Democrats have no candidate for mayor

But party remains dissatisfied with current administration

TORRINGTON » The Torrington Democrats won’t put forward a candidate for mayor this year.

The Democratic Town Committee has officially ruled out the possibility, Chairwoman Danielle Palladino said Monday, since it will not hold another meeting in time to make an endorsement.

The DTC met last Wednesday to endorse a slate of candidates for the fall election, and, at the time, did not nominate a candidate in the mayoral race.

However, Palladino said at the time that the committee could still find a candidate, and told

committee members they could be called to reconvene July 24 if someone were found.

No such meeting was scheduled, Palladino said Monday.

People had considered the idea, she said, but ultimately decided it was not the appropriate time to run.

“A lot of it was just timing,” said Palladino.

The aim for the Democrats in the upcoming election at this point, she said, was to pick up seats on the governmental boards in the city.

Palladino and Sharon Waagner are running on the Democratic ticket for City Council. Byron Francis, Ed Corey and incumbent Ellen Hoehne have been nominated to run for the Board of Education, and incumbent Glenn McLeod and Mike Whittaker were endorsed to run for the Board of Public Safety.

Mayor Elinor Carbone was endorsed by the Republican Town Committee Thursday to run for a second term in office, while the Rev. Peter Aduba also announced plans to run as a petitioning candidate earlier this month.

Last week, as the idea of not putting forward a mayoral candidate was broached, nominating committee Chairman Jack Dillon told the assembled group that the situation did not mean the local branch of the party supported Carbone’s candidacy.

“This does not mean, in any way, that we are satisfied with the current administration of this city,” said Dillon. “There’s just problems in this city that have not been adequately addressed, and I’m so sad that the managerial people, these bright business people that we talked to — it wasn’t the right time for them.”

The field is not yet set. According to Assistant Clerk Carol Anderson, petitioning candidates have until Aug. 9 to submit the documentation required to get on the ballot.