Watts outlines his strengths as Councilman, with Zullo’s help

NORWALK, Conn. – Compliments from former Mayor Frank Zullo last week prompted Common Councilman David Watts (D-District A) to send a message to a reporter: “I’m no idiot.”

Watts said he has gotten phone calls of support from constituents who say they can’t believe he’s not going to run for re-election, but some people suggested that he’s holding the Democratic Party back and he decided that it’s time to go.

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“You have been the chairman through rough and muddy waters, but also through some good times,” Zullo said at the District A meeting. “You’ve been a good Councilman, you’ve on balance been a good chairman. You’re not going to run again and we appreciate all that you’ve done. You’ve held this board together, you’ve had to grow, you’ve had to grow substantially. That’s something that you should be pleased with and thankful of.”

“Sometimes the press will tear you down,” Watts said. “… Sometimes the African American community, sometimes we feel like the press don’t highlight the good things, they only just tear you down sometimes. It hurts, but you know what? That’s the price of leadership.”

Watts went on to say that he always worked for his constituents, and he did it for free. “I’m no idiot,” Watts said. “I graduated with honors.”

“I think it’s hard for people to think that I would let this go,” Watts said after the meeting. “In reality, the rise of certain people meant the death of me. That’s just the way it is. I think I have to exit the stage. People said maybe I was the person who caused division. … People in general would say you’re the reason, you’re the polarizing figure, the Democratic Party can’t grow while you’re still there.”

People don’t know his record, he said, listing service on the Human Relations Commission and the Zoning Commission and having worked in the mayor’s office running the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment program for a season, he said.

“I ran in a primary for state rep, I won the nomination fair and square,” Watts said. “There is nothing left for me to do really other than help candidates get involved and be active.”