By Bill Riccio, Jr.
Voice Editor

Voters go to the polls Tuesday to determine whether a two-term incumbent should get another two years, or he should be replaced by rivals from either the Republican or A Better Future Parties. Mayor John Picard faces GOP contender Steven Mullins and Seventh District Councilwoman Nancy Rossi in a three-way race. Rossi, meanwhile, will be on the Democratic Party line looking to retain her seat.

The campaign has been a rather quiet one by city standards. Picard has chosen to run a low-key campaign, highlighting his record of bringing down the city’s deficit and “forging relationships” with developers and companies that do business with the city.

He pointed to the fact the city’s $14.3 million deficit has been brought below $4 million, and should be retired within the next term. He opted not to follow the recommendations of the Connecticut Municipal Finance Assistance Commission (MFAC), which he said wanted him to raise the mill rate and bond to retire the deficit.

In his last two budgets, Picard has kept the mill rate the same (not counting district fire taxes), and has retired the debt through cost-cutting measures.

Rossi, who could not get on the ballot in September’s primary due to lack of signatures, decided to take the endorsement of the A Better Future Party. This has deepened fissures in an already fractured Democratic Party.

The A Better Future Party was founded as a support group for former-Mayor H. Richard Borer, Jr. in his unsuccessful attempt for an eighth term in 2005. Since his defeat, the party has been a refuge for former supporters and defeated Democrats, who, once they lose a primary election, gain the endorsement of the minor party and run in the general election.

Rossi has come under heavy criticism because she retains her spot on the Democratic slate, while running against the party for the top spot.

Her campaign has centered on two issues: the mayor’s lack of attendance at City Council meetings; and his reluctance to follow a report MFAC.

Mullins’ campaign has attempted to highlight the problem Rossi’s candidacy brings to the city’s ruling party: Democrat fighting Democrat. His campaign has sought to portray him as an antidote to the intramural squabbles that seem to follow Democratic politics.

Mullins has run the first major campaign by a Republican contender in at least four municipal cycles, and has cobbled together a partial list of council candidates and a full slate of Board of Education contenders. There are some observers who hope Mullins will continue his political efforts regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, putting new life into a Republican Party that has languished for nearly 20 years.

Besides a full slate of municipal officers, voters will be asked to approve the recommendations of the Charter Revision Commission, which finished its work last summer.