Former Mayoral Candidate Switches Parties
'Hartford Is 1-Party Town,' Man Says
POSTED: 6:08 pm EDT June 1,
2009
UPDATED: 7:45 pm EDT June 1,
2009
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Republican who opposed Mayor Eddie Perez, a Democrat, during the 2007 mayoral election said the best way to enact change is to join the mayor's party.J. Stan McCauley made the switch official at the Hartford Registrar's Office on Monday. He said he made the switch for one reason.
"Hartford is a one-party town," he said. "It's impossible to get elected, it's impossible to have influence over the policies and decisions and the executions of those policies if you are not a Democrat."McCauley added that the Democrats' vice grip on political power has created a corrupt mayoral administration and a dysfunctional City Council, which he wants to help fix.South End resident Alison Bassell supported the decision."You know what? It is corrupt and there needs to be a change," she said.McCauley wouldn't say whether he plans to run for mayor or City Council now that he has changed sides politically."Right now, I'm going to join the Democratic party, and that's my focus now," he said.City Council Majority Leader rJo Winch, a Democrat, said McCauley's move is a way to oust a now fellow, and prominent, Democrat."I think it's more like to (figuratively) kill off a Democrat rather than to work with the residents of the city of Hartford," Winch said. "Basically, because you hear the conversation, it's about Eddie Perez, Eddie Perez."Perez's office wouldn't comment on the move.Another Councilor, Ken Kennedy, said he welcomes McCauley to his party."We have a big tent," he said, and he looks forward to working with him.
| PDF: McCauley's Statement |
Previous Stories:
- May 29, 2009: Mayor, Council Spar Over Hartford Budget
- March 19, 2009: Mayor Perez's Corruption Trial Set For Fall
- February 16, 2009: Perez To Step Down As Head Of BOE
- February 6, 2009: Costa Pleads Not Guilty To Charges
- February 4, 2009: Warrant: Perez May Face Extortion Charge
- February 4, 2009: Mayor's Fake E-Mail Account In Spotlight
- February 3, 2009: Perez Pleads Not Guilty To Bribery Charges
- January 31, 2009: Mayor's Arrest Has Ripple Effect On Council
- January 29, 2009: Perez Back To Work Following Arrest
- January 28, 2009: Affidavit: Perez Used Fake E-Mail Account
- January 28, 2009: Council Ponders Changes After Mayor's Arrest
- January 27, 2009: Future Uncertain Following Mayor Perez's Arrest
- November 21, 2007: Mayor Subject Of Grand Jury Investigation
- August 30, 2007: Mayoral Candidate Wants Ethics Investigation
- August 17, 2007: Mayor On Defense After House Search
- August 17, 2007: Contractor Responds To Perez Investigation
- August 16, 2007: State Inspectors Search Hartford Mayor's Home
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