Mayor Art Ward said Monday night that he's going to ask the City Council on Tuesday to appoint Ed Krawiecki, Jr as an assistant city attorney.
Krawiecki, a Republican, was the city attorney during the administration of former Mayor Bill Stortz, also a Republican.
But Ward kept Krawiecki on in the job until Democratic lawyer Dale Clift stepping into the post in May after some prodding by the Democrat-controlled council.
Ward said he decided to ask the council to put Krawiecki into the part-time assistant city attorney's role because there's nobody better for the position.
"We're in difficult times. We're in trying times. That calls for bipartisanship," the mayor said.
Only two city councilors - Republicans Mike Rimcoski and Ken Cockayne - are sure to back the appointment. But Ward said he's hoping the four Democrats will put the community ahead of partisan considerations and vote for Krawiecki as well.
He said that Krawiecki has two and half years of experience in the city's legal issues and a wealth of information about the background of many projects that are ongoing.
Ward said that Krawiecki has also had "positive communication" with state economic development officials and was in on the ground floor of school site negotiations.
That background, the mayor said, can only help the community.
"The need is pressing today to work in a more bipartisan manner," Ward said.
Ward said that Krawiecki was "very contributory and helpful to me" during his first few months in office.
What's more, the mayor said, after he asked for resumes from attorneys interested in the job, not a single Democratic lawyer expressed interest.
Ward said there were some Republicans who sought the job, some of them excellent, but nobody had the experience that Krawiecki possesses. Krawiecki is also a former state House minority leader.
Ward said that neither Krawiecki nor Clift has any qualms about working together.
"This is an opportunity for us to stay on an even keel," the mayor said.
He said that if any councilors oppose the appointment, he hopes they will speak up about their reasons. People deserve to know where everyone stands and why, Ward said.
But, Ward said, he remains hopeful that in the end there will be a unanimous vote to tap Krawiecki for the job.
Update at 9:30 p.m. Monday - In an email this evening, I asked all of the city councilors to discuss their reasons for supporting or opposing Krawiecki. So far, I've only heard back from Cockayne.
Cockayne said he's sure that the four Democrats - Frank Nicastro, Cliff Block, Kevin McCauley and Craig Minor -- will vote against Krawiecki.
He said that if Krawiecki isn't approved, "it will be a loss to the city."
Cockayne said that Krawiecki is the best possible choice for the position because of his sharp legal knowledge, his loyalty to Ward, his personal relations with state development officials and more.
"In the long run, it would hurt Bristol not to pick him," Cockayne said.
He also said that with two Republicans on the council, there ought to be a GOP lawyer at City Hall, too.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
36 comments:
Fox in the hen house!
The idea to clean up the West End has been an on going project. Miss Zoppo and Mr. McCauley talked about doing something but like all other projects they never follow through. tell us just what it is that Mr. Cockain can do. Sweep the streets? And the West End is not the only dump area how about the end of Summer St? We sure picked a great bunch of politicans to run our city from the Mayor right up the rest of jerks.
Although he's been a staunch Republican and there are other issues, I think it's bad partisan politics not to vote "yes" for Ed Krawiecki. He does so much volunteer work for the community. Things that come to my mind are the Carousel Museum and raising money for Saint Paul HS. I'm sure there are many other examples of his volunteerism.
Kudos to Ward for attempting to appoint him. He's the best man for the job.
"What's more, the mayor said, after he asked for resumes from attorneys interested in the job, not a single Democratic lawyer expressed interest."
That's very interesting. Even Democrats are disgusted by Art Ward's performance and his treatment of fellow Democrats and they don't want to go down with the ship.
I applaud Mayor Ward on his insight. Attorney Krawiecki's knowledge, experience, and positive attitude is just what Bristol needs to address the challenges of our community.
and what alternatives have the rest of these resentful elected city council naysayers contributed to the process other than trying to stymie any progress at all?
seeems to me that nicastro still thinks that he is mayor, minor and mccauley wait for someone else to do their thinking for them and block follows their actions so closely that he is going to be wiping his nose with a pooper-scooper.
cockayne and rimcoski are as predictable as the day is long but at least they make it interesting.
what a mess.
thank god elections are every 2 years instead of those proposed 4 year terms.
WHAT??? HOW CAN THIS BE???
There are bloggers here that said that it's a "well known fact" that Krawicki was going to be appointed to take Soucy's spot on the Finance Board.
Someone better tell the Mayor he made a mistake.
LOL LMAO
Seems like the last mayor (republican) did better with a democrat council than the current mayor (democrat) is doing wih a democrat council.
Seems like the last mayor (republican) did better with a democrat council than the current mayor (democrat) is doing wih a democrat council.
The last mayor got a "no confidence" vote. How is that doing better than the current Mayor?
The last Mayor got one round of "NO CONFIDENCE" voting.
This Mayor gets an unending string of "NO COOPERATION" votes.
