Here is reporter Jackie Majerus' account of the inaugural ceremony at Bristol Eastern High School tonight:
With plenty of pomp, the city’s inaugural ceremony Monday ushered in newly elected Mayor Art Ward and his administration.
“I’m honored and humbled to be able to stand here this evening,” said Ward, promising to do his “absolute best” to work with all elected and appointed officials, city employees and the citizenry to move the city ahead.
“I truly believe that we can accomplish whatever task is in front of us,” said Ward. He said he’s excited about helping Bristol become a better place to live, work, go to school and retire.
Ward said he wants to finish the city’s projects that are already started, but also to reach out to Bristol businesses with a new initiative to help them grow.
“Economic development is an investment in our future,” said Ward, who also said he wanted to continue to improve the city’s parks and maintain its roads and schools.
A top priority, Ward said, is for him to sit down with the state delegation and work to instill confidence in Hartford that Bristol is unified.
Ward said the campaign showed what happens “when personal agendas take the place of mutual cooperation.”
“I’ll be the greatest advocate for the promotion of mutual respect,” vowed Ward.
A crowd of more than 300 watched and listened – and stood, applauded, prayed and sometimes cheered – during the festivities, held in the auditorium of Bristol Eastern High School.
Bagpipers from the Connecticut Pipe and Drum Corps in full Scottish regalia playing “The Marines’ Hymn” followed veterans in uniform and a Bristol Police Department color guard to open the ceremony. The stage, adorned with red, white and blue bunting, held more than two dozen potted gold mums.
Singer Greg O’Brien belted out “The Star Spangled Banner,” and the Rev. John Georgia, pastor of St. Gregory Roman Catholic Church, gave the invocation, asking a blessing for Ward and the other newly elected officials.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, accompanied by state Comptroller Nancy Wyman, administered the oath of office to Ward.
But before asking Ward to promise to uphold the laws of the country, state and city, Blumenthal grabbed the microphone for a few remarks. He promised he wouldn’t speak long.
“If I take too much time, the comptroller won’t sign my paycheck,” Blumenthal joked.
Blumenthal thanked all the city’s elected officials for their service, but especially noted Ward’s many years in public life, calling it a “tremendous commitment of energy and integrity.”
Noting that Saturday was the birthday of the United States Marine Corps, Blumenthal said he was speaking “as a fellow Marine” when he said, “Today is very special.”
After Ward took the oath and went to the podium to make his remarks, a group of exuberant supporters in the front began chanting, “ARTIE! ARTIE! ARTIE!
Ward recognized them and his many friends and family members in the crowd, including Paul Fitta, an old friend from the Marines who’d made the trip from Massachusetts several times to support his campaign.
Ward said Fitta was there when he announced his candidacy and returned on primary day and Election Day “to stand in the rain all day” and was back again for the inaugural.
“I guess you could say I’m very, very fortunate because of friends such as Paul,” said Ward.
Ward said his “first official act as mayor” was to “extend my heartfelt thanks” to both Blumenthal and Wyman for their steadfast support of Bristol’s elected officials over the years.
The fact that Bristol has the fifth largest population of veterans in the state “says something about the people of this community,” said Ward.
“When the country has called, they’ve answered that call,” Ward said, and in turn, the community has supported its soldiers.
The Rev. Roger Barker of Calvary Church gave a closing benediction.
“In Your providence, You’ve granted the office of mayor to Art Ward,” Barker prayed. “Give him a clear mind and a warm heart.”
And then there's also this:
In all, 26 people took the oath of office Monday night in Bristol. Most were sworn in as part of a group, and only Mayor Art Ward gave a speech.
The constables – John Crowley, Thomas Hick, Kym Keating-Corriveau, Paul Keegan, Jason Klemyk and Todd Larue – were sworn in en masse by Anne Houlihan.
William Wolfe administered the oath of office to the three member board of assessment appeals, Kristopher Keating, James Minella and Dominic Pasquale.
Outgoing city Treasurer Patti Ewen said it gave her “great pleasure” to swear in Treasurer Bill Veits.
School board members were also sworn in as a group. Elizabeth Grady administered the oath of office to Jane Anastasio, Peg Bonola, Amy Coan, Barbara Doyle, Julie Luczkow, Tom O’Brien, Sherry Turcotte, Karen Vibert and Chris Wilson.
Each city councilor was sworn in separately, like Veits.
Cliff Block was sworn in by school board member Doyle, and Ken Cockayne was sworn in by Corporation Counsel Ed Krawiecki Jr.
Jacqueline McCauley administered the oath of office to her husband, Kevin McCauley, as did Laura Minor for her husband, Craig Minor.
Frank Nicastro was sworn in by Ann Baldwin, a city attorney, and Mike Rimcoski was sworn in by Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
17 comments:
As a regular citizen how can I ever expect to be given the same treatment as one those supporters shouting ARTIE if I have a problem? Would I get a fair and unbiased hearing if I have a conflict with one of those ARTIE people? What about those people who worked for Zoppo? Will they be treated fairly?
