Republicans gain on City Council

For the first time in 14 years, Republicans will control more than a single City Council seat.
Two of the six seats were claimed by the GOP when voters returned incumbent Mike Rimcoski, a Republican stalwart, and tapped newcomer Ken Cockayne to fill the seat given up by three-term Democrat Ellen Zoppo for her unsuccessful mayoral bid.
“We made great inroads,” said city Republican Party Chairman Art Mocabee.
In addition to the two Republicans, voters returned three incumbent Democratic councilors – Frank Nicastro, Craig Minor and Kevin McCauley.
They also picked newcomer Cliff Block to fill the 1st District seat that Mayor-elect Art Ward has held for the past 14 years.
Cockayne, who garnered just 26 votes more than Democratic hopeful Bruce Lydem in the 2nd District, said he’s glad that he could win while waging a positive campaign. He vowed to work closely with Ward and the entire council to help the city make progress.
“The people of Bristol wanted change and they voted in change,” Cockayne said.
Lydem said that Cockayne "works hard," adding there was "a good possibility I got out-hustled."
"I worked for every vote I got," said Lydem. "This is not the outcome I hoped for, but I'm proud to be a Democrat."
Ward praised Lydem's efforts this year. "Bruce worked for the entire slate," said Ward.
"We got the right administration to keep us moving in the right direction," said McCauley. "We're all about Bristol and moving forward."
In the 1st District, Rimcoski said he was glad to get another term on the council. He went to Ward’s victory party to congratulate the new mayor and both said they’ve been good friends and plan to work together.
"It's time to go to work," said Block, who emerged with more votes than fellow Democrat Rich Kilby but fewer than Rimcoski.
In the 3rd District, Nicastro set the pace, pulling in more votes in his precincts than anyone.
"I'm totally humbled and pleased that the voters in my district brought me back with such a large plurality," said Nicastro. "They put their trust in me and I will not let them down."
Craig Minor said Democrats had to work with a Republican mayor for the last two years.
"We knew the voters two years later would not reward gridlock," said Minor. "We provided leadership. We showed them that we could be trusted."
Robert Merrick, the Republican who came up short in the 3rd District, said that his campaign “took quite a share” of the vote in a race against two veteran Democrats.
Merrick collected 1,721 votes in the district compared to 2,302 for Nicastro and 2,189 for Minor.
Joe Geladino, who lost in the 2nd District, said he’s going to continue to work for the Republican Party, which he only joined 10 months ago.
City councilors serve two-year terms for about $10,000 annually.

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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com