According to Hartford Democratic Town Committee bylaws, The Town Chairperson is required to call for a special meeting within two days after Town Committee elections. The meeting is required to be held within 10 days for the purpose of selecting a new Town Chair.
Hartford's Town Chair Sean Arena has not issued notice for that meeting, instead relying on a clause in the State Central bylaws that allows him to postpone that meeting for 30 days.
Confused? Welcome to the club.
Most political observers are telling me that the apparent reason for the delay is due to the fact that neither Sean Arena or his apparent challenger Bruce Rubenstein have the necessary 34 votes to lock up a win. The 30 days will most likely give Arena and his supporters the extra time for lobbying and arm twisting.
On top of that is another arrival on the Town Chairman hopefuls. One name that is being floated is 5th District Town Committee member Jean Holloway. Although Holloway (apparently no relation to the other Holloway's on the 7th District "non-profit" slate) hasn't confirmed her candidacy but others are telling me she is definitely in.
Other names are also being floated and include members from the 1st district.
I think one thing is clear though, if Arena had the votes, the meeting would have already been called. Bruce Rubenstein also claims to have the votes to win, but he has been around long enough to know that funny things can happen to people who give you their word.
In the meantime the city keeps running like a ship without a rudder.
A word of advice; forget the ego's, forget the personalities and for once start doing what is right for Hartford.
This says more about Arena and his lack of votes than Rubenstein. Jean shoulda won it last election, hopefully she'll put her hat in the ring and stoke a fire.
ReplyDeleteIf Bruce had the votes he could get 20 of his supporters to call a special meeting.
ReplyDeletewow...is that true? if so, does that mean that he doesn't have 20 votes? already started hearing negative rumors regarding bruce which i won't dignify by spreading here. needless to say that at least one side is resorting to mudslinging.
ReplyDeleteDidn't say he didn't have 20 votes (I don't know what he has or doesn't have). Just pointing out that, if he had a majority, he could get a special meeting called by having 20 of supporters ask for one. Fact that he hasn't asked for a meeting suggests that he has some number less than 34 if push comes to shove. Perhaps more than 20, perhaps less, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteThe Town Committee election will be at the Polo Club...can anyone dance for us there?
ReplyDelete