New London Files: Campaign Season

One of the problems with living in a small town is that very often those elected to represent us frequently are also friends and it is, at the very least, uncomfortable to disagree with them.

Having said that, I have to take issue with Adam Sprecace's view of how and why Marty Olsen became mayor posted to a number of Day articles; his first reason being that “Mr. Olsen did indeed seek and obtain the Democrats' help in securing the ceremonial mayor position over me in 2010.

One commenter to David Collins' recent article "New London GOP disses its former mayor" posted the following-

“Olsen did not ask Dem's for votes they came to him to block a second term for Pero or Mayorship for you." And anyone who knows the process in the situation knows that that is the truth.

Keep in mind that whoever was chosen as the last ceremonial mayor would retain that title going into the November elections for New London's first elected mayor in 90 years and could certainly sway enough voters to put that person in as New London's elected mayor.

Does anyone actually think the election-wise Democratic Party was going to give that edge to an already popular Pero, previously the top vote getter in New London?

Secondary to recognizing Olsen’s long-time investment in our city and his own party’s failure to support his expected elevation to ceremonial mayor during an earlier council term, it was, if not a brilliant political one-upmanship, a smart political maneuver by the Democrats.

The Republican Party may, in an attempt to gain more council seats this time, have learned a little something about political maneuvering having chosen to endorse Democrat Councilor Marie Friese-McSparran who, denied endorsement by her own party (read Finizio), is running on the Republican ticket.

McSparran, a longtime supporter of public safety and a strong police department which many residents/voters see as having been decimated by a Finizio administration, will now, no doubt, pick up votes from Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliateds, the growing anti-Finizio faction, voters concerned with public safety including the loss of the K9 Unit and those who will admire Friese-McSparran as the maverick and hero the Democrats have helped her to become.

Politics. Almost better than baseball.