Mayor Art Ward’s family is “very optimistic” about his chances of recovering fully from his collapse last Saturday after choking on a piece of steak, according to the city’s Democratic Party leader, Elliott Nelson.
Nelson, one of Ward’s closest friends, said Friday, “Everything’s looking good.”
Doctors put Ward into a medically induced coma when he arrived at Bristol Hospital Saturday night and apparently began trying to bring him out of it this week, according to city sources. He remains in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit of Bristol Hospital.
Meanwhile, politicians at City Hall are increasingly itchy about who should serve as the acting mayor until Ward returns to work – despite Nelson’s call for everyone to calm down and to let city Councilor Ken Cockayne remain at the helm until at least January.
“I don’t think this is the time to start squabbling,” Nelson said.
Nelson said the mayor’s family doesn’t want to talk about details of Ward’s medical care, but they hope for “a positive outcome.”
“We’ll have something good shortly,” Nelson said, adding that Ward faces “a long road, but he’ll make it.”
“He’s a tough Marine. He’s not giving up,” Nelson said.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
47 comments:
The dem party chief is a real loser. Hes spreading all kinds of rumors in TOWN.
I think it's time for Mr. Nelson to step down as chair of the DTC. No one is getting excited except for the GOP to Mr. Nelson's suggestion that Cocayne retain the seat until January. All that is happening is that Ms. Matthews has been appointed by the mayor in his agenda for December to replace Cocayne. If there is an issue, it will be because Cocayne refuses to adhere to the mayor wishes and step down. Why doesn't Mr. Nelson chastise Cocayne for not doing the right thing and passing the torch along to Matthews until January? I can't even believe the leader of the democratic party is not backing up one of his own.
Does Mr. Nelson think for one minute that the republicans would be endorsing a democrat to stay in the acting mayor's position if the present mayor was a republican and a republican was slated to take over the next month as acting mayor? Of course not.
By the way, Mr. Nelson, the democrats are not being disrespectful to our mayor because they are civilly requesting that Matthews take over the position of acting mayor this month. They are doing what the mayor wants. It's written in black and white. Let's not make a straightforward issue into a contentious one.
I for one can only hope and pray our mayor is back on his feet very soon.
Thanks for the update Mr. Nelson. This is good news. We'll continue to keep the Mayor and his family in our prayers.
Mr. Nelson, you are not helping the situation with your suggestions. Your party is backing Mayor's Ward decision and you are confusin the whole issue. Follow your leader otherwise what bother to ve the Chair of he DTC.
So after January is over and Matthews month is done who would take over for Feburary? Look, if Matthews was acting mayor now and Art had Ken on the list to take over as acting mayor for January would the conversation go the same way? The acting Mayor becomes the Mayor until such a time as either Art returns or an election is held. You don't keep rotating it around and play hot potato.
Elliot Nelson is running around telling all. Hes saying the MAYOR IS DOING FINE. Whats up with that news. The press cant tell us and keep all in suspence.
Elliott has abandoned the DTC and is a real putz. Union members should know that there is a BOE union contract that will be on the floor this month. Also, Diane Ferguson and Art Ward were working on negotiations with one of the city unions on a code issue prior to his medical incident. There are going to be two big union votes coming up, and the DTC chair is going to let the anti-union fox in the henhouse? Elliott has to go. He is increasingly irrelevant. One has to question whether Elliott is throwing the Dems under the bus in part because he lost to Mary Rydingsward and is still suffering sour grapes. Hey Elliott, put on your big girl panties and do your freaking job as DTC chair before you lose it!!
Steve - I want to thank you for providing so much information almost from the moment the mayor collapsed last Saturday. I am sure that you are feeling as bad as anyone outside the family about what happened since you have known Art for many years. But you have managed to be both professional and kind at the same time, which isn't always easy.
I see so many mean comments on this blog that I thought I might post one thanking you.
Like you, I hope Mayor Ward recovers completely and soon. He is not a perfect man but he is a good one.
