3rd Ward vs. At-Large

Kelly wrote: Interesting question and posed for Mike Presta:   Why is Ann Mort running for a Seat that she was key in helping to abolish?   SO many answers to this question!

That’s an interesting question, but it is really one Ms. Mort should be answering, not me.

However, since you asked, I can hypothesize:

Since no one seemed to be coming forward in the First Ward, perhaps Middletown’s movers and shakers saw her as a perfect fit pseudo-running mate for Lawrence “It’s-always-sunny-in-Middletown” Mulligan???

There is merit to Acclaro’s argument.  In two years, when the terms of the four Council persons representing the Wards expire, the “down-sizing” of city council (to a total of FIVE—four plus the mayor) will take effect, and only TWO new at-large seats will be up for grabs.  Perhaps MMF thinks it would be much easier for them to re-elect an incumbent than a new face, especially if there were to be three non-MMF incumbents running for the TWO seats???  (The fourth incumbent will be either Mr. Picard, if he loses his two-year-early at-large attempt or his MMF hand-picked, appointed successor if he wins this attempt.)

Also, one of the reasons given for the elimination of Wards and down-sizing council was that having seven council members made council too difficult to control.  Perhaps MMF thought that by installing another compliant person who they are certain will “play nice” would help keep the seven-member council under control???