Democratic candidate Ellen Zoppo-Sassu won the mayor’s seat in Bristol with 6,413 votes, according to unofficial results reported by the Bristol Registrar of Voters. Two-term Republican incumbent Ken Cockayne received 5,030 votes. Write-in candidate Richard Kriscenski received 43 votes. Meanwhile,…
Tag: election
Survey: Which mayoral candidate will you vote for Nov. 7?
The Observer has set up an informal anonymous survey about the mayoral candidates. Make your choice. The survey will be live until Nov. 6.
Zoppo-Sassu takes on opioid problem with latest platform item
If elected, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, the Democratic candidate for mayor, wants a community action plan to fight opioid overdoses in the city. “According to the Office of the State Medical Examiner, there were 917 statewide fatal overdoses from 2016, which is…
Campaign 2017 begins as Councilor D’Amato tosses his hat in the ring
By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR The 2017 local election season is underway as incumbent councilor, Anthony D’Amato in the first district is the first candidate to file campaign finance paperwork with the city clerk’s office. D’Amato filed the State Elections…
Election Results Are In: Cockayne re-elected mayor; Dems take over Board of Ed
After a close race against Democratic candidate Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Republican incumbent Ken Cockayne has been re-elected as the Mayor of Bristol. According to unofficial results from the Registrar of Voters office, Cockayne received a total of 6,084 votes, just 128…
Campaign 2015: Board of Education
The Observer asked the Board of Education candidates two questions: A) What have been the major educational successes or failures of the past two years B) If you are elected/ reelected, what do you see as the biggest priorities for…
Council candidates square off in debate
By TAYLOR HARTZ STAFF WRITER The auditorium at St. Paul Catholic high School was filled last Monday evening, when the 12 candidates for Bristol City Council took the stage to debate on the biggest issues facing the city. The candidates…
Ken Cockayne seeking 2nd term as mayor
Ken Cockayne, the incumbent mayor, has announced his intent to run for a second term. The former councilor issued a statement about his accomplishments over the past two years as the city’s mayor. The Republican said in the press release,…
GOP picks up another seat during high turnout voting
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER The Republican party of Bristol gained an additional seat in the state legislature after a tight race last Tuesday during the 2014 Election. City Councilor Henri Martin defeated Democratic opponent Rob Michalik for the 31st…
Helpful election information
Who is running? Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Republican: Thomas C. Foley and Heather Somers. Democratic: Dannel P. Malloy and Nancy Wyman Working Families Party: Dannel P. Malloy and Nancy Wyman. Independent Party: Thomas C. Foley and Heather Somers Petitioning candidate:…
4 ballot questions await city voters Nov. 4
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER In 1975, Connecticut developed the City and Town Development Act to help fight high unemployment and other negative economic conditions statewide. Upon adoption and ratification, the act gives certain powers to a municipality to enhance…
Candidate profiles for Campaign 2014
The Observer asked each of the candidates for the city’s three house seats three questions of interest to Bristol residents. Candidates also were asked to provide brief biographies. Dan Santorso Democrat 78th District How would you assess Connecticut’s fiscal health?…
State’s economy, jobs loom large at debate
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER Recent studies show that nearly 50 percent of residents in Connecticut are leaving or plan to leave. It also is rated as the worst state in the union to retire, as indicated by the most…
Michalik, Murphy tour 31st district manufacturers
Touting his plans to bring good-paying jobs to central Connecticut, State Senate Candidate Rob Michalik participated in a tour of local manufacturing companies on Thursday, Oct. 10. Michalik invited U.S. Senator Chris Murphy along for the tour. At their first…
Clinton rallies for Malloy, says he told the truth
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Former President Bill Clinton is crediting Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy with making the unpopular decisions needed to address the state’s budget problems. Speaking to 700 supporters at a rally Monday…
GOP accuses Malloy of circumventing campaign law
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Republican legislative leaders are accusing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Democrats of trying to circumvent Connecticut’s campaign finance laws and spend restricted contributions from state contractors. The claim lodged by…
Absentee ballots now available in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Absentee ballots are now available for registered voters in Connecticut. Voters can download an application for an absentee ballot from the Secretary of the State’s website or contact their local town clerk to apply in-person or…
Money pouring into governor’s race despite system
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ When Connecticut set up its public campaign financing system nearly a decade ago, it was supposed to ensure politicians were not beholden to special interests and corporations in the wake of…
Foley tax return summaries show wide income swings
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Tax return summaries released Friday by Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley show he has experienced wide swings in income. In documents provided to journalists for review, Foley, a wealthy Greenwich businessman,…
Foley calls for cap on Connecticut car taxes
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley says there should be a cap on local taxes paid for vehicles, a component of his proposed urban agenda. Appearing Wednesday in New Britain, the Greenwich businessman said he would push…
Christie: Connecticut 1 of top 2 races for GOP
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) _ New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said Tuesday that Connecticut is one of the top two gubernatorial races in the country and GOP candidate Tom Foley…
Malloy courting women in close re-election race
By SUSAN HAIGH Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s campaign is making the strong sell to female voters in Connecticut, banking that his positions on gun control, pay equity, domestic violence and a higher minimum…
Candidates to debate in chamber-sponsored event Oct. 6
The Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce will host a debate for local state Senate and House of Representative candidates on Monday, Oct. 6 at St. Paul Catholic High School in the auditorium, 1001 Stafford Ave., Bristol. Doors will open at…
State senate candidate Martin wants repeal of law that let accused murderer walk
Republican state senate candidate Henri Martin said in a campaign press release this week Gov. Dannel Malloy should repeal his controversial program that allowed accused child murderer Arthur Hapgood to get out of prison early late last year. The release…
Dem state senate candidate Michalik calls for 5 debates
Democratic state senate hopeful Rob Michalik announced today in a press release from his campaign he is challenging his Republican opponent, Henri Martin, to a series of debates between now and Election Day. Michalik proposed a minimum of five debates…
Dems tap Roche to run in 31st district
In front of more than 50 supporters in the Bristol Public Library Monday night, Bristol resident Dave Roche was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate in the race for the 31st District state senate seat. He will face off against…
Sen. Welch endorses McKinney for governor
State Senator Jason Welch (R-Bristol) on Wednesday announced in a press release that he endorses State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney to be the next governor of the state of Connecticut. “With our Party’s convention less than three weeks away,…
Dave Roche to seek Democratic nod in 31st senate district
Bristol Democrat Dave Roche announced he will be running for State Senate in the 31st District this year. Roche unsuccessfully ran against current Republican State Senator Jason Welch, who is said to be not running this year. Roche is president…
There’s a new mayor in town: Dems, GOP now share council evenly
By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER Bristol has a new mayor, and a City Council that now is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Republican mayoral candidate Ken Cockayne was elected to fill the city’s top job last Tuesday, beating Democratic…
Registrars say voter turn-out ‘larger-than-anticipated’
The Registrars of Voters announced a larger-than-anticipated turnout for today’s election. Participation plummeted in 2009 at 8,767 voters and bounced back only slightly in 2011 with 9,347 voters voting for mayor and city council. “With 60% of the voting day…