This is clearly Cockayne and Krawiecki's power play for mayor. Instead of demonizing the Dems on the council, the DTC chair should fully support them. Has anyone noticed that the Dems are not engaging with Cockayne in an attempt, obviously, to respect Art and his family and keep this from getting disgustingly political? Has anyone noticed that Ken keeps saying, "I hope they don't make this political" and they haven't. They're just quietly waiting for Tuesday, when they expect Ken to shut up and let the mayor's latest appointments go into effect. I, for one, would like to know exactly what nasty little deal Ken made with Elliott Nelson that would influence Elliott to turn his back on his party and his best friend. Just plain gross. Elliott clearly does not speak for the Bristol Democrats anymore. He needs to go.
the democrats on the city council need to stop pussy footing around and be honest about what is really going on. cockayne can put out as many soundbites as he wants that he is working with the council to run the city. the truth is that he has kept the council in the dark, and ken is not even running the city, ed krawiecki is. yes, folks, ed, who is not even an elected official, has the maddog on a tight leash. and the council is supposed to rely on ed to give them the unvarnished truth about how to deal with the acting mayor issue on tuesday? can you say coup d'etat??!! alexander haig!! this is about democracy, folks! jesus. you'd think we were in a third world country!
Art Ward's last known act of office was to confirm his December appointments, which automatically take effect on Tuesday night unless Ken revokes the mayor's appointments. Did you read the paper, where it was printed that the city lawyers have said that Ken cannot appoint an acting mayor? Doesn't this mean that if he revokes Art's appointment, he stays in and there's nothing that can be done about it? What if Art doesn't come back until November? Then Ken stays in office all the way til the election? I will say that I am a friend of both Art and Elliott, but I can't think that Art would have wanted that outcome. I am concerned that Elliott is not himself right now.
Sounds like an awful lot of backroom deals going on!
Isn't that what got Ed in trouble in Hartford?
There is a lot more going on than what is apparent to most people.
Some key people in town are pulling strings, assisting Krawiki, so that they can get what they want.
They have the power to make or break individuals, at least until the voters wake up.
7:43 Are you from BPSE SUPERVISIOR UNION all of you should hand in your keys what you get paid is a waste of tax payer money. the dept heads can`t do there jobs.I hope Art comes back and cuts all of your jobs and if he can`t i hope the next mayor will. But you know whats the bad thing here your bringing up your union issue when the mayor is down. all you care is about your gain and with that said GOD BLESS THE WARD FAMILY.
I don't know where Cockayne gets the idea he should be the acting Mayor until Art gets back! The taxpayers elected the Democratic majority on the council. Where does Kraweicki and the republicans get the idea that they alone deserve to run the city? I think the Mayor and the taxpayers have spoken!
/actually, 6:43, Matthews is as honorable as they come and to even insinuate that Matthews would not reappoint Ken in January is a slap in the face although it is a moot point because the appointment list is not made that far in advance. Remember in November, Bristol citizens, that Ken Cocaayne refused to step down as acting mayor even after an agenda was already in place. Politics makes for strange bedfellows and Bristol is looking like a laughing stock for sure. You've got the DTC chair advocating for the republican cockaayn. You've got Krawicki who had a political issue years ago and you've got cockaayne who had an issue with the police dept. years ago. is that who you folks want running this city? Yikes!!!
Hey, 6:27, I guess when you're in on the coup, all you have left to say is thanks to elliot for the update. Pathetic!!
Please, art, get well soon! The city is falling apart!
Can't believe how foolish some of these bloggers sound. Elliott is right...People really need to calm down.
Mr Nelson if it is true that Mr wARD HAD A PREPARED AGENDA FOR tUE S mTG THEN WHAT EVER IS ON THE AGENDA SHOULD BE VOTED ON ! pLEASE DON'T OVER STEP YOUR BOUNDRIES AS THE dEMOCRATIC PARTY bOSS.i DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE VETERAN sTATUS.fOR THOSE WHO SERVED WE HAVE OUR mARINES BACK(dON'T SCREW WITH OUR DEMOCRACY)
sounds like a bunch of pissed off demoncratics in this blog . IF artie doesn't make it , then the acting mayor @ the time of the incident IS in charge . Plain and Simple . The city attorney will explain it to the irrational mob on Tuesday .
lets not forget, Eliott is not a member of the family, nor a medical
professional, so his assesment of the Art's conditon is irelevant As he hs a vested interest in he result, he should be ignored or be quiet.
