a feeling," said Ward.
On the short end of a 54-46 margin, Zoppo’s conceded defeat within a half an hour of the polls closing.
“Now we work together to win that chair in November,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who had backed Zoppo.
In the midst of Ward's raucous victory bash at Nuchie's, a parade of men clad in orange marched in and took the stage, among them Ken Johnson, Republican candidate for mayor, and Ward's only remaining opponent on the ballot.
Johnson said the GOP team came to congratulate Ward.
"Artie, I look forward to a very robust campaign," Johnson said. "May the best man win on November 6."
Clearly appreciating the gesture, Ward joked, "They really surprised me. I thought they were conceding."
Then Ward pledged to run a "clean" and "respectful" campaign against Johnson.
If he's elected mayor, Ward said, he's sure that not everyone will agree with him on everything, but he promised to do his best, and one thing is certain.
"The divisiveness and the exclusion of the last two years will no longer exist," said Ward. "We're all elected to serve you and the people of the city of Bristol."
Bristol Fire Chief Jon Pose waited until all the votes – including the absentee ballots – were counted before he would comment.
Then Pose said, "You can't treat people the way Ellen Zoppo treats people and expect to get elected in this town."
The primary, however, was bitter and most predicted a cliffhanger.
Shortly after the polls closed, Ward heard the first numbers, from the American Legion hall, where he beat Zoppo 236 to 213.
"I'm happy," said Ward. "That's her district."
But he wasn't taking anything for granted.
A little later, when a reporter told him he'd won by at least a couple hundred votes, he said, giddily, "Really?"
Later still, as Ward backer Donna Achilli – who was secretary to Mayor Gerard Couture – wrote the precinct by precinct vote tallies on a big chart at Ward's victory party, showing that Ward captured every district, Mike Petosa announced the results.
"The Democrats and the city of Bristol have cast their ballots," said Petosa. "Art Ward is our mayoral candidate and our next mayor of Bristol."
Jim Bigue of the United Auto Workers Union, which endorsed Ward, said this was the first time the union had taken a position in a mayor's race before.
"We've never endorsed anybody," said Bigue. "We've always stayed out of it."
Bigue said when people ask why Ward wasn't interviewed or given a questionnaire to fill out, he simply told them, "Because he's Artie Ward."
"We believe that Artie's the best person for working families in the city of Bristol," said Bigue. "You guys are gonna be lucky to have him."
Ward stressed to supporters that he is not taking the mayor's race for granted. To win the office, he said, campaign workers will have to try as hard as they did in the primary.
"As gratified and humbled as I am tonight," Ward said, "We still have a long road ahead. Tomorrow starts a new campaign."
"I think it's wonderful," said Gloria Marino, a Bristol school board member. "I'm so excited. He'll make a great mayor. This man is personable."
Marino said a few dedicated people made it happen for Ward.
Her husband, Paul Marino, said, "The bottom line is, can the Democratic Party unite behind Art now? They've got to."
Tom Ragaini, a Democrat running an independent campaign for council, said people supported Ward because they knew he would do a great job as mayor.
"They just came out and they voted. They were committed and it shows in this election," said Ragaini. "I'm very happy for Artie. It was a great team effort."
Ward supporter Carol Meisinger said she was really happy with the results.
"I think the best man won," said Meisinger. "He sure worked hard enough."
"He deserves it," said Richard Inglis.
As his excited supporters cheered, Ward, who was a bit hoarse and coughing, struggled to continue speaking.
"Take a swig of beer!" someone shouted.
Someone up front handed a bottle to Ward, who took a gulp and passed it back.
"Atta boy!" enthused a supporter.
Ward said his seven grandchildren are a big reason why he wants to be mayor.
"Together we can make the future of Bristol better for them and better for you and your family," said Ward.
Ward thanked his wife and family and credited supporters with his victory, saying he couldn't have done it without everyone who circulated petitions, put up lawn signs, attended fundraisers and otherwise worked on the campaign.
"It's only through the combined efforts of anybody who contributed in any way, shape or form," said Ward. "We're moving forward!"
