Overview of the 3rd District City Council race

It comes down to this in the 3rd District City Council race: are voters ready to dump one of the two incumbent Democrats in favor of hard-charging Republican newcomer Robert Merrick?
Merrick, a middle school math teacher, is pushing for a more open city government that does more to communicate with residents.
But to get the chance, he has to displace either third-term city Councilor Craig Minor or Frank Nicastro, a former mayor, current 79th District state representative and member of the council for the past two years when voters head to the polls Tuesday.
Nicastro said there are a handful of crucial issues coming to the forefront at the moment, including the Route 72 extension, the mall’s revitalization and new schools, so he wants to stay on the council.
"Regardless of how you cut the cake, you're going to have a freshman mayor" and a couple of freshman councilors, Nicastro said. "You need someone who's been there."
"Now is the time for continuity," Nicastro said.
Minor, who is Cromwell’s town planner, is keen to keep playing a role in planning for the impact of the Route 72 extension and the push for downtown revitalization. He’s been the council’s representative on the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. this year.
Merrick said the city needs to do much more to market itself.
"We have so much to offer" in Bristol, he said. "We need to step firmly into the 21st century."
Merrick said there ought to be an active calendar of events and meetings on the city's website as well as the ability to see agendas, meeting minutes and background paperwork.
Minor said Bristol "is standing on the threshold of big changes" because of the Route 72 extension and the looming transformation of the mall site.
There's never been a time when residents have had such a need to take an active role in addressing the issues, Minor said.
"Big things are coming to Bristol and we want everyone to be a part of it," he said.
Nicastro said that if it had been up to him, the city never would have bought the downtown mall and taken the 17-acre site off the tax rolls. Minor was among those who voted to buy it for $5.3 million in 2005.
Merrick said the city has bought too much property over the years. "It's not helping the taxpayers of Bristol to acquire real estate and hold onto it," he said.
He said the city should sell as much of it as possible soon.
Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee, said the city has sold more than $700,000 in surplus municipal city property in the past year.
"We are in the real estate business," Minor said, owning everything from schools to the mall. He said the city needs to think of it that way, including the industrial parks that created places for business to come to town.
"The city basically stepped in and bought a delinquent property" when it bought the mall, Minor said. He said that officials now have the power to direct its fate and encourage a pedestrian-friendly downtown that can attract people to the city center.
City councilors serve part-time for about $10,000 annually. There are three council districts in town, each represented by two council members, who can be from the same political party.
The polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Key issues
School plan – Merrick said that smaller K-8 school might work because kids “want to feel comfortable in a small environment.” He warned they might be “overwhelmed and anxious” in a 900-student K-8 school.
Frank Nicastro said the city has to do what's best for the children so officials must make sure "whatever we do is not going to paralyze this city."
Minor said is "not thrilled" with the 900-student school because neighborhood schools can't be that big. He said kids don't walk to school anymore, but we still need schools that serve neighborhoods.
"I don't know if the idea of a megaschool is right for Bristol," Minor said.
Elected or appointed school board? – Minor said he wants to keep an elected Board of Education. "We need more representative government, not less," Minor said.
Merrick said there are benefits and drawbacks to both appointed and elected panels. What’s most important is that either way, the city gets qualified people to serve.
Nicastro, too, said both systems can work. "It all depends who's sitting in that chair," he said, to ensure that good people are serving on the panel.
"Will they have the courage to speak for themselves?" Nicastro said. He said the elected board "appears to be working" though "nothing is perfect."

District 3 polling places
American Legion Hall Post #2
Greene-Hills School
Stafford School

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com