4 Dems seek mayoral nod

Common Council, Planning & Zoning primaries also on ballot

MIDDLETOWN — There are an unprecedented number of Democratic candidates running in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election: four for mayor and 16 contenders for the party’s common council endorsement and four for planning and zoning.

There are about 12,433 active Democratic voters in Middletown.

When Democrats cast their ballots, they will be asked to choose a candidate to face off in the general election Nov. 5 against Republican Sebastian N. Giuliano, the Common Council minority leader and former mayor of the city.

Wesleyan University graduate Ben Florsheim was recommended for endorsement by the party’s nomination committee at the caucus July 18. Two others — Common Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Bartolotta and Parking Director Geen Thazhampallath — were nominated from the floor.

None received the necessary 29 votes (Florsheim, 28; Bartolotta, 19; and Thazhampallath, 10) to clinch the endorsement, so a second vote was taken among the top two vote getters. Bartolotta was the victor in that vote, with 29 over Florsheim’s 28.

Eight candidates were nominated for council seats, and three for planning and zoning.

Shortly afterward, an alternative slate — “For All Middletown ,” with mayoral candidate and Public Works Director Bill Russo at the top of the ticket — gathered enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Original council candidates, DTC Chairman Robert Blanchard and Board of Education Chairman Christopher Drake, withdrew their names July 25, citing work and family obligations. Two other Democrats, Darnell Ford and Anthony Mangiafico, filled those slots.

As the For All Middletown lineup did not include planning and zoning candidates, state election laws dictated Bartolotta and the slate of DTCendorsed candidates be on line A.

On the ballot, mayoral candidates are listed alphabetically, top to bottom, and other candidates alphabetically from left to right

Russo and his alternative slate would have been on line B, but without PZC candidates, that pushed Florsheim (alphabetically) to B, along with the For All Middletown candidates to create a full slate. That left Russo alone on line C and Thazhampallath alone on line D.

In the primary, DTCendorsed candidates for Common Council are: Mangiafico, Ford, Grady Faulkner, Vinnie Loffredo, Ed McKeon, Gene Nocera, Bobbye Peterson and Jeanette White

For All Middletown council candidates are Meghan Carta, Councilman

W. Vance Cotton, Councilman Gerry Daley, Stephen DiCarlo, Tina Meijas, Linda Pagano, Deputy Mayor Bob Santangelo and Sonia Santavenere

Planning and Zoning

Kellin Atherton, who had won the DTC endorsement for planning and zoning alternate, circulated his own petition and gathered enough support to be on the primary ballot. He will face off against DTCendorsed candidates Beth Emery, Catherine Johnson, Thom Pattavina and Rich Pelletier.

Polling places

Due to parking restraints at Keigwin Middle School and ongoing construction at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, voters in those districts will cast ballots at new locations.

Wilson electors (districts 11 and 12) will vote at Bielefield School and Keigwin electors (districts 3 and 6) will vote at Lawrence School.

Other locations are unaffected. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voting districts for Tuesday:

District 1: MacDonough School, 66 Spring St.

District 2: Spencer School, 207 Westfield St.

Districts 3 and 6: Lawrence School, Kaplan Drive

Districts 4 and 5: Moody School, 300 Country Club Road

Districts 7 and 8: Snow School, 299 Wadsworth St.

District 9: Wesley School, 10 Wesleyan Hills Road

District 10: South District Firehouse, 445 Randolph Road

Districts 11 and 12: Bielefield School, 70 Maynard St.

District 13: Spencer School, 207 Westfield St.

District 14: Fayerweather Beckham Hall, 55 Wyllys Ave.

The Secretary of the State’s office has a lookup tool on its website at portaldir.ct.gov so residents can confirm they are registered to vote in their municipality as well as which location to visit.

For information, visit the registrar’s office website at cityofmiddletown.com.

Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Middletown Democrats will vote Tuesday in a primary election. On the ballot are 16 candidates for Common Council, four for the Planning and Zoning Commission and four for mayor.