Don't appoint McCauley, Matthews or Block. They are the Zoppo faction of the Democratic Party. Either stick with Cockayne and make him deal with the budget mess coming down the pipe or give it to Fuller who seems to be the only level headed Dem out there besides Ward.
I definitely believe we should stick it to Cockayne. what can he do with the agenda over the next year besides shoot himself in the foot! Let's see the Mad Dog put his money where his mouth is. My be is his bark is worse then his bite. Please Dems, don't be short sited. Cockayne will screw himself if he stays in!
2:26
But will he screw the city too??
December 11, 2010 7:08 AM:
Huh? Matthews tried to appoint a guy who had been accused of multiple felony offenses to the Charter Revision Committee because of his political (public labor) connections.
cry me a river. bunch of dem union city workers might finaly have a boss that makes them work.. the city has been out of touch with the public under art ward & jerry couture. two of the worst mayors in city history. unless you are a city employee! Ken hold onto the reins and make the city mules pull the cart for once!!!! or start to replace the broken mules. Clean up the mule manure [city worker] with new horses. Again cry me a river dems!!! wha wha wha.
Ellen it is time for you to come forward the city needs you i hope to see your name on the list next time or if there is a election. The town needs someone with brains
Ken would be a catastrophe! He is a pawn in a very dangerous game of which krawicki is holding the cards. Don't think for one minute that Ken would be thinking for himself just like don't think for one minute art didn't have people close to him advising him. They all have those who are close to them and we all know where ken is coming from. he has made it perfectly clear and unfortunately he is not thinking with a level head. he wants to get back at the police department because of his involvement with them years ago and he wants to get back at the unions because he is a republican.
Even if art comes back, the damage has been done by elliot and krawicki. I see a republican sweep in the fall and i see a democratic party that is so fractured that it will never heal. Can anyone say lame duck administration for 2011?
We need a real leader not a person who caves into the unions BRISTOLS budget is in serious trouble. No one is even questioning it. WHY. The MAYORS family doesnt seem to want the public told the truth again WHY .ELLIOT says hes doing good the paper says he critical. SO WHATS THE TRUTH.
Let's not forget that some people making comments on this blog have the IQ of a hamster. Elliott may not be a medical professional, but he is close friend of the Ward family and he is passing on the information that THEY have been told by medical professionals. Unlike 1:29 PM's rabid rantings, Mr Nelson's comments are based on fact. Let's all continue to pray for Mayor Ward's speedy recovery and return.
10;15 p.m., Sounds like you're all about asses and manure...hahahaha!
Let's say that Mattthews is made the acting Mayor. What happens 30 days after her appointment? Mayor Ward's INTENTION was to rotate City Councilors through the position. That is why he named a new one each month. Does that mean that Matthews would have to name someone to replace herself? Are we to have rotating acting Mayors? That would be silly and Art Ward is not a silly man. Cocayne took over as acting Mayor because he was appointed by Mayor Ward to take over in his absence. While Mayor Ward INTENDED to appoint Mattthews, he became unable to perform his duties before he could do so. The only thing that makes sense is for Cocayne to continue until Mayor Ward gets back or their is a special election.
We all want ART to recover. We have a city in trouble because of leadership in this town remember that. WE NEED ACTION. NOT EMPTY WORDS FROM bristol hospital.
Maybe stortz would be so bad after all
"The MAYORS family doesnt seem to want the public told the truth again WHY ."
Gee, could it be because they don't feel like sharing personal medical information with pea-brained dimwits who refuse to believe it anyway???
