After James J. Butler was sworn-in as a new member of the tax board, he made a ‘J’ gesture with his hand and smiled.
Let’s face it. He was enjoying himself up there on the stage at Derby High School.
Butler, the man who was accidentally voted onto the Derby tax board, took the stage Saturday and was sworn-in with fellow tax board members by state Rep. Themis Klarides.
Meanwhile, Butler’s father, James R. Butler, the incumbent member of the tax board who was actually the candidate for the position, sat in the front row watching.
A misprint of a middle initial by the Derby Dems on the Nov. 8 ballot — they put James J. instead of James R. — caused James J. to be elected.
Prior to the swearing-in ceremony at Derby High School, everyone thought James J. would immediately resign, the Dems would caucus and James R. would take his rightful place on the tax board.
Not so fast, people.
“I don’t know, I’ll have to see,” a smiling James J. Butler Saturday.
What’s he think of his meteoric rise in local politics? Is a James J. for President push far behind?
“Democracy’s a wonderful thing. We just have have to cross our t’s and dot our i’s,” he said. “We can’t make mistakes like this.”
Butler said he’ll give an answer Monday as to whether he’ll relinquish his mistaken seat.
The Butlers, unfortunately, have been dealing with a death in the family in addition to media questions about the ballot blunder (the ‘wrong guy elected’ story made it to the AP wire, where the story spread like news ebola).
James J. said he hasn’t had a chance to talk about the election situation because the family has been obviously busy with more pressing matters. He said they were planning a to chat at a family dinner Saturday night.
James R. also said he wasn’t sure how the tax board scenario will play out.
“If he wants it, it’s his,” James R. said after the swearing-in ceremony.
The most likely scenario has James J. submitting a letter of resignation next week. At that point, the Derby Democrats would follow the Derby Charter to fill the vacancy on the tax board.
James R., who has a lengthy record of public service to the city already, will probably be appointed to replace his son.
In the meantime, the new Derby tax board — Democrats now have a majority on the board — met on the stage at Derby High School immediately after Saturday’s ceremony.
Anita Dugatto, a Democrat, was elected the chairperson.
The tax board plays a key role in local government, because they decide how the city spends your money.
