Council Faction Allows Republicans To Fill Democratic Vacancy In Ward One

From New Britain Democrat e-letter

(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.

Parliamentary maneuvering marked the vote which was won by Kirejczyk 7 to 6. Republican Mayor Tim Stewart, favoring the Kirejczyk nomination, deftly stepped down as a potential tie breaker, claiming that the decision to fill the vacancy should be made by the Council. Council President Suzanne Bielinski also stepped aside --preferring not to participate in a process in which she could not vote unless there was a tie. That left Republican Leader Louis Salvio with the gavel and an inevitable vote in favor of Kirejczyk.

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.

Alderman At Large Michael Trueworthy, the Council Majority Leader, denounced the Wyskiewicz-led faction in a statement released after the meeting. "As a Democrat, I am deeply disappointed with the four Democrats who joined with the Republicans, Trueworthy said. "Turning this decision over to the Mayor and to the Republican members of the Common Council is reprehensible and an affront to the party that nominated them and the caucus of which they are members. These people have no honor or respect for those who have put them into office and will do anything to further their own ambitions." Trueworthy's remarks were echoed by Ward 5 Ald. Sal Bonola who faulted the faction at the Council meeting for not working within the caucus and the party to resolve differences.

Democratic Town Chairman John McNamara also expressed disappointment that the "four Council Democrats abdicated their responsibility to their caucus. Their behavior shows disrespect for colleagues and undermines the role this City Council needs to play in exercising oversight over the city administration."

"I understand that compromise could have been reached within the caucus when a number of candidates for the vacancy emerged, "said 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."