City Councilor John Satti submits petition to force Democratic primary in New London

New London — First-term Democratic City Councilor John Satti is determined to have his name on the November ballot.

He has successfully forced a primary with his fellow Democrats and additionally submitted paperwork that secures a backup plan: a spot on the ballot as a petitioning candidate.

The Democratic Register of Voters on Friday certified a petition by Satti supporters that triggers a Sept. 12 primary where he will square off against seven other Democratic City Council candidates. Those candidates were endorsed at a Democratic caucus last month.

Democratic Registrar Bill Giesing on Friday said he had verified that 401 of the 521 signatures submitted in the petition were valid before he stopped counting and declared the petition certified. Satti needed to submit at least 388 signatures, or 5 percent of the registered Democrats in the city, by Aug. 9.

City Clerk Jonathan Ayala is expected to submit the necessary paperwork to the Secretary of the State’s Office and provide public notice for the primary.

Ayala confirmed Friday that Satti also had submitted a nominating petition and obtained enough names for an at-large bid in the November election. In the event he does not win the Democratic primary, Satti will have the opportunity to appear on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate.

That petition required signatures from 1 percent of the number of people who voted in the last municipal election. Ayala said Satti obtained more than the 34 needed signatures.

Satti was not immediately available to comment on Friday.

“I’m ecstatic by the overwhelming support of my fellow (Democrats) in the Great City of New London,” Satti said in a written statement from a group identifying itself as the Committee to Re-elect John D. Satti to the New London City Council.

He was not, however, among the top seven vote-getters at the July 25 caucus.

Endorsed Democrats running for City Council are: Rich Baez, Efrain Dominguez, Martha Marx, Alma Nartatez, Anthony Nolan, Michael Tranchida and Don Venditto.

The Republican candidates for City Council are Katherine Goulart, Michael Fred Hudson, Stephen Mullane, Martin Olsen, Tim Ryan and John Russell.

SARAH GORDON/THE DAY Artist Katie Fogg works on painting an urban scene as she stands on State Street on Friday in downtown New London. Fogg plans to spend a month capturing downtown scenes to be shown during her exhibit at Dev’s American Bistro that opens on Sept. 8.