At least five men are eyeing the possibility of running for mayor on the Republican ticket this year, including a former state House minority leaders, a former mayor and one of the party’s two city councilors.
The chairman of Bristol’s GOP, T.J. Barnes, said Friday that he has been talking with potential contenders for awhile after getting word that Ken Johnson might drop out of the race.
Johnson told the Republican Town Committee on Monday that he could not run this year, as he expected, because of personal reasons. That left the party without a standard bearer for this year’s face-off with first-term Democrat Art Ward, who is seeking reelection.
Barnes said that among those who are weighing a run against Ward are former state House Minority Leader Edward Krawiecki, Jr, city Councilor Ken Cockayne, unsuccessful council contender Joe Geladino and Lenny LaMothe, a park department employee. Others are also considering it, Barnes said.
“We’ll probably have a mayoral candidate out there in the next month or so,” Barnes said.
Former Mayor William Stortz, who held office in the early 1990s and again from 2005 to 2007, may also be weighing a run.
“If Bill wants to run for mayor, he knows the process,” Barnes said. “If he wants to, he can throw his hat in the ring”
Asked Friday if he planned to run again for the city’s top job, Stortz laughed, as he has before when questioned.
“Always smiling,” Stortz added, content to leave the issue up in the air.
Ward said he fully expects to face a Republican challenger this year.
“I’d be very, very surprised if they didn’t have a candidate,” Ward said, adding the political system requires that voters have a choice.
Barnes said he anticipates his party will have a full slate of City Council candidates this time around.
He said that “a lot of unsolicited people” are talking to him about potential campaigns. They hail from all three council districts, Barnes said.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
65 comments:
“Always smiling,” Stortz added, content to leave the issue up in the air."
That's what happened in 2007 and then he complained when the party moved on.
If he wants to run then say so.
Doesn't sound like Barnes is a big fan of Stortz, does it?
Being a Republican in this city is difficult enough as it is. I cannot believe that the GOP still considers William Stortz a viable candidate. The GOP needs to stop recycling candidates through the process and begin building the party from the bottom up. Everyone in this city knows that Stortz is the default candidate when no one else rally is interested. I hope the town committee makes a better choice and actually makes this election somewhat competitive.
As a Democrat, I would LOVE to see Ken Cockayne run. Let me say it again...LOVE to see Cockayne run for Mayor. I can't wait for the dirt to come out. I wouldn't mind seeing Ed Krawiecki run either (largest ethics fine ever in the State of Connecticut). Unfortunately, Bill Stortz is your cleanest candidate.
Lenny LaMothe is one of those city employee union hacks...isn't that intersting??? What does that do to the GOP hate platform???
6:06 poster, Thats Wards kind of race. Dirt throwing. Just like he did to Zoppo. Cant run on his own record because he's a big union boy!
Shhhh...did you hear that? That was the sound of the Bristol GOP imploding.
6:01
And when they asked him to run, he won.
Isn't that what it is all about?
If you are a union member and a repub. duz that still mean you are a hack for the union or are you called something else ?
"in a month or so"
Great comment, certainly indicates a lot of confidence.
Why not wait longer, say September or so?
there are only a few people with the recognition, savy, and ability. TJ should concentrate on them, POST HASTE!!!
Stortz is a good man who has served his city with pride, integrity and heart.
Ward is probably polling very high right now with the voters and its going to be an uphill battle for any Republican candidate.
It would be interesting to see Krawiecki as mayor. He's a hard worker, that's for sure. Not sure if this is the year for him to run, though.
Cockayne would be by far the most ENTERTAINING candidate for the Republicans. I would pay for ringside seats to the debates!
Barnes candidate strung him along for 18 months and then quits.
Barnes still doesn't have a slate of candidates fo council, and his senior councilman goes to a Ward fundraiser.
Just what has he done as Chairman?
Excuse me - but your Mayor is no boy scout. In the months ahead - you will see that. People who live in glass houses shouldn't own rocks - right Art?
Looks like Tom Barnes will be stuck with Geladino, who didn't have time to run for council.
Where does the GOP go from here?
BRISTOL GOP???????????? ENOUGH SAID.
6:01
Competitive?
Last time stortz ran he won all 9 districts against an incumbent.
