Paul Looks Back on Mayor Bid: 'There Should Be More Support from DTC'

Joe Paul's loss by 1,350 votes to Mayor John A. Harkins on Nov.5 didn't just lead to Stratford's first-ever second mayoral term. It has also led to soul-searching for Stratford Democrats.

Paul did not originally gain the endorsement of the Democratic Town Committee — that honor went to Beth Daponte, whom Paul defeated in a September runoff. Now Paul is questioning the level of support he received from the DTC between the primary and the election.

"I feel there should be more support from DTC," said Paul in an interview with the Stratford Star. "When you are not the endorsed candidate it is difficult, and it shouldn’t be ... We had to overcome a bit of resistance because I was not endorsed."

The DTC chose Daponte as its candidate in July, but Paul gathered enough signatures to mount a successful primary campaign.

DTC Chairman Richard Buturla told the Star the entire committee probably did not support Paul, but some did.

"In the end Beth supported Joe publicly," he said. "Did every member put their support behind Joe? Probably not ... Joe got as much as you’re going to get after a primary."

Paul received 42 percent of the vote against Harkins in November. The former candidate said he wasn't aware of any contributions from the DTC, although treasurer Ken Bishop said the committee provided $2,000.

Paul said on the whole he would have liked to see more visibility among Democratic candidates.

"Candidates are supposed to work together," he said. "When you have some who are halfhearted and not visible, it shows a weak infrastructure. It was a strike against our credibility."