October 14, 2009

Nicastro's final City Council session

After clocking 20 years at City Hall, city Councilor Frank Nicastro completed his last City Council session this week.

“I will miss it, but it’s time to move on,” said Nicastro, a former mayor.

Nicastro, a state representative for the 79th District, has racked up one of the most impressive political records in the city’s history, winning every race except for a primary the first time he sought office a quarter century ago.

Nicastro, a former truant officer, served as a city councilor for six years beginning in 1987, then put in five consecutive terms as mayor, from 1993 to 2003, before stepping down voluntarily. Two years later, he ran again for council to add four more years to his City Hall resume.

“The city of Bristol is going to be a little poorer for not having him here,” said city Councilor Mike Rimcoski, a Republican who sometimes dueled with the veteran Democrat.

He said that Nicastro didn’t always agree with him, but he always listened to other points of view.

“He always tried to do the best for everyone,” said longtime Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski. “He’s been fair to everyone.”

City Councilor Ken Cockayne, a first-term Republican, said that Nicastro “got me involved in politics” by selecting him to serve on the Roberts property committee years ago.

Mayor Art Ward, who served on the council during Nicastro’s mayoral terms, said that the pair “had some good times” over the years.

He thanked Nicastro “for setting me up to this” as the city’s leader and never hesitating to offer guidance.

City Councilor Kevin McCauley said Nicastro served as a mentor for him, “grooming me so I can take over if needed.”

Nicastro may be leaving the stage at City Hall, but he remains in the legislature and said he has no intention of giving up his seat there.

“We have tough times ahead of us and I’ve got to fight for our interests” in Hartford, Nicastro said.

Nicastro said he’s learned over the years that even though politicians are “quick to criticize” when a municipal official errs, the city’s been blessed with “some of the finest people on the staff.”

In addition, he said, the elected officials he’s served with, from both parties, have always had their hearts in the right place.

“There isn’t a councilor here who doesn’t love this city,” Nicastro said.

And with his typical understatement, Nicastro called for God’s blessing “on the greatest city in the state of Connecticut.”

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

All about me Frank - we don't care.

Anonymous said...

Frank, thanks for everything hate to see you go ,this city needs you.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Frank

Anonymous said...

I'm living for the day when the headline: "Ward's final City Council session" is printed

Can't come soon enough!

Anonymous said...

ugh frank. good riddance and good job in Hartford letting Bristol get reamed as much as it did. there is nothing left for them to take from us.

Anonymous said...

5:18 PM, I know what you mean. I'm living for the day when certain fools grow up and stop attacking and insulting our elected officials anonymously on the blog.

Can't come soon enough!

Anonymous said...

5:18

coulda happened if the Republicans (some) weren't so darn stubborn!

Tim Gamache said...

Frank: You deserve a vote of thanks from Bristol for your 20+ years of service to the city.Some of us appreciate it when individuals "step up" and try to make our city a better place,unlike those gutless wimps who post their "shots" here then sign as "anonymous."

Anonymous said...

Frank, Great Job keep working for us wish you were running for Mayor.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Frank, and Godspeed to an honest city leader. You always worked hard and did what you thought was best for the city.

Anonymous said...

@ October 14, 2009 7:45 PM

...then drop dead now, because that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

And thank you for your comment, Arty!

Signed,

A foolish Bristol taxpayer

Anonymous said...

Frank Nicastro: although he made numerous big policy mistakes (The Bugryn Land f/example) was a voice of sanity and fiscal restaint from within a political party of neither.

It is however perhaps time to move on. Buon vicino (take Gamache with you).

Anonymous said...

Admittedly, October 15, 2009 4:03 PM, I'm a damn fool for continuing to pay city of Bristol taxes.

Thankfully, that shall end soon.

And if you're not the mayor, then you HAVE to be a relative or one of his boot lickers. What other reason would you possibly have to defend such a do-nothing, know-nothing, sorry-excuse-for-a-mayor?

Who's the real fool here?

Anonymous said...

6:35 PM, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but Ward was elected mayor by the majority of the voters. It should be obvious (even to you) that there are many, many citizens who support him and will continue to do so in the upcoming election (not just "boot lickers" and relatives).

It's also apparent that you've got an ax to grind, but thankfully it sounds like you'll be moving soon, hopefully to somewhere far, far away where you can find a new "do-nothing, know-nothing, sorry-excuse-for-a-mayor" to vent your hostility on. Good luck with that!

BTW, to answer your question, you continue to hold the crown for "real fool" here hands down!

Anonymous said...

You state the best reason for any sensible person to leave Bristol. If the majority of the citizens willingly elected such a fool, and then choose to re-elect such a fool for a second term, then only a fool will stay!

And contrary to your uninformed opinion, I ain't no fool, so I'm making tracks to a better community. A place that recognizes cronyism and ends it. A place where diversity is celebrated. A place where people tolerate opposing views and work together despite disagreement. A place to proudly sink roots.

Bristol is never going to be that kind of place until the citizens stop putting their hard earned tax dollars in the hands of untrustworthy fools!

And one other thing. Don't mistake a strongly expressed point of view with hostility. Last time I checked, a keystone to a healthy Democracy is the freedom to express oneself freely.

Anonymous said...

I agree with everything the last poster said except for one. Not all of our elected officials are cronies and not all walk in lockstep with the mayor. Do your homework and you will know exactly the ones I am talking about.

Anonymous said...

9:25 PM, It's obvious from your response that you consider yourself to be much, much smarter than the majority of Bristol's citizens (self-esteem is so important and you've obvious got plenty of it)...Good for you!

Once again, good luck on your move to the village of utopia. I'm sure that they'll be happy to have you. Every village needs one!

Best regards!

Anonymous said...

@ October 16, 2009 8:35 AM

A confident voice and an ability to express oneself clearly comes from years of education and experience, as does the ability to recognize loathsome, patronizing, snide remarks like "Every village needs one."

I suspect you are a very unpleasant person to be around, which might explain why you have made such a backward place like Bristol, Connecticut, your home. You fit right in.

Village idiot? As the saying goes: Takes one to know one. Shalom!

Anonymous said...

9:25 And I'm sure they will despise you too. Bye !!!!

Anonymous said...

Don't be surprised if Nicastro dumps on Ward and then runs for Mayor again, maybe even primarying Ward.

Frank is two faced, ego-centric and not to be trusted!

Anonymous said...

9:25 must be moving to Terryville! Good luck with THAT.

Anonymous said...

Lets see now. Mocababy,Mockery,Macawbre and the best is Monkeybe. But he's to stupid to be insulted. Isn't this the mentality of the three republican adolescents ? We only have to consider the source of the "old" nasty stuff they sell. Anonymously of course! No guts and useless for their community I might add.

Anonymous said...

So enjoy your new home and enjoy the diversity of your new community!Enjoy being able to work with people and get along but if I were you don't bend over to get the soap!