Ward said that with the Connecticut Supreme Court decision favoring the city against Ocean State Job Lot, the city should be able to move ahead on the mall parcel "and make that the viable piece of commercial property that it's supposed to be."
He wants to improve quality of life in all city neighborhoods, Ward said, and intends to bring back the park revitalization program.
“Bristol has spoken,” said city Councilor Craig Minor. He said voters should have gone for the candidate “with experience, skill and talent, but they didn’t.”
Even so, said Minor, Ward “will be as good a mayor as Bristol has ever had.”
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
"I have no idea what it's going to feel like to be elected mayor, but this is one hell of a feeling," said Ward.
On the short end of a 54-46 margin, Zoppo’s conceded defeat within a half an hour of the polls closing.
“Now we work together to win that chair in November,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who had backed Zoppo.
In the midst of Ward's raucous victory bash at Nuchie's, a parade of men clad in orange marched in and took the stage, among them Ken Johnson, Republican candidate for mayor, and Ward's only remaining opponent on the ballot.
Johnson said the GOP team came to congratulate Ward.
"Artie, I look forward to a very robust campaign," Johnson said. "May the best man win on November 6."
Clearly appreciating the gesture, Ward joked, "They really surprised me. I thought they were conceding."
Then Ward pledged to run a "clean" and "respectful" campaign against Johnson.
If he's elected mayor, Ward said, he's sure that not everyone will agree with him on everything, but he promised to do his best, and one thing is certain.
"The divisiveness and the exclusion of the last two years will no longer exist," said Ward. "We're all elected to serve you and the people of the city of Bristol."
Bristol Fire Chief Jon Pose waited until all the votes – including the absentee ballots – were counted before he would comment.
Then Pose said, "You can't treat people the way Ellen Zoppo treats people and expect to get elected in this town."
The primary, however, was bitter and most predicted a cliffhanger.
Shortly after the polls closed, Ward heard the first numbers, from the American Legion hall, where he beat Zoppo 236 to 213.
"I'm happy," said Ward. "That's her district."
But he wasn't taking anything for granted.
A little later, when a reporter told him he'd won by at least a couple hundred votes, he said, giddily, "Really?"
Later still, as Ward backer Donna Achilli – who was secretary to Mayor Gerard Couture – wrote the precinct by precinct vote tallies on a big chart at Ward's victory party, showing that Ward captured every district, Mike Petosa announced the results.
"The Democrats and the city of Bristol have cast their ballots," said Petosa. "Art Ward is our mayoral candidate and our next mayor of Bristol."
Jim Bigue of the United Auto Workers Union, which endorsed Ward, said this was the first time the union had taken a position in a mayor's race before.
"We've never endorsed anybody," said Bigue. "We've always stayed out of it."
Bigue said when people ask why Ward wasn't interviewed or given a questionnaire to fill out, he simply told them, "Because he's Artie Ward."
"We believe that Artie's the best person for working families in the city of Bristol," said Bigue. "You guys are gonna be lucky to have him."
Ward stressed to supporters that he is not taking the mayor's race for granted. To win the office, he said, campaign workers will have to try as hard as they did in the primary.
"As gratified and humbled as I am tonight," Ward said, "We still have a long road ahead. Tomorrow starts a new campaign."
"I think it's wonderful," said Gloria Marino, a Bristol school board member. "I'm so excited. He'll make a great mayor. This man is personable."
Marino said a few dedicated people made it happen for Ward.
Her husband, Paul Marino, said, "The bottom line is, can the Democratic Party unite behind Art now? They've got to."
Tom Ragaini, a Democrat running an independent campaign for council, said people supported Ward because they knew he would do a great job as mayor.
"They just came out and they voted. They were committed and it shows in this election," said Ragaini. "I'm very happy for Artie. It was a great team effort."
Ward supporter Carol Meisinger said she was really happy with the results.
"I think the best man won," said Meisinger. "He sure worked hard enough."
"He deserves it," said Richard Inglis.
As his excited supporters cheered, Ward, who was a bit hoarse and coughing, struggled to continue speaking.