What are you talkin about?
Guess you must be one of the Republican leaders.
Ward was vulnerable, still is to some extent, but Johnson, Barnes et al let him off the hook.
They have done NOTHING the past 18 months and now think they can get to him.
Lotsa luck Mr. Barnes, you blew it.
8:13 - try again, you used that one last time - concentrate on the difference between voting for a 3% increase versus your lies to the public about a 4% raise - sad that a "kenny" is still with us.
Ward and the democrats read this and they will be laughing all the way to November.
Kraweicki "If ya can't join em beat em!" LOL
To 6:06 You guys are the masters of "dirt" slingers. Just read this blog!
Krawiecki has already proven that he'll do anything to win, even if it's unethical and illegal. Probably would make a great mayor (for Waterbury, Hartford. New Haven...)
TJ Barnes wasn't too welcoming to Stortz...at least in what he was quoted. Sounds like Stortz is persona non grata.
Go Ed!!!
Steve, perhaps you had been drinking heavily right before you wrote the part about Joe Geladino as a potential mayoral candidate? That type of reporting Steve, is what makes you and the Bristol Press somewhat of a joke to me.
CC -- TJ Barnes is the one who said Geladino might be the candidate, not me. I'm pretty sure he was sober. Tired, maybe, but not drunk.
If bill wants to run then he should just come out and say so!! There is a process in place for both parties to select their candidates and that takes place on endorsement night. Bill should just say he wants to run and not play this game of waiting for peolpe to beg him to run. Pretty much a yes or no question Bill, either you want to or you don't.
go lenny, go lenny - you can take a leave of absence from the Park Dept. and be Swicklas' boss - what an ego trip that would be.
at least cockayne would be able to get his information straight and not do stupid things like not remembering the facts of what he voted on - come to think of it, bristol politics would become boring without kenny's constant screw ups - let him run for council again so that he can, deservedly, be pushed into the shadows again.
WATCH OUT ED LL IS COMING
and the cast of characters will continue to grow and grow and grow and grow and grow until they end up eating each other out of the process - it's called republican progress.
Jill Fitzgerald for Mayor.
"Sounds like Stortz is persona non grata"
There are a lot of good Republicans who fit that description with the local GOP leadership.
It's as though they (local GOP leaders) are too dumb to realize their own insignificance, or perhaps (most likely) they revel in their limited significance.
"Krawiecki has already proven that he'll do anything to win, even if it's unethical and illegal"
-This comment is reprehensable and a lie. Krawiecki's fine had to do with his support of a law that would have benefitted him personally. There is a strong argument that the law was generally a good idea. It would have behooved him to recuse himself od matters such as those, but after 20 years I'm sure he has thought over his minute mistake plenty.
The Democrat party in Bristol when faced with a strong challenge have shown numerous times that they will do anything to win. I would also suggest that commentors have some idea what they're posting before they make ridiculous statements such as the one at May 2,2009 8:20 AM.
All i rember about Joe Geladino is he warned us about the mall purchase he was on target. we should have paid attention . But the city dems needed it. SO LETS PICK ON HIM.
IF THE UNION PULLS OUT ON WARD HES ALL DONE. ALL THAT WAS AT HIS FUND RAISER WASA UNION PEOPLE AND ALL THE DEPT HEADS WHATS THAT TELL YOU.
would also LOVE to see Ken Cockayne run for Mayor. I think this is what Bristol needed someone to bring out the truth on whats going on in Bristol. Look at Ward trying to take credit for this 5% giveback when Ken 2 or 3 months ago suggested a giveback of 3% and everyone voted it down. Also wondering what kind of DIRTY will come out about Cockayne
Sorry Concerned, Krawiecki is as crooked as they come.
7:04 - ken, you are wrong again - think back, it was block who proposed the 3% - man o' man, how many times are you going to get caught trying to deceive the public?
9:00 - Jill Fitzgerald is the campaign treasurer for Derek Czenczelewski, according to his Facebook group.
"Also wondering what kind of DIRTY will come out about Cockayne"
No need to "DIRTY" Cockayne. He's his own worst enemy. Ole mad dog needs a muzzle!
