Porcher Leads Democrats’ Endorsed Slate

Community activist Chris Porcher was endorsed by the city Democratic Party’s Town Committee, along with a slate of Democratic candidates for different city offices.

Democrats met for their endorsement Town Committee meeting on July 18, 2019. Republicans met on July 16th and re-nominated Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and other members of her Republican slate.

In addition to the office of Mayor, two other citywide positions are to be elected, City Treasurer and Tax Collector.

Democrats endorsed incumbent City Treasurer Ron Jakubowski (D) for re-election.

They endorsed Lanette Spranzo-Macaruso to run for the position of Tax Collector.

Newcomers Chris Anderson and Antonio Lavoy, Sr. joined three incumbent City Council members Ald. Katie Breslin (D-AL), Ald. Richard Reyes (D-AL) and Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-AL) on the Democrats’ endorsed slate for the five at-large Council positions.

Community activists Wilfredo Justiniano and Richard Lacourciere were endorsed as the Democratic candidates for Ward 1.

Each of the city’s five City Council wards are represented by two Council members by the people who live in each ward.

In Ward 2, incumbent Ald. Brian Keith Albert (D-2) is joined by Colin I. Osborn as the endorsed Democratic slate.

Incumbents Ald. Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) were endorsed for re-election by the Democratic Town Committee in Ward 3.

Ward 4 provide the meeting’s only contested vote. Three candidates, Ann Speyer, John Tully and Bobby Berriault were offered as candidates for the two positions.

Democratic Town Committee members representing Ward 4 Democrats cast ballots. Speyer received five votes, Berriault received three and Tully received two. Speyer and Berriault received enough votes to be endorsed in one ballot.

Two incumbents, the Council’s Majority Leader, Ald. Carlo Carlozzi, Jr. (D-5) and Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) were re-nominated to represent Ward 5.

For Board of Education, Democrats endorsed incumbent Merrill Gay (D), and new candidates Monica Dawkins and Diane Leja. If all three are elected, Democrats will regain a six to four majority on the Board of Education.

The Democratic Town Committee re-nominated incumbent Board of Assessment Appeals member Wyatt Bosworth (D), who was joined on the Democratic slate by newcomer Nate Simpson

Incumbent constables Patrice Smith and Tom Shields were re-nominated, along with newcomers Russell Garuti and Marcelle Levesque.

Under Connecticut state law, nominations by the major parties, the Democrats and Republicans, begin with endorsements, such as those done this week by both parties for city offices. If no-one challenges the endorsed candidates in a primary, the endorsed candidates become the official party nominees on August 7, 2019.