Democrats Don't Pick Allyn, Either

The Democratic Town Committee has been beating the bushes for a qualified candidate to run for mayor, and so far has come up empty. With less than a month before the party caucus, things are beginning to look a bit desperate.

But apparently not that desperate.

At the DTC's monthly meeting Monday, member David Holdridge reported that Republican Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. had asked to have the committee consider endorsing him for re-election.

Allyn, who announced in March he will seek a second term, was not endorsed for re-election by the Republicans. Instead, the RTC voted 27-9 to endorse John Rodolico for mayor. 

On Monday, the Democrats also passed.

"The consensus of the party is no thank you," said Mary McGrattan, who serves on the Town Council.

"I agree with Mary," fellow councilor Bill Saums said. "There is no point in going forward with this. The record speaks for itself. Enough said."

But if not Allyn, then who?

It won't be Holdridge, who announced Monday that after 16 years he will not seek another term on the Town Council. "They were not contiguous years," said Holdridge, explaining why he is pictured in several of those faded council photos from decades past. 

Ellin Grenger, who ran a spirited race for the Judge of Probate nomination, only to finish behind Nick Kepple, is a potential candidate for Town Council, but not mayor, she said.

McGrattan, who once had the job, apparently is not interested. And although he has been rumored to be a fall-back, DTC Chairman Ed Lynch wasn't exactly campaigning for the endorsement on Monday.

Could the Democrats simply not have a candidate for mayor?

"I want a candidate who can win," Saums said. "I don't want a candidate just to have a name on the ballot."

Other members suggested that worse than having a weak candidate would be to have no candidate at all. "It's embarrassing either way," said Julian Lupienski.

"We should be thinking of what's good for the voters," Holdridge said. "What we need is a qualified candidate."

"Well I hear one talking," Lupienski replied.

"I'm willing to go with a qualified candidate or none at all," McGrattan said.

"I'd like to keep looking," Saums said. "I'd like a candidate we can all get behind. We have another 25-30 days."