Political futures uncertain for three councilors in New London mayoral race

New London - Three city councilors who chose to run for mayor instead of re-election were left to ponder their political futures Wednesday.

Rob Pero, the Republican mayoral candidate, said Wednesday he has no regrets. The eight-term councilor finished third in a race won by Democrat Daryl Justin Finizio.

Pero said he isn't sure what lies ahead for him politically but added he's proud of the work he's done as a councilor.

One of Pero's final issues turned out to be the controversial proposal to sell a portion of Riverside Park to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He advocated for the sale and helped bring the question before the electorate. The vote was so close Tuesday that it is now up for a recount.

His stance on the park, he said, probably had an effect on the outcome of the election. "But I have no regrets bringing it to a vote because ultimately the discussion will help the city," he said.

Pero said he plans to stay involved, volunteering at the soup kitchen and maybe working with the Save Ocean Beach group.

"I live in New London and I'll find ways to utilize my time and try to be a productive member of the community,'' he said. "I've been involved for a long time setting policy ... now I'll find a different way to contribute."

Buscetto might run again

After having a few hours to contemplate the mayoral results, write-in candidate and runner-up Michael Buscetto III said Wednesday that he first wanted to thank the many volunteers who worked on his campaign and all those who supported him.

"I'm surrounded by so many good people, it takes away any feeling about politics," said Buscetto, who finished a distant second. "That's why I love this city."

As for why he was unable to defeat Finizio, Buscetto said that some "hard-core Democrats" still vote the party line. "But we educated 1,200 people about how to do a write-in ballot," he said. "That speaks volumes for our campaign."

Buscetto said he will go back to running Filomena's restaurant in Waterford and working as a developer.

"I'm hoping the city does well," he said. "I want my kids to come back here after they finish college, find a job and enjoy the city like I have."

Buscetto said he has no plans to run again for the council because he feels the best position for him is one of leadership, through which he can get things done.

"If in four years the city needs a leader, I'll be there," he said about a potential mayoral bid in 2015.

Buscetto said it is now up to Finizio to keep the promises he made during the campaign. "The measure of a man is his work," he said. "I hope he can follow through."

A disappointing result

Martin T. Olsen, the city's last ceremonial mayor, said he was "upbeat and chipper" the day after his fourth-place finish.

"I'm doing fabulous," said Olsen, who got 196 votes. "And that's for the record."

Olsen, who ran for mayor as a petitioning candidate, spent part of Election Day carrying out some of his duties in his ceremonial role - attending the opening of a home funded by the House New London affordable housing program. "I had such a positive experience this past year as mayor," he said. "It was a superior experience."

Olsen, who also served on the City Council in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, said he is undecided whether he will run for elective office again.

Olsen said he thought that the split among Democratic voters between Finizio and Buscetto would translate into better results for the Republicans and the unaffiliated candidates. "From a minority-party perspective, you always hope for discord in the Democratic Party," he said. "But they can also pull it together, and they certainly did that (Tuesday)."

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