Middletown sets Democratic primary slate
Party has two full common council lists of contenders for Sept. 10 ballot
MIDDLETOWN – Democratic voters in Middletown will have two full slates of contenders for common council to choose from in the Sept. 10 primary.
On Monday, mayoral candidate Bill Russo delivered a petition with more than 900 signatures from registered Middletown Democrats to city hall, ensuring that he and nine others running on an alternate Democratic slate would appear on the ballot.
The challenge slate is made up of current common council members W. Vance Cotton, Gerry Daley and Bob Santangelo. Newcomers, including Meghan Carta, Stephen DiCarlo, Tina Meijas, Linda Pagano and Sonia Santavenere, were also endorsed. Steve Gomes will run for treasurer.
“We have a great combination of experienced incumbents with a depth of experience in city government, economic development and budgeting,” Russo said. “Complementing that experience, we have a young, successful woman attorney, a veteran woman police officer, a successful woman-business owner and two other other candidates with great community and business experience.”
Russo and his team’s challenge of the endorsed Democratic slate comes amid changes within the city’s Democratic Party. In January 2018, a more progressive Democratic town committee was voted into power, a change which could influence election outcomes in November.
Daley, who has served on the common council for 26 years and is running on Russo’s slate, said he was informed that he would not be recommended for another term on the common council by the nominating committee.
“I’ve been on the council for a long time, and I really have a great amount of caring for the community,” Daley said. “I think Bill Russo is the candidate is best suited to be mayor. There’s three qualities that he has that distinguishes him from the others — experience, authenticity and steady leadership.”
Last week, the Middletown Democratic Town Committee endorsed common council member Mary Bartolotta for mayor. The committee also endorsed incumbent common council members Robert Blanchard, Grady Faulkner and Gene Nocera for a second run. Christopher Drake, the board of education chair, and former common council member Vinnie Loffredo were also endorsed, as well as newcomers Ed McKeon, Bobbye Peterson and Jeanette White.
“I think we’ve put forward a really strong slate of individuals who have experience serving on the council,” said Blanchard, whois also the Democratic town committee chairman. “Many of them have a really strong background in education, and what this slate is looking to do is improve Middletown education while working to keep our city affordable and attractive to prospective to economic development opportunities.”
Blanchard said the endorsed slate will look to implement smart investments in education, maintain quality of life in the city and keep it affordable for all residents.
In addition to Russo and Bartolotta, Ben Florsheim, an aide to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, and city parking director Geen Thazhampallath are also planning to run in the Democratic primary. Whoever wins the September primary will face former Republican mayor and city councilman Sebastian Giuliano.