Last week, State Rep. Tim O’Brien announced the formation of an exploratory committee as he considers running for Mayor of New Britain. The Italian Fraternal Society was packed for the announcement on St. Patrick’s Day Eve, with upwards of 200 turning out.

James Craven of the New Britain Herald covered the event:

State Rep. Timothy O’Brien announced he was considering a run for mayor Monday night and ignited a crowd of nearly 200 Monday night with an oration promising better times, renewed vision and a new beginning for city residents.

“We can do it better,” O’Brien exhorted several times in what may be a campaign slogan voters will be seeing this fall.

[...]

O’Brien said he would be going into the community during the next two months to find out what the major concerns of residents.

“New Britain needs hope,” he said. “We need to take back the country that was ours to begin with. I believe in you and I know you believe in New Britain.”

When you watch Tim O’Brien’s speech–even if you know nothing else about him–you will learn two things:

1. He is passionate about New Britain, and sees enormous potential for this city.
2. He has a tremendous base of support for his exploratory candidacy. So much so in fact that I had to cut the first five minutes of the speech during which he thanked all of the many people who came to speak on his behalf.

I am excited about the possibility of Tim throwing his hat into the ring. New Britain needs deserves a mayor who is not only committed to the city, but who envisions a bright future it too. Tim O’Brien is that person.

Click the thumbnails to view photos from the event.

Other reports:
O’Brien Considers Mayoral Bid – James Craven, New Britain Herald
NEW BRITAIN: Rep. O’Brien Considers Running For Mayor

The above video was recently uploaded to YouTube and received some attention from NBC30:

The mayor said the call is 2 years old and made during a time when much of Connecticut was underwater, including parts of New Britain. But the conversation is receiving new attention, especially the parts that are laced with profanity and threats.

“There’s an *beep* firefighter out there. I’m ready to go out there and choke this guy. Because, you know, he’s got them riled up like it’s my fault it’s rained eight days in a row,” the mayor continues.

NBC 30 asked Stewart about his comments.

Stewart: “I didn’t say that.” NBC 30: “You didn’t make any threats?” Stewart: “Never ever, ever. So that was fabricated.”

But the recording goes on, and the name-calling continues.

“She’s screaming at me, ‘Want to get votes? Get your *beep*out here.’ And I’m like you *beep*,” the mayor said.

“In crisis situations, people say a lot of things and we regret what we say from time to time, but I didn’t use it in a way that was harmful to anyone in anyway,” Stewart said.

Look. The problem isn’t that the mayor has a potty mouth. I swear all the fucking time. The problem is that Mayor Stewart is using derogatory language to describe his constituents. On tape!

Even if the tape is two years old, he should have known that the conversation he was having with a dispatcher was being recorded. If he didn’t know, then is he really wise enough to be in charge of New Britain?

Assuming that he isn’t so naive as to believe that his conversation with a dispatcher wasn’t being recorded, isn’t it fair to raise questions as to what kinds of things that Mayor Stewart might be saying when he isn’t being recorded? Isn’t it fair to wonder whether Mayor Stewart is really cut out for this job, with all of its ups and downs?

Even though the constituent calls he complains about were coming in at 3am, that’s hardly justification for his remarks. If only being Mayor of New Britain were but a nine-to-five job. I imagine that running a city or town is tough work, and mostly thankless, yet there are still many people willing to do the job.

Mayor Tim Stewart, as revealed by his own actions, is not one of them. He’s said that he won’t run again in 2009 because being mayor isn’t worth the trouble. It’s not supposed to be all sunshine and rainbows anyway. So why not let someone else take a stab at running New Britain? Jim Wyskiewicz is up to it.

“I’m proud to be endorsed by the Working Families Party,” said Phil Sherwood, Democratic candidate for Common Council in the 4th district. “Working Families doesn’t see politics as left versus right, but as top versus bottom. I’m proud to say that I’m committed to fighting for New Britain’s working families.”
[...]
In addition to Phil Sherwood in the 4th district, the WFP is also endorsing Democrats Mike Trueworthy, Eva Magnuszewski, and Paula Mele for at large seats on the Council, Democrat Greg Gerratana in the 1st district, and Democrat Aram Ayalon for Board of Education.

Congratulations all around to these six fine New Britain Democrats. New Britain voters can cast their vote for any of these candidates on either the Democratic Party line (Row B) or the Working Families Party line (I regret that I do not know the row…), and it will count toward that candidate’s total.

Here are some relevant links for some of the candidates listed above:
Phil Sherwood at the New Britain DTC Candidates Forum 6/28
Mike Trueworthy at the New Britain DTC Candidates Forum 6/28
Paula Mele at the New Britain DTC Candidates Forum 6/28 — Paula Mele Official Website
Eva Magnuszewski at the New Britain DTC Candidates Forum 6/28
Greg Gerratana at the New Britain DTC Candidates Forum 6/28

I regret that I either don’t have or neglected to post Aram Ayalon’s speech from the 6/28 candidates forum.

But in a moment of candor Monday night in his office, Stewart said that while he is looking forward to serving in a third term, this may very well be his last time he will run for mayor, because he is tired of the troubles that come with the position.
He said the Democrats have hit a new low, and he can’t stand to see good public policy sabotaged “just because someone is trying to create an issue.”
“I have no plans to run again for mayor after this election,” he said.

_{From the New Britain Herald. Emphasis added.}
Yes, it must be a huge pain in the ass to be Mayor of New Britain, what with people out there disagreeing with you and all. Why not consider someone who is willing to put up with all the “trouble” of running a city?

• I heard that Jim Wyskiewicz’ website has added functionality enabling you to electronically request delivery of a lawn sign or offer to host a house party for Jim. Guess what else? There’s a debate set for Oct. 16, a date on which I just so happen to be on break from Wes, and therefore plan to attend.
• Ned Lamont is gonna be at CCSU this afternoon:
  

  Central Connecticut State University will be hosting a forum at 4pm on Wednesday, September 26 to discuss: The War, The Surge, and Staying the Course in Iraq. The panel includes Brigadier General John Johns (Ret.) and Brookings Scholar Michael O’Hanlon. The forum will be moderated by former Democratic candidate for Senate Ned Lamont.
  [...]
  Where:
  1615 Stanley Street
  New Britain, CT
  06050
  When: 04:00 PM – 05:15 PM

  Kirby and I once interviewed Brigadier General John H. Johns, but the video was canned by YouTube along with my old account. Perhaps I can get it back online soon.

• CT Bob is kicking ass with his home-built teleprompter:
  

  While recently shooting a bunch of PSA-style videos of Democratic candidates, I was faced with the problem of getting them to look natural while reading their prepared statements. Cue cards didn’t look natural, so I decided to build a teleprompter so they could maintain “eye contact” with the camera.