Freshman State Senator Andres Ayala was endorsed Monday night for a second two-year term at the Democratic convention at Testo’s Restaurant, but City Librarian Scott Hughes received enough support to qualify for a primary.
Ayala won the endorsement among delegates by a 30-19 margin with Hughes gaining his support from disaffected Dem primarily from the Upper East Side and East End. Hughes says he will primary and is working toward qualifying for funds under the state’s Citizens Election Program of publicly financed races. Under the program he’ll need to raise $15,000 in donations between $5 and $100 to trigger an $83,000 public grant.
Two years ago Ayala won a hard-fought primary against incumbent Ed Gomes and former State Senator Ernie Newton who had the party endorsement. Instead of challenging Ayala this year, Newton has decided to seek his old State House seat that includes his East End voter base.
The convention for state representative seats, probate judge and registrar of voters will take place Wednesday night at Testo’s
Congratulations to Scott Hughes.
He has a tough road ahead of him but he has already traveled a distance most did not think he was capable of. He needs to put together the money and begin on his organization. So he has at least the MO of Lennie’s MOM in motion.
Scott, I wish you the best in this pursuit, also. You have brought a different viewpoint to our community by thinking outside the box as you did with the use of State law and a referendum to rejuvenate the Library System that had been receiving deadly flatlining.
The community responded and overcame the Finch administration opposition. Of course they have their ways of slowing the gears down. The Library Board has had sufficient funds in their annual budgets for several years to build new facilities in the East End and the East Side replacing current sites. However, neither the City nor the Council liaison representatives are in favor of using the prudently budgeted funds to benefit folks on the East Side or East End. Rather they would rather block these funds from expenditure and “reclaim” those dollars unspent to be used to fill “holes” that develop in Mayor Bill’s wake … think access roads in Stratford? … new City positions like education czar, public safety spokesperson, and assorted assistant deputies.
The funds from the 1 Mil referendum should likely have been placed in reserve accounts, but who will credibly address that issue on the part of the City? Will of the people? Time will tell.
Hughes all the way! Next time I see him I will contribute.