The guy who sing the anthem and the song at the end was really good.
maybe you should act like a regular person rather than a pompous jerk just looking to create controversial rhetoric.
A few things come to mind about this event...this was a government rather than political event...I would have much rather heard our new mayor give a speech on moving "forward" than moving "for Ward." All those thank yous and introductions should have been covered last Tuesday at Nuchies.
What happened to "separation of church and state?" I am a regular church-goer and understand the concept of invocation/benediction, but the religious tone was a bit much (and what? no rabbi?). We are a working class community, no doubt, but d'ya think that someone who so beautifully belts out the national anthem might have kicked it up a notch with the addition of a suit/tie? And, finally, what exactly was the focus last night? Swearing in city officials or commerating Veterans' Day? I'm proud to be American, indeed, but could have done with all the karaoke....
The pageant part of the campaign is now over and let's hope that while the style of last night was very nice, that there is some substance with the Ward camp as well. I am concerned about a crowd of people shouting "ARTIE" as if it was a football game. I was not impressed with the people he surrounded himself with during the campaign. Let's hope that they are not with him in City Hall.
There is no doubt in my mind that Zoppo supporters will be punished. It was being whispered all about the polls on Election Day and there was also some feeling that there was bullet voting against Minor, MacCauley and Block. I hope I am wrong because that would not be a good beginning.
That was an inauguration ceremony that I sat through last night? I thought it was the "Live from Eastern High - The Greg O'Brien Show."
Show time is over folks. Now the hard work begins. Repeating the campaign slogan "Moving Bristol For-Ward” over and over in the inaugural speech means nothing. Mayor Ward's wife is correct - less talk more action.
So we'll see. The speech certainly provided no insight with the exception that Mayor Ward will clearly not insert himself into the BOE plan for the city. Admonishing them for poor communications while a good thing to do, fails to address the major flaws with the plan. We can only hope the city councilors will be more proactive in slowing the process down and demanding far more in the way of answers from the BOE.
We will see and I believe we will see very soon. It won't take long before we know just how this will all play out.
Doubting Democrat (FKA - Disgusted Democrat)
Well, consider the fact that he never picked up the phone or had anyone arrange a meeting between him and Zoppo that has been made public at least, and its obvious he is holding a grudge or considers himself strong enough to not have to deal with her or her people. With only 52% of the vote, and another 67% of the people not caring enough about him to come out, I would think the mayor would be pretty interested in showing his magnamous side. Bringing her into the fold and taking care of the Dems who got elected would bring some credibility and also calm the waters. He should do it.
I heard that the drug stores sold out of BenGay this morning from all the back slapping that's been going on since last night.
The guy who sang made a mockery out of the inauguration. He could have at least worn a tie instead of blue jeans and a pull over shirt.
Zoppo is the one holding a grudge!
You people are a bunch of negaitve hopefuls. Please go cry over your spilled milk.
man 'o man, talk about a bunch of sick, self-centered blow hards - get a life. if the time spent at the ceremony was so gruesome, what ever gave you the idea to attend? I actually think that most, if not all, of these postings, are from the same jerk - go hibernate til spring.
I don't think Mr. Ward will punish the former Zoppo supporters. They shook hands and made up a couple months back. It would be really obvious if Ward attempted to stick it to 'em now and don't think people won't be watching. I think he would like to get rid of the "good ol boy" tag that seems to follow him around.
Artie should listen up.
If he wants to solidify the democrat party and get their support, he better stop cozying up to republicans and not give them jobs.
Mayor Ward has risen above the negativity that was spread by the Ellen crowd during the Ellen campaign.
All the "back slapping" comments are unfounded. Art has kept Stortz secretary and Corporation Counsel. That says a lot right there. If he was back slapping, those two would have been gone by now.
Oh please. The Corp. Counsel will be gone soon enough. Ward doesn't want Ed and Ed doesn't want to work for Ward. It will take a couple of months to transition and go through the motions, then Ward will be free to hire Kosta. It wouldn't the first time of course, since Ward hired Kosta to try getting him off for DUI several years ago.
The secretary is a small thing, and it's only tradition that Ward is following, nothing noble about it. Besides, the secretary is the wife of the Boy's Club director (and the boss of Zoppo and Ron Burns), so it's in Ward's interest to be nice, since he won the election by only 350 votes. Almost as many people voted against Ward as they did for Ward.
The backslapping is alive and well, we just won't see all of it. The inauguration pep rally should give you an idea about these people. But it's happening and it will get even worse once the favors start affecting the city with the hirings, purchases, and appointments.
To the poster on 11/13 at 9:37 p.m: The negativity from the Ellen crowd? You're kidding, right? So it was Ellen that resurrected the so called "scripting" issue, because she didn't want to get elected, right? It was Ellen that sent the impeccably-timed letter to the Press regarding Petosa so she wouldn't get elected, right? Not to mention the over 200 Zoppo signs stolen during the primary. Apparently you're looking through the world in Ward-colored glasses, because reality is not what you portray it to be.
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