The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Florsheim prevails in Middletown mayor’s race
MIDDLETOWN — Wesleyan University graduate Ben Florsheim swept to victory in Middletown’s mayoral race, beating out his opponent, Common Council Minority Leader and former threeterm Republican mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano.
The results are unofficial. With all precincts reporting, the tally was Florsheim with 5,997 and Giuliano with 5,429 votes.
Writein candidate activist Valeka Clarke, a mother of three who ran on a platform of social justice, restoring youth services and improving public transportation, is also a supporter of the Green New Deal, tax reform, second chance reentry initiatives and reducing teen homelessness.
In the tightly packed back area of La Boca restaurant on Main Street, Florsheim made his victory speech, entering the room to whoops of joy at about 9:15 p.m.
“This is an opportunity tonight for the work to begin; for the work to continue. There has been outstanding progress made in Middletown, and we’ve said it every day of this campaign. Wherever I go throughout the city, people are excited about the potential of this community,” Florsheim told his supporters.
“They are excited about living here now and they are excited about what tomorrow and the years ahead is going to be. It is up to us — everyone in this room — to live up to that potential,” he said.
Cheers and resounding applause rang around the room when polls closed at 8 p.m., quickly turning into chants of “Ben! Ben!”
“We ran a good race but we came up a little short,” Florsheim told his team in jest.
“Everyone in this room played a huge role in the campaign. I can’t believe I’m the one in the middle of the circle. It could be all of us very soon. I want you to know how grateful I am to be a part of this. If things go according to plan, there’s a lot of work ahead.
“We have done something remarkable here,” he said.
After the numbers came in, Giuliano stood in front of his supporters and thanked them. “We did everything we could have done in this election,” he said. “We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.” And he offered his best wishes to candidates who succeeded.
His comments were greeted with applause. In the crowd, someone asked, “How do we fight back?” Another said, “The way you win is to get out the vote,” and added, “We would’ve won.”
Joanne Coligan said about the results: “Basically all I can say, I’m in shock. I really thought he was going to win.” Her feeling was that it was due largely to Wesleyan students voting, people who only go to school here, but wouldn’t live here. “Wesleyan got him in,” she said. And, she added, “I know there were a lot of local Democrats who supported Seb.”
Her husband, Ralph, said: “People should’ve showed up, but they didn’t. I think they’re going to be sorry.”
Giuliano’s daughter Francesca took a positive outlook on the results. “He’s got two grandsons to chase around and one of them is mine.” Leo, 3, was running around people’s feet at headquarters.
On the results, she said, “I’m said for him and I’m sad for the town.” But, she said, “When he gets knocked down, he gets right back up. He’s very resilient. I’m always proud of him. He’s an awesome dad,” she said.
As of 7:30 p.m., when Giuliano hadn’t yet showed up at Republican campaign headquarters, but there were many people milling about at the office in Main Street Market, enjoying pizza and talking among them
selves. The general mood was hopeful, but with some reservations just before the polls closed.
Joe Spatola, whose sisterinlaw, Leslie Spatola, ran for the Board of Assessment Appeals, said he thought turnout was good, judging by the traffic he saw.
“Seb is wellknown. This kid (Florsheim) is young,” said Joe Spatola, a Middletown resident who moved from Italy in 1966. “Seb served as a mayor before. He’s loved.”
Leslie Spatola said, “I’m getting mixed feelings.” She added, “It’s funny, the older people they’ll stand for Seb. “The young ones want to move on with the new.”
“I do feel in my heart he’s going to do it,” she said. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s an awesome guy.”
Standing next to her was Paula, Giuliano’s wife. She was “a little nervous — more than a little.”
When she voted, she said “There was a good amount who had been through.” She heard nearly 500 people had voted district wide by 10 a.m.
Guiliano was mayor from 2005 until 2011, serving three twoyear terms. The length of the mayor’s, council’s and treasurer’s terms was increased in 2015 from
two years to four by the Charter Revision Commission.
Giuliano is a lifelong Middletown resident, married to his wife, Paula, for 39 years. He has three adult children and two grandchildren, ages 2 and 3.
Having served in both the executive and legislative branches of local government, Giuliano has said he has gained a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of government.
He believes the budget process should be created with a fiveyear projection in mind to take a systematic approach to financial problems. Giuliano also wants to stop taxes from rising and grow the grand list by continuing development on Washington, Newfield and South Main streets, as well as encouraging more businesses to come to Saybrook Road.
He’d also like to see the city rely much less on anticipated funding from the state, which has decreased in recent years, as well as lower debt. His platform also included supporting education, and moving the arts office toward selfsustainability, partially funded by an endowment.
Florsheim, who has been on leave from his five years aide to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy since July, graduated from Wesleyan in 2014.
He has a progressive vision for the city, and is a
proponent of the Green New Deal, revitalizing Middletown’s riverfront, downtown and North End, being more judicious about the types of enterprises that move into town. He has said he supports smallbusiness owners, and, as mayor, would work on social, racial and economic justice policies.
Florsheim has promised to hold weekly public outreach sessions with residents.
He serves on the board of NARAL ProChoice Connecticut and has been a member of the Middletown Democratic Town Committee since he was 19.
He won the city’s unprecedented Democratic fourway primary election, beating out Common Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Bartollotta, the original partyendorsed candidate, Public Works Director Bill Russo, Parking Director Geen Thazhampallath and activist Valeka Clarke.
The mayoral race had no drought of political sniping, which escalated in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
At the end of October, Giuliano’s campaign charged Florsheim was trying to “buy his way” into the city’s top post by contributing thousands of his own money to his campaign.
In midOctober, Florsheim decried a Facebook
post made by a vendor Giuliano used, which questioned Florsheim’s treasurer’s criminal history. The comment asked whether Diana Martinez, who has the same name and birth year as another woman who was arrested for criminal mischief in 2012, was the person in question. She was not the same person.
Just before Halloween, Get Fresh Barber Shop owner Joey Pelkey interviewed Florsheim for his regular podcast. The two spoke about relationships, a campaign worker’s relative, namecalling and text messages.
The next morning, Pelkey said someone egged his storefront, something he believes was done in retaliation for questions he asked of Florsheim, who insists his campaign had nothing to do with the incident.
There are 27,964 active voters in Middletown. Of those, 4,307 are Republicans, 12,654 are Democrats, 10,478 are unaffiliated and 525 are registered with minor parties, which in Middletown include the Green Party, Independents, Libertarians, Working Families and Realistic Balance, according to the secretary of the state’s database.
To view results by municipality or statewide, visit ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/ selectTown.