"Krawiecki's fine had to do with his support of a law that would have benefitted him personally"
That definitely speaks volumes about his character.
May 3, 2009 8:42 AM:
I've heard a lot of untruths about Ed Krawiecki from some local Democrats. Do you have any evidence he is crooked? I'd love to know for my own account. I'm sure he's not going to run for mayor anyway. He's too conservative to want to deal with the city unions and other special interest groups. I quite frankly think they'd make him sick. Perhaps he'll wait another two years and let Ward get dirty-ed up more by the job.
I think they want Stortz to run. He'll at least get the Republicans to show up. When the local GOP gets a real bad candidate, they get hammered big time. They need someone who'll at least get some respect as to not hurt the two incumbents chances. I believe Stortz is willing to do that for his friend Rimjobski and the 2nd District candidate Ken Cocakayne.
2:11 - Dirty? Oh Ward has dirt too - contact a few people he burned they will tell you.
CC just to enlighten ED. recieved a union endorsement when he was a state REP.
To the GOP: Save your money, save your time, save your candidates. Ward is not Couture. The only reason Stortz pulled a rabbit out of his hat the last time is because Couture aligned himself with Diamantis which upset a lot of people including loyal Dems causing everyone to turn on Couture. Stortz was the anti-Couture vote plain and simple. Anyway, Ward's base of supporters is much like Nicastro's...veteran's, unions and city employees. The Reps have not been able to crack this base(except for the Couture/Stortz fiasco) and won't this time either. Like Nicastro, Ward can be Mayor as long as he wants. Ward is an expert at rallying his base. Don't forget the upset he pulled over Zoppo is the primary. Do not under estimate him.
What gets me is that there are 42 members on the GOP town committee and you hear almost nothing out of any of them. What a bunch of poser, wanna-be losers.
Clean sweep for the dems; if you count Rim Shot as a dem.
Yah Barnes, full slate of Scarolta, Geladino, Merrick, and who knows who else.
Great job!
May 3 9:20 p.m.: I could not agree with you more. I find the Bristol GOP laughable. I wish Chris Healy would let them know what a sinking ship they are on. This would be a great year to get a few R's in office, but I feel they can not do it. They need new leadership. Oh, and before anyone tells me that I should run, you need to know if you do not agree with them you are off the RTC.
After having read all these posts all i can say is that we need to get over the backbiting , slandering etc. and keep whats important who and what is the best for bristol, because in the end isn't that what really matters. I realize i may be naive about all this and i will be the first to admit it but it is up to the voters of Bristol and no much how much you may hate one of the candidates there is some one who likes them , some of these are just really bad if you have grievences with some of these people and i am sure you do lets try and just be a little more civil instead of some of the downright hatred i am reading, because as i see it in the end no matter whose elected f we all dont get along and work together it might get worse and i don't think the residents of Bristol deserve that, like i said i am a little naive so maybe i am missing some thing but then agian maybe we all are, thats just how i feel and i am sure you will all let me know it. Thank you
12:04
The same group that didn't want stortz two years ago.
Go figure.
Word is out that Krawiecki is lining up his council slate: should be interesting.
12:55 I hope they aren't as ethically-challenged as he is.
Where is Geladino?
Is he backing up for a new start?
When is Barnes going to announce his new annointee?
Time is fleeting, he'd better act soon.
Or is he just satisfied with Ward?
Whats Barns got to do with it?
Why won't the Republican leadership support Stortz?
Is it because he is a moderate, doesn't play politics and take care of their friends?
Seems like they are being shortsighted.
How can the republicans think that someone with the background that Barnes has, can understand and relate to the majority of the people in Bristol?
Maybe that is why they don't get anywhere.
As a minority in Bristol, I hope that Stortz runs again, and wins.
He made great strides last time in appointing minorities and women to the boards.
He certainly was all inclusive, as far as I am concerned.
Barnes better get moving: less than 26 weeks left to get the job done.
And money can't buy more time!
How come Barnes didn't mention Geladeno, his ace in the hole?
Guess we have seen the last of Stortz since the Republicans have made it clear that they do not want anything to do with him.
Be a long time before anyone beats his record for republican wins in local elections.
3:45
Not the Republicans, or the people, just the few power hungry Republican mucky mucks!
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