Will April Showers Bring Primary Flowers? Date Set For Third Dem City Council Battle

A third Democratic primary for City Council in the North End 133rd District will take place April 10. Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis, who overturned the results of the previous primaries, set the date in conjunction with the candidates and elections officials.

The primary pits party-endorsed Michael DeFillipo and Jeanette Herron against former State Rep. Bob Keeley and zoning Commission Anne Pappas Phillips.

The first primary back in September ended in a tie between Keeley and Herron with DeFilippo the leading vote producer. A recount included a previously unaccounted-for absentee ballot for Herron giving her a one-vote edge. Keeley challenged the results. Bellis ordered a new primary.

In the do-over Keeley was down 18 votes to Herron with DeFilippo once again leading. Keeley, who failed to win the machine count, and Phillips challenged the legality of their opponents absentee ballot operation. Bellis concurred, ordering another primary. Bellis said Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa prevailing upon Police Chief AJ Perez to assign a police officer to pick up absentee ballots was an abuse of the election process.

The case was appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court which upheld Bellis.

The top two Dem finishers will face Republicans Michele Minutolo and Neville De la Rosa in the general election to be scheduled.

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8 comments

  1. A new wild card has entered the race. A Town Committee Primary in the District comes first.
    Can the challenge slate get more name recognition to put them over the top or will the incumbents solidify their base?
    Do AB’s play a role or is voting by mail a thing of the past and a now emphasis is placed on machine voting?
    Will the Town Committee vote be a harbinger of things to come or totaling another story?
    Stay tuned kids.

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    1. That’s an interesting development, Bob. The DTC primary comes before. That ought to shake things up. There are many people working to upset the DTC, break The Evil Emperor’s hold.

      Mr. Frank is right, committee votes usually produce low turnouts. This time it could well be different.

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    1. … You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
      Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak
      And says, “How does it feel to be such a freak?”
      And you say, “Impossible!” as he hands you a bone
      And something is happening here but you don’t know what it is
      Do you, Mr. Jones?

      You have many contacts among the lumberjacks
      To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
      But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you to all give a check
      To tax-deductible charity organizations…

      Ah, you’ve been with the professors and they’ve all liked your looks
      With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
      You’ve been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books
      You’re very well-read, it’s well-known
      But something is happening here and you don’t know what it is
      Do you, Mr. Jones?

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