Ward says he will nominate Sampson for council seat

Press release from Mayor Art Ward, just issued:

Mayra Sampson

Effective at the May 14^th Bristol City Council Meeting, Mayor Arthur J. Ward will be requesting City Council confirmation of the appointment of Mayra Berrios Sampson to complete the remainder of the City Council term of former City Council Member Kevin Fuller, who has resigned.

The City Council term will expire upon the swearing in of the newly-elected representative resulting from the November municipal election.

Mayra has been employed with the City of Bristol for the past 31 years. She has served in various volunteer and leadership positions as a member of Local 233, the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, Ivy Drive PTA, Bristol Midget Football, the Bristol ARC Board of Directors and City of Bristol Retirement Board, along with other numerous activities.

Mayra was presented the Exceptional Women’s Award for 2013 from the Queen Anne Nzinga Association for the promotion and advancement of young women role models and the Women And Girls Fund award for volunteerism. Mayra is a life-long resident of Bristol and is married to Patrick Sampson and has four children, Kristen, Amaris, Morgan and Sienna.

Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

The new Kevin Fuller? Bet on Mayra Sampson

Though Mayor Art Ward said he's ready to name his pick to succeed former city Councilor Kevin Fuller, who resigned recently, it's pretty obvious he plans to tap Mayra Sampson for the part-time post. Sampson, a former city Democratic Party chairwoman, has long been a close ally of Ward's and is well known and liked within city government. She heads the union local that represents most of the workers at City Hall. Republican city councilors said Sampson called all of them this week and had pleasant conversations with them. It doesn't appear they'll attempt to block her nomination. Ward said he won't pick someone who intends to run for the 1st District seat so Sampson would likely  serve only until voters pick a new city councilor in the November general election. One funny thing: Sampson once pegged the five GOP councilors serving today as "the five amigos," which they proudly embraced as a new moniker. Now I think they'd make a good rock band name: Mayra and the Five Amigos. Ward said he would likely announce his pick by Monday. The council is slated to pick Fuller's replacement at Tuesday's meeting. Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward speaks to union rally at City Hall

Here is Mayor Art Ward speaking to a union rally outside City Hall before this week's City Council meeting:

And here is Mayra Sampson, the union leader for City Hall's workers, speaking at the same union rally (sorry about the wind):
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union head bashes GOP privatization bid

Mayra Sampson, who heads the union local representing union workers at City Hall, spoke during a windy outdoor rally at City Hall before Tuesday's City Council meeting:


Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com