"Take a swig of beer!" someone shouted.
Someone up front handed a bottle to Ward, who took a gulp and passed it back.
"Atta boy!" enthused a supporter.
Ward said his seven grandchildren are a big reason why he wants to be mayor.
"Together we can make the future of Bristol better for them and better for you and your family," said Ward.
Ward thanked his wife and family and credited supporters with his victory, saying he couldn't have done it without everyone who circulated petitions, put up lawn signs, attended fundraisers and otherwise worked on the campaign.
"It's only through the combined efforts of anybody who contributed in any way, shape or form," said Ward. "We're moving forward!"
Ward said that with the Connecticut Supreme Court decision favoring the city against Ocean State Job Lot, the city should be able to move ahead on the mall parcel "and make that the viable piece of commercial property that it's supposed to be."
He wants to improve quality of life in all city neighborhoods, Ward said, and intends to bring back the park revitalization program.
“Bristol has spoken,” said city Councilor Craig Minor. He said voters should have gone for the candidate “with experience, skill and talent, but they didn’t.”
Even so, said Minor, Ward “will be as good a mayor as Bristol has ever had.”
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
16 comments:
Ward is going to run a "clean" campaign? Don't count on it, Ken.
Steve Collins is the happiest man in Bristol. He's got his own George W. to write about from now until November 6th. That ought to sell a lot of papers. Watch for the one liners on the Leno Show.
and still Minor continues to support Ellen! We now need to finish the job and get rid of him and Kevin. Ellen's little lap dogs!!
CONGRATULATION TO ART WARD AND HE WILL ROLL UP HIS SELEEVES AND GET READY FOR THE NOEMBER ELECTIONAND HE WILL GET MY VOTE.
Democrats usually unite, but with the Council being so strongly behind Ellen, I can't believe it.
Even with all the bad blood between Ellen and Art, face it, the Republican city council candidates don't stand a chance except for Rimcoski, who will easily beat Kilby.
NEXT STEP, Now we go after the pupets.Kevin and craig here we come.
Let's work on getting the lap dogs out in November so Ward will have a clean slate of council people working WITH him. As long as Minor and McCauley are there, zoppo will still be scripting for them, behind the scenes - time for big changes!!!
Ward "has" run a clean campaign in the primaries.
It is his secretive "supporters" that ran the mudslinging for him.
I don't see this as something that is going to stop, especially since they have shown no ability to control themselves previously.
Why should he start a clean campaign now?
Change needs to happen.
Johnson will be the next mayor
The mudslinging via annonymous information sent to Steve Collins was NOT from the Ward camp or Ward supporters.
There is just as much reason to believe it came from the Johnson camp. Ken Johnson thinks he would have an easier time beating Art than he would Ellen. He is terribly mistaken.
Really you think "The mudslinging via annonymous information sent to Steve Collins was NOT from the Ward camp or Ward supporters" but from the Johnson camp?
Johnson stood to gain more if Ellen won making the race between three candidates. So let's face it the Ward camp is not innocent here.
We'll see in the months ahead if Ward can keep his word and run a clean campaign against Johnson.
I hope both candidates stick to the issues and how to make Bristol Better!
The way I see it is that both candidates come into the election with very few accomplishments. The difference being that Johnson is a relative newcomer with great ideas while Wards accomplishments are also few, but they took him several years in politics achieve them. So the question is the status queue of political maneuvering and with no accomplishments achieved good enough for Bristol or is it time for a clean sweep that will breathe new life into Bristol.
I say out with the old and in with the new.
Gee -- I wonder if we'll actually have a debate this time or if Art will be too "busy" gathering votes at Sporty's.
Guess all that vote gathering down at Sporty's worked...Art won! Now I'm sure he's ready to get down to real business and the debate will be on.
Get over your cheap shots of "Sporty's" move on. I know its hard because you wanted the NO PERSONALITY, NASTY ZOPPO, but try and take it like a man, Minor!
Does the anonymous message of 8:19 am sound like anyone we know?.. ez?
IT's STILL HAPPENING!!!!
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