Text from Hartford Courant staff report; video by Angelica Spanos, Fox CT
It doesn’t get any more local than this.
Voters throughout the state will cast ballots Tuesday for town and city offices. In three cities, the mayor’s office is at stake.
This is also the first year that Connecticut residents can register to vote on Election Day.
In New Britain, Democratic Mayor Tim O’Brien is trying to hold off Republican challenger Erin Stewart.
Stewart accuses O’Brien of secrecy and arrogance, says he’s fudged the budget numbers with back-room fund transfers and warns that the city is headed the wrong way.
O’Brien had defended his record, saying: “My administration is open and has taken steps to make information more accessible online and at city hall. I talk to residents every single day, and not just during scheduled office hours. As for what I’ve done to improve the transparency of our city government as a whole, I signed our city’s first ordinance that allows for public participation on special session dates.”
In Bristol, candidates Ken Cockayne and Chris Wilson differ on issues, but the overriding distinction is their belief about what the city needs most urgently.
Cockayne says the primary goal is to stop municipal spending because homeowners can’t afford more taxes; Wilson says years of penny-pinching have gone too far and jeopardize Bristol’s quality of life.
Mayor Art Ward is not running for re-election.
In New Haven, Democratic Sen. Toni Harp and independent candidate Justin Elicker are running for the mayoral seat being vacated by John DeStefano.
Voters in Hartford will decide three referendum questions that deal with public campaign financing and training and certification for the registrars of voters.
Election Day registration is not available at polling places. Contact the registrars of voters office for information about your city’s or town’s designated Election Day registration location and identification requirements. You will need to provide proof of identity and residency.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.