To nobody's surprise, Mayor Art Ward is going to seek reelection.
The first-term Democrat said he filed paperwork recently indicating his intention to run. Party officials said the mayor intends to make a formal announcement on April 30 at Nuchies.
There is one Republican in the race already, Ken Johnson, the man Ward defeated in 2007 to win the city's top job.
But there is plenty of speculation that former Mayor William Stortz, who has served two different stints in the mayor's office, might try again this year.
There doesn't appear to be any opposition within Democratic ranks despite grumbling about Ward by some party stalwarts.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
41 comments:
Wouldn't it be something to see Storz come out and primary Johnson and WIN.
YAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! GO ART!
If Ward is elected - expect your taxes to go up more then 1 mil next year! Ward has catered to the Unions in not laying off workers or being tougher with the Unions. Go Ken Go! It's time the people of Bristol see what its like to save money and put it to good use!
Ward upset a good number of people, so I hope he doesn't expect to get $$ from them this time around.
He won't be getting any money from me this year. I will give to his opponent this year.
Billie
Ya, go Ken (and keep on going). The LAST thing we need is a temper tantrum throwing, name calling, inexperienced, overgrown child as mayor.
I think that now that voters can compare Stortz to Ward, and Stortz to Johnson, a three way race might prove interesting.
Stortz would need to primary and beat Johnson which could give Bill momentum coming into November.
Knowing what I now know, I'd vote for Bill.
Go Ken Go??? Yeah, right out of town. Bristol did not elect you the first time and we won't elect you the second. Hopefully, another republican decides to run against you because you have no chance to be mayor of Bristol. The citizens of Bristol have not agreed with you in the past and they will not agree with you in the future.
The BRTC should not even waste the money to support Ken Johnson in this election...and republicans talk about democrats wasting money,HA HA.
The only thing that Johnson's candidacy guarentees is another Ward victory!!
9:56, Bristol has much bigger problems than city union issues. If the republicans understood that, maybe we could elect a republican mayor. The BRTC has not had any worthy ideas for us to support,all they have to offer is complaining about the city unions.
Ward is a union hack. Unions own Ward. Besides 1/2 his family are city employeess and union members.
If Stortz and Johnson primary than that will mean a sure win for Ward. Remember Republicans are out numbered and it would take a lot of democrats switching from a party vote for either Stortz or Johnson to win.
In addition, Zoppo's followers will not be as involved in helping Ken this time around.
Even Concerned Conservative likes Ward.
Bottom line... Ward has a good chance of keeping his job.
YAWN, YAWN, YAWN - typical republican whining - slobber over yourselves all that you want but the only thing that this blog provides for you losers is a sanctuary for grieving.
grab another kleenex and blow your brains out - make it a tiny tissue.
Ah, still beating that old dead union horse I see. That's understandable...I mean, it's not like Johnson has actually done ANYTHING for Bristol (except maybe embarrass us with his childish antics). In the absence of anything positive to say about Kenny, looks like beating the old dead horse is the only way to go...
;0)
I will be voting for Ward again this election. He's done a good job for us, even in this troubled economy.
Incumbency, regardless of a popular or not popular incumbent, is a benefit. Johnson will have to run a very, very, smart campaign.
Don't be surprised if Frank Nicastro throws his hat into the ring to "save the taxpayers."
So I take it you are all happy with the job Ward has done...increasing your taxes, watching business leave Bristol, leaving a gaping hole in the center of the city, not marketing that hole, letting the West End go to pieces, and allowing our budget to go completely out of control, all while not trying to cut any spending, just freezing it in place for a year. Yeah, he's done a GREAT job. *sarcasm*
I'm sure you were all the same ones to vote for Obama because you wanted change, yet you'll continue voting for the same bumbling Dems who have ran this town and state for that matter, into the ground for years.
"Johnson will have to run a very, very, smart campaign."
Well, guess that cinches it for Ward alright!!! LOL!!!
I'm voting for Mickey Mouse before I vote for Ward, Stortz or Johnson! They are all fake. I want someone brand new or I'm just doing a write in.
I heard nicastro is going to run. we could a race between stortz and frank . might be better then what we have then cant complain about unions they all belong.
Surprising how people like ken johnson only come out at election time; thought that he declared himself THE 2009 gop mayoral candidate on election night 2007.
"where Ken be? no where around here, that I can see.
Tell me why that I should vote for ken, does anyone have an idea as to where Ken's been?
Here today, gone tomorrow; a vote for Ken equals anger and sorrow."
Why did you have to bring Ellen's name into this, and in a negative way? I was one of her supporters during the primary, but like the vast majority of her supporters I voted for Art in November and I will vote for Art again next November. I know you don't want to admit it, but Johnson ran a good issues-oriented campaign and came close to beating Art on those issues. Quit blaming Ellen for Art's narrow victory.
Frank will do anything to keep Ward from geting reelected!!!
Zippo has nothing to do with this election (I hope).
1:00 And what if Nicastro primaries Ward?
Heading should read "Ward is running still".
Seems like he is in perpetual campaign mode: doing the job comes in second.
Here's a Republican voting for Ward!!!
talk about "transparency", you republican, anti-ward smucks are so oblivious to anything other than the ogre mentality of a bunch of morons - the "transparency" is the blindness which you liken to a "vision" - sic.
Here's another Republican voting for Ward.
March 24 2:37 If Johnson WAS smart he would drop out NOW. He is obviously more arrogant than intelligent.
Stortz won't run because he knows he will lose. He's just trying to get people to talk about him again.
Nicastro won't run because he knows that it would be near impossible for him to maintain the Mayor's position and the State Rep position at the same time. He is also just trying to get people to talk about him again.
It's an ego thing with both of them. They don't like having someone else in the lime light without them.
Here's another republican voting for Ward! BRTC is pathetic!
"So I take it you are all happy with the job Ward has done..."
Yup, because I realize that three quarters of the crap you're talking about is a direct result of the recession, and the other quarter is just...well...crap. I think Ward's been doing a good job and will gladly support him again.
the unions aren't going away weather ward is the mayor or someone else is the mayor, get a grip on yourself.
I think that ward has done very well with the unions, most contracts are settled and as a union person, it doesn't seem like either side ran away with the city.
Last time Nicastro was Mayor he held taxes down so much we got whacked big time after he was gone. No thanks to Frank as Mayor.
what would any of these other supposed candidates have done differently than ward?
how come they are only spouting off now, where were they up to now?
I think that art has done a good job, considering everything that has happened over the past year and a half.
probably nothing based upon the fact that the ken johnson's only reason for running is that he "thinks that I can win" - who would run if they didn't think that they could win? of course, one has to DO SOMETHING to win. so johnson will lose again.
if johnson wins we can expect the budget to go up to replace everything that he will trash whenever he doesn't get his own way, unless he has a baby sitter to watch over him.
9:46 - shame on you - trying to defame the image of ken johnson - republicans have nannies, they would not lower themselves to have babysitters.
would be another nannie destined to an eternity of frustration.
God Bless.
Post a Comment