UPDATED: Buscetto Announces Write-In Campaign For Mayor

Citing continued encouragement despite a primary defeat, real estate developer and City Councilor Michael Buscetto III announced today that he will be a write-in candidate for mayor in the November election.

"This is an extremely important election for New London," Buscetto said. "I continue to receive encouragement from throughout the city and I cannot ignore this strong support. As such, I am proud to announce my intentions to launch a write-in campaign for mayor."

Buscetto received the endorsement of several unions prior to the primary, including the New London Firefighters Local 1522, , , and , and the New London Education Association. He was also , a charge Buscetto has denied.

Supporters have suggested a write-in campaign on his Facebook page, and a sign in a window at also asks voters to write in Buscetto for mayor.

"For the general election, I believe people will actually vote for the candidate they support," Buscetto said in an e-mail. "My intention is to give a broader range of voters a chance to vote for me."

In July, the over City Council Michael Passero and attorney Daryl Finizio. Buscetto received 52 votes in the nomination process, while Passero received 17 and Finizio six. Passero was soon after selected for the Democratic slate for City Council.

Finizio challenged the result and gathered enough signatures to force a primary. In that , Finizio had 1,108 votes to Buscetto’s 744. Finizio said the announcement would not affect his campaign and felt support for Buscetto would be “minimal at best.”

“I think that while he has every right to do it, he should legitimately assess his viability and whether what he’s doing is in the best interest of the city of New London or the Democratic Party…I don’t think it will really affect the race much in the end. I think Mr. Buscetto has made himself something of a political sideshow at this point,” said Finizio.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, write-in candidates must register by 4 p.m. on Oct. 25 to be eligible for office in the event of an election victory. The one-page form requests a candidate’s name, address, the office they are running for, and the term of the office.

Besides Finizio, Buscetto is also running against Republican candidate and City Councilor Rob Pero as well as independent candidates Lori Hopkins-Cavanagh, a real estate broker; Andrew Lockwood, a realtor; and Martin Olsen, who is currently serving as the last ceremonial mayor on the City Council.