FACE IT THIS IS BUISNESS. People in BRISTOL should not be treated like idiots. We see our city has big financial problems and now they have something to blame it on. Thinking were all fools. The man cant do the job we need to fill his shoes the budget cant wait anylonger while people are trying to hide the truth.
what do you mean by caving into the unions? You know what? Go ahead, Ken, please, lay off lots of city employees. I can't wait to see what happens when those who have been crying for layoffs start screaming because their trash is getting picked up every other week or the snow is being plowed only on the main roads or the landfill is closed down to the average person because there is no one to man it or the roads are not getting repaired or hours are cut short at city hall and there is a paperwork overload because there are only one or two people working in each dept. and your taxes go up because we have all these people on the dole because they lost their jobs and couldn't afford to keep their homes and the foreclosure rate goes up. Stop to think what is worse and will cost the city more ... to freeze wages or layoff people? I think the former would be a better idea rather than the latter. But because Ken is so into his party and Ed is running the show, the "vengence is mine" attitude will prevail and that is NOT what is in the best interest of this city or its citizens!
December 12, 2010 11:50 AM:
There are private companies that would be more than happy to plow our roads and collect our trash.
You public labor groupies should think about that before you start putting yourselves in the non-replaceable catagory.
For the last 3 weeks my trash has been picked up by a non-city of Bristol trash truck. Anyone else? Not sure if Bristol is renting the truck, or its an actual company the City sub'd out.
Art Ward appointed Cockayne acting mayor last month with the intention of it being for one month. That is a fact. Art then left instructions for Matthews to be appointed acting mayor on Tuesday also for a month. That too is a fact. Cockayne should respect Art's wishes and appoint Matthews acting mayor next Tuesday. Matthews should then appoint whoever it is whose turn it is next month. She can to that - there is a legal opinion from the Corp Counsel's office that says the acting mayor has all the powers and responsibilities of the mayor, including appointing an acting mayor. That is the system we have in Bristol. Cockayne and Krawiecki (or maybe we should start calling him "Lisa Moody") are playing a very dangerous game of chicken with the rest of the council, and they will pay for it in November.
Oh sure, rotating mayors, that would be great!. Who does the union negotiate with? Who represents the city in other function. Just keep one person there for now with the rotating system as back-up to that person. The way I see it. We are stuck with Cockayne with Matthews the "back-up for next month. Cockayne then appoints a new "back-up" the following month. For all intents and purposes, Ken is the mayor right now. Kate is only in line to be the "acting mayor" if something happens to Ken.
2:11: Those are City employees using leased truck while the regular truck is out for repairs. It is not a private hauler.
2:11pm the city that told the people that it doesn`t have money is renting those trucks for 30,000 dollars and if they contract it out it will cost the tax payer alot more money and taxes will go higher you can count on that look what happen to terryville they went to a outside service and for the first 5 years it was cheaper after that the contractor doubled the rate and know they want too go back but it will coast them to much because they got rid of all there trucks city of bristol lean from that you have a good thing with your own people doing the work and we in terryville are screw for ever.
4:49
Who is the contractor tha is leasing the truck to the city?
Odin:
Maybe we should start calling you the Bristol Democrat magpie?
Note to you: No one cares what youi have to say. Everyone knows you're a wanna-be hack for the Bristol Democrats.
Shut the ____ up.
The Democrats are WRONG. The assignment was filled properly and according to a predetermined rotation. Once in place it does not shift to another rotation as if the event was reborn. You all know it doesn't work that way.
11:22: you are ignorant and your only comeback is to swear. Steve, that person's post should be removed immediately! A blatant inference like that is not appropriate.
I want to laugh when I hear people saying hiring outside would be cheaper. Gee, what happened when cl&p promised that the electric rates would go down if they were allowed to free market? If you haven't noticed, we have the highest electric rates in the country. There is no cap here. If we go free market, there will be no cap either. The truth of the matter is some people have jumped on the bash the unions bandwagon without thinking about the consequences. With regards to cockayne staying on as acting mayor ... be careful what you wish for.
TO 5:41 CL&P STOPPED MAKING ELECTRICITY AND HAD TO BUY IT FROM OTHER PLACES GET YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU SPEAK TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE IN HARTFORD ABOUT THAT
6:01: That's correct. they did stop making electricity but they said it would be cheaper to do so AND the deregulation along with their cessation of making electricity and now having to rely on other states for power has driven up the price sky high in this state. The point is that we have chosen to look elsewhere and it has come back to bite us. The same will be true if you hire privately. Don't think it won't.
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