Couture appointed Kosta as his aide. Then Stortz, who criticized Couture for appointing an ethically challenged attorney appointed Krawiecki.
Seems government in Bristol cannot be without and ethically challenged attorney near the mayor.
Might as well appoint Krawiecki, he's better (marginally) than Kosta.
Maybe this mayor doesn't get much cooperation because he doesn't do much cooperating himself.
And keep in mind that Coutures council DID NOT get a chance to vote on Kosta, while Stortz had to put Krawieki up for a vote.
And, if Krawiecki is so bad, why is Ward appointing him?
From what I hear, Ward is getting a lot of "No Confidence" from the people.
I am sure that Nicastro and Baldwin are not happy campers.
Ward needs Krawiecki at his hip to make him half the mayor that Zoppo would have been.
Krawiecki just needs to run for Mayor!
"Ward needs Krawiecki at his hip to make him half the mayor that Zoppo would have been."
~ Ward is savy enough to choose the right people to get the job done...something Zoppo obviously wasn't capable of. He's at least twice the mayor that Zoppo would have been.
God, Art Ward's circle is getting smaller and smaller. its a wonder he managed to get elected in the first place.
Nah, he'd rather be the power behind the throne, with either Ward or Johnson.
He doesn't need the money or the exposure.
This shows me that Art Ward is the type of Democrat I am proud to support.
Good pick Art!
Yes, it is a wonder.
Maybe the opposition had something to do with it, in the primary, and in the general election.
Zoppo and Mccauley not following through? Ha! The second poster on this blog is trying to create their own sense of history. The 2nd District has a long history of awesome councilpeople including Leone, Couture, Zoppo and McCauley. Cockayne has to do a lot more to be added to that list.
Art Ward has been shaking under his desk, practically in a fetal position, since Krawiecki left City Hall the first time. This is nothing more than pathetic.
Zoppo worked hard for the city, but don't lump McCauley in with her too. It took hiim 18 months to learn the job (those are his own words). The rest of the 6 months he spent doing what Ellen told him to do.
Bash Cockayne all you want, but he is doing a good job. He is the only councilor consistently fighting for the taxpayers of Bristol.
This is the first time I've agreed with Cockayne.
If council members vote him down they should be prepared to put another name on the table. Not just a "no" without a solution.
"Art Ward has been shaking under his desk, practically in a fetal position, since Krawiecki left City Hall the first time. This is nothing more than pathetic."
Art Ward may be shaking, but it's probably with laughter at ridiculous comments like this one.
6:17 ~ What a maroon!!!! LOL!!!
10:07
The mayor puts names up, NOT the council.
The council votes yea or nay.
Art is just playing games.
"The mayor puts names up, NOT the council."
...unfortunately, the council has their own agenda and it's definitely not in the community's best interest.
Yes, the Council seems to have their own agenda: that is what Stortz was up against last term.
But aren't Ward and 4 of his colleagues of the same party?
Didn't they run as a team?
10:07 The mayor puts names up, NOT the council. The council votes yea or nay. Art is just playing games.
I realize what the Mayor's role is but the Council is also responsible for making suggestions to the Mayor; therefore they shouldn't vote an appointment down unless they have a viable replacement name that they have proposed to the Mayor.
The Council members always bring names to the Mayor for consideration of appointment, no matter what that appointment is. Once a council member brings a name to the Mayor, they discuss the pros and cons of that person in relationship to the appointment they are interested in and it goes from there to the rest of the council for consideration and then eventually to the council floor if there is enough support for the person.
"The Council members always bring names to the Mayor for consideration of appointment, no matter what that appointment is."
The Council did propose a different name back when they met with Ward to tell him that Krawiecki was not acceptable: Tom Conlin. He's a Republican, a former Board of Finance member, a former town attorney for Plymouth, and he actually applied for the job (unlike Krawiecki). Ward was told weeks ago that the Council would approve him if nominated. Ward chose to ignore that advise.
"Ward was told weeks ago that the Council would approve him if nominated. Ward chose to ignore that advise."
Oh well, why didn't you say so! If the COUNCIL told Ward who THEY wanted to nominate...how dare not follow their advice!
"Oh well, why didn't you say so! If the COUNCIL told Ward who THEY wanted to nominate...how dare not follow their advice!"
Very clever, the sarcasm. Now riddle me this, Batman: Ward knew he didn't have the votes to get Krawiecki appointed, but announced that he was going to nominate him anyway; and then at the last minute (Krawiecki was in the audience) withdraws his nomination. Who's playing games here?
Krawiecki for COO!
Krawiecki for Governor!
Krawiecki for Senator!
After reading this Blog it's obvious to me that it is only the lonely threesome republicans that can't publically put themselves on the line. That's why they like this anonymous blog, so no one will know what jerks they are. Get used to the systems as it stands naysayers or stand up and try to change it. It can't be changed by anonymous whiners like you.
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