Norwalk District A Dems given hope: they might vote

NORWALK, Conn. – District A Democrats may get to weigh in like any other district next month and recommend candidates, even after their chairman informed them on Thursday that their opinion doesn’t really matter, historically speaking.

The field of potential candidates includes at least three people vying to be Board of Education members – none of them named Rosa Murray – and at least four people looking to be on the Common Council. That includes incumbent Councilwoman Eloisa Melendez and former Councilman Steve Serasis, but also on the horizon are newcomers Jalin Saed and Laoise King, the favorite of Chairman David Watts. Former Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel declined to say if he is running for any position.

(See video at end of story.)

All potential candidates present, including BoE hopefuls Nicole Ayers, Joe Perella and Yvel Crevecoeur, spoke to the district members. Garfunkel and First Taxing District Commissioner Frank Zullo went to bat for Serasis’ rights, reminding members that he is interested, even as Watts portrayed others as the shoe-ins.

Watts had planned to tell the district who Democratic Town Committee members favored, but was stopped in this endeavor by fellow DTC-ites Garfunkel and Melendez. A conference between the three in the hallway produced the compromise – District A will hold a special meeting next month, before the DTC endorses candidates, to vote on their own recommendations.

Last month, Watts told District A members that he would consult with the DTC members from the district on the choices, because they were the ones who actually decide who will be endorsed. This was unprecedented, according to longtime Democrats, including Galen Wells. Democrats speaking off the record were appalled.

This month, Watts offered more of an explanation, as well as a take on the repercussions of the meeting.

“There’s been a lot of noise. Just like anything else, it’s noise,” Watts said. “District A has operated a little bit different because we haven’t had the numbers of other districts. Ward B was always the more organized ward committee. All across, I know seeing now it’s a little bit more operational. District E is functioning well. District A was always kind of small. The town committee members always made the decision. After people looked into it, that’s exactly what they did. That’s just the reality of the situation.”

Watts said he had taken a poll of DTC members and would reveal who the candidates would be after everyone who was interested spoke their minds. “I do have my biases and I’m going to tell you who I am going to be supporting,” Watts said, before explaining that it’s a democracy and people are free to do as they choose.

It was at this point that he announced that Murray was not running for re-election. “She plans to endorse a particular candidate. Before I reveal that, District A has one candidate that I think we would be lucky to have, and that story broke last night.”

By that he meant Laoise King.

Garfunkel called Watts on that, pointing out that King shouldn’t be called a candidate yet. Melendez suggested that Watts follow the lead of DTC Chairman Ed Camacho and have newcomers introduce themselves. The meeting proceeded in a calm manner.

King introduced herself later (see separate story) and Watts began to gush on her behalf; Garfunkel protested that it wasn’t the time for editorializing. Garfunkel announced that Serasis also would like to run.

Serasis would be a good at large candidate, given that he has great name recognition, Watts said. “The only way we are going to get the Council back, by nominating people with name recognition,” Watts said.

Asked after the meeting about the apparent contradiction – name recognition is the biggest factor, according to Watts, but he was recommending the newcomer King – Watts said King’s credentials are outstanding.

Watts also offered an explanation during the meeting for his comments last month that incumbents were preferred. It would be hard to get people to run if you didn’t support them later, given that there is no compensation other than the good feeling that you have helped someone, he said. Some people had asked about running for taxing district commissioner and he had told them “no” because there are incumbents, he said.

He had taken a poll of DTC members and knew “who would be endorsed at the convention, not who may be but who will be,” he said. Taxing district commissioners will be endorsed, he said.

Then it was back to introductions. Ayers, Perella and Crevecoeur took their turns; Elsa Peterson mentioned Sarah Lemiuex was also interested.

Watts was about to reveal who would be endorsed by the DTC, but Ayers objected. So did Garfunkel.

It’s an informational meeting, with 22 District A members who have earned the right to vote, Garfunkel said. But, Watts said, the DTC actually has the vote.

“I understand that,” Garfunkel said, testily.

“We find ourselves in the weeds sometimes with this discussion. We are going around. The fact is, state law is absolutely clear, and people have researched this. … If you guys feel comfortable that you want to recommend a candidate then I am not going to stand in the way.”

“That is the purpose of this committee,” Garfunkel said.

“All due respect, it’s nonbinding,” Watts said.

“I understand that, but that’s the reason we come to meetings,” Garfunkel said.

“What I don’t want to do is waste people’s time, and they show up and there’s a bunch of arguing,” Watts said.

Common Council members from both sides of the aisle have complained about Watts wasting their time with arguing.

“All I can do is tell them what the facts are. … You have to get your delegates who will vote for you,” Watts said. “… The most important thing, the first hurdle that the candidate needs, is the endorsement process. Whether we support them or not is great, but the first thing that they need at the convention is to have their name called.”

Melendez protested.

“At this point, we’re just going to go straight to the convention,” Watts said.

At her continued urging, the trio went into the hall.

Mood shift.

“We’ll make the announcement formally at the next District A meeting. Then what we will do is we’ll go into that at some point,” Watts said, resuming the meeting.

Melendez confirmed after the meeting that this meant the district would vote to recommend candidates.

The majority may have spoken, Watts said, his speech continuing.

“We want to make sure you guys feel welcome here, your input means a lot,” Watts said. “I remember when I first got involved, the meeting used to go down where, the motion to open the meeting and then motion to close the meeting. That’s what happened to me in the other room, that’s how District A used to run. I didn’t like it. … One of the things I would like to do is make sure we have an open and transparent process. You guys are here and by no means do I mean to disenfranchise anybody. That’s not what I am about. I am always fighting for people.”