Stratford Democrat Pounds Pavement in Pursuit for Mayor

Joe Paul says he’s seeking a party primary because the Democratic Town Committee could have gotten it wrong when it nominated Beth Daponte as its candidate for Stratford mayor.

“The election was so marginal,” Paul said Monday outside Stratford Town Hall. “Sends the hint we may not have made the right choice so let’s make sure.”

Paul, a retired bank executive who serves on the town’s planning commission, lost the endorsement by a 11-vote margin, 38 to 27.

The decision to bid for a party primary was immediate.

“I am continuing my campaign,” Paul said hours after the party nomination went to Daponte, a former college professor who recently worked at the United Nations. “Taxpayers in Stratford cannot afford the same old efforts.”

On Monday, as Paul proceeded to collect names outside Town Hall, he said he already has the more than 500 petition signatures needed to force a party primary in September.

"The people like the opportunity to be able to have a choice about their Democratic candidate,” he said.