Wall of Shame: Four New Britain Democrats
CT, New Britain, Town Blog January 29th, 2007
(Left to Right: James Wyskiewicz, Paul Catanzaro, Lawrence Hermanowski, and John Carroll)
There’s a lot about this situation that is just plain messed up. I heard it first from CTProg at My Left Nutmeg, but I’ll quote from New Britain Community News:
(January 28, 2007) - A minority faction of City Council Democrats teamed up with three Republicans last Wednesday to fill a Ward One Council seat vacant since last May when Atty. James Sullivan resigned. Voted in for the remainder of this term was Edward S. Kirejczyk, Jr., a one-time Democratic Party Chair and alderman in the 1970s, who rejoined the Town Committee from District 10 in 2006.
[...]
The minority Democratic faction sponsoring Kirejczyk was led by Alderman at Large James Wyskiewicz and includes Alderman At Large Paul Catanzaro, Ward 4 Ald. Lawrence Hermanowski and Ward 5 Ald. John Carroll. Previously, this faction repeatedly blocked efforts within the Democratic caucus to fill the vacancy with compromise candidates. They had objected to filling the vacancy with former Ald. Rick Lopes who had been favored by a majority of Town Committee members in District One.
[...]
“I understand that compromise could have been reached within the caucus when a number of candidates for the vacancy emerged, “said [Democratic Town Committee Chairman John] McNamara. “Former Ald. Rick Lopes was not the issue, the obstinacy of the minority within the Democratic caucus was. The result will be a less effective Common Council for the remainder of the term.”
Added McNamara: “We are fortunate that this is a municipal election year when these matters will be decided by voters instead of a faction of the Council motivated more by personal vendettas and self promotion than the public interest.”
Four Democrats in New Britain. Four.
That such shit could happen right under my nose in New Britain should be chalked up to the optimism of youth.
Don’t make me go all CTBlogger on anyone’s ass and start taping these city council meetings. Actually, it’s too late–I’ll see ya’ll there.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
ALWAYS RECORD YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS! Hold the Dems accountable….
I’m scaring the crap out of everyone of Danbury because of my camera…and it’s an election year.
January 30th, 2007 at 2:12 am
NEW BRITAIN - During last week’s Common Council meeting, Edward Kirejczyk was appointed to represent the 1st Ward.
At first, the council voted 6-6, but then Alderman Louis Salvio, who acted as chairman after Mayor Timothy Stewart and Alderwoman Suzanne Bielinski stepped down, broke the tie in a 7-6 vote.
Though Kirejczyk, a Democrat, fills the council seat that had been vacant for seven months, some Democrats are angry with the result.
Before the resolution went to a vote, Alderman Michael Trueworthy proposed an amendment to the effect that Richard Lopes, who is a considered a more liberal Democrat than Kirejczyk, also be considered to fill the seat. Lopes was backed by the Democratic Town Committee; Kirejczyk was not. However, the amendment lost in a 7-6 vote when Salvio broke the tie.
“Through a dirty parliamentary procedure and playing politics with what should be a respected process, a few Democrats, who lost the vote in caucus, teamed up with the Republicans to fill a vacancy on the council with a person (Kirejczyk) who did not have a majority of the votes,” said Trueworthy.
Besides the three Republicans voting for an un-endorsed Democratic candidate, four Democrats, including Alderman James Wyskiewicz, a potential candidate for mayor this year, voted against the majority Democratic caucus.
Trueworthy said turning the decision over to Stewart and the Republicans is “reprehensible and is an affront to the party that nominated them.
“These people have no honor or respect for those who have put them into office,” Trueworthy said in a statement.
Wyskiewicz, who responded to Trueworthy’s statement, said he voted against Lopes because he made a commitment to Kirejczyk. Besides sticking to his word, Wyskiewicz said, the people of the 1st District also voted against Lopes in 2006 after James Sullivan resigned from the council. He said the Democratic caucus resulted in only a slim majority to endorse Lopes.
“It’s sad they have to use these tactics,” said Wyskie-wicz, referring to Trueworthy’s statement. “People are tired of these attacks.”
Alderman John Carroll, who put forth the resolution to appoint Kirejczyk, said Kirejczyk is an outstanding citizen who served the Democrats of the city.
“He was a former alderman in the 1970s and served as chairman of the Democratic Town Committee,” said Carroll.
“At least give the man a chance before you crucify him.”
Carroll also said he didn’t vote for Lopes because the people of the first ward voted him “dead last even after a Republican.”
“The Democrats are mad because the majority of the Democrats on the Town Committee wanted Lopes, but the four of us were doing what the public wanted,” said Carroll. “I went along with what the voters wanted.”
January 30th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Yeah, don’t worry, there’s already a bunch of us filling out the forms to run for council this year, there’s going to be hell to pay.
January 30th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Connecticut Local Politics - http://www.ctlocalpolitics.net
NOT GOOD –CT General Assembly – 26 Comments.
Dems seem to be calling it a “prank.” Uh, huh.
Lopes and Palmer….dig away…It would only be fitting if Rick Lopes (aka. DeFronzo’s aide) was the ring leader…..not to mention that his involvement would totally remove any standing the Democrats have that ‘it was a prank’ by someone who didn’t know better.
Not only is Lopes a five-year veteran of the Capitol, he’s also a former Alderman from New Britain. You may recall that he was the elected official who was a New Britain officeholder who falsely registered his car(s) in West Hartford to take advantage of the lower mill and insurance rates. Incidentally, he lost in 2005.
This is too sad to be true….. While I’m sure they both would appreciate your incredulity….it’s confirmed: Lopes and Palmer. And to be clear: this incident IS talking about Rick lopes (legislative aide) and a Mr. Palmer (full-time GAE clerk and former aide to LG Sullivan) versus a ‘$10/hour sessional assistant clerk’.
We think these two “pranksters” should have some sort of disciplinary action taken against them, and though I don’t know all the details firing them should be an option.