After a close defeat, West Haven Mayor Ed O’Brien is hoping voters who didn’t turn out for him on primary night will go to the polls and write in his name.
The Democrat who defeated him says she’s gearing up for a fight to make sure that won’t happen.
“Nancy Rossi has no vision. She has no compassion. And she has stood in the way of progress of the city for years,” O’Brien argued during a speech Thursday.
“Do they want a jewelry store owner - because that’s what he did as a profession - or do they want a certified public accountant to take care of their finances?” Mayoral Candidate Nancy Rossi retaliated.
After losing the Democratic primary, O’Brien tonight announced he still wants to be mayor and asked his supporters to write him in on election day.
“Now is not the time to give the city over to someone who has zero experience in leadership and has blocked the city’s progress for many, many years,” O’Brien said.
It’s a reversal from last Tuesday when he conceded the race to former Councilmember Nancy Rossi. And Rossi isn’t taking too kindly to her opponent’s change of heart.
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“If he’s a true Democrat, then you accept defeat that you lost the democratic primary. You walk away and in two years you come back if you feel that things are not being done the way they should be,” Rossi said.
At Thursday’s announcement O’Brien said a general expectation by residents that he would win in a landslide led to low voter turnout and Rossi’s win.
“They thought we were doing good. They thought I didn’t need it,” O’Brien said.
But Rossi said voters had their chance to support O’Brien and didn’t, and now she’s looking ahead to victory in November.
“To me it doesn’t change the campaign in any way shape of form. His name was printed on the ballot the last time. Now they have to write it in,” Rossi said.
Voters will be able to make their decision on election day on November 7.
