Dem Chair Questions Mayor's Advisors Signing Challenger's Petition

The Democratic Town Committee Chair is questioning why family and close advisors of Middletown's Republican mayor signed the city treasurer's petition to force a Democratic primary for mayor.

"Why are Seb Giuliano's family, donors and friends helping someone who presumably wants to challenge him?" chair Lisa Santangelo asked in a press release. "The answer is because, by helping Christine, they help Seb."

Only registered Democrats can sign Bourne's petition.

On petitions to challenge party-endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Dan Drew to a primary and those to get onto the ballot as an independent mayoral candidate for the November municipal election, Christine Bourne submitted signatures from the mayor's son Paul, Ralph and Linda Wilson and personnel director Debra Milardo.

"This is an attempt to sabotage the Drew campaign by spending money in a primary and then splitting the Democratic vote in the general election," Santangelo said.

Christine Bourne reacted to Santangelo's press release.

"I'm completely offended, this coming from a town chair who comes form New York about a candidate coming from Milford," she said. "I don't think they understand the relationships in Middletown, whether personal or family."

Bourne says the signatures in question were collected by people who are very close to her and equally as close to the individuals. In fact, the Wilson's signatures were solicited by Rose Aresco, Bourne's brother-in-law's aunt and her best friend's mother.

Getting the support of Democrats, Bourne says, is for no other reason than "I'm a true Democrat through and through."

"I'm happy to have their support," Bourne says.

Santangelo says she doesn't understand why a Republican mayor would back a Democratic primary challenger, referring to Bourne's comment "that she went to the mayor and he thought she should run."

According to Santangelo, Ralph Wilson is one of Giuliano's top donors. In May, he and his wife donated the maximum allowable contribution of $1,000 each to Giuliano's campaign. They have also donated thousands of dollars to Giuliano in each of the last three election cycles.

"Why would the mayor's financial backer support somebody who wants to challenge the mayor?" Santangelo asked.

Santangelo expressed confusion over these signatures.

“Does she believe the current Republican mayor should not be re-elected?” Santangelo said. “I believe the people who signed her petition have answered that question.”

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