David Haversat, a Republican who ran two years ago for First Selectman and is a former member of the Board of Selectmen, has filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to become a write-in candidate for First Selectman in the Nov. 8 election.
Here is part of the press release distributed by Haversat Thursday morning (the release is posted in full at the end of the story):
“After Yish’s narrow defeat of less than 20 votes, many have expressed dissatisfaction with their choice of Oxford’s First Selectman candidates.
A number of individuals; Republicans, Democrats and Unaffiliated voters have asked if I would consider running as a Write-in Candidate for First Selectman. After carefully consideration, I decided to go forward and give the voters of Oxford an additional choice on November 8.
Let me start off by saying that “I’m In It to Win It!” and have the support of many, and most importantly the support of my family. The campaign is Haversat 2011 and will be headed up by campaign manager Tony Montanaro and Dana Flach Treasurer.
My experience serving as a two term Selectman while Oxford was experiencing infrastructure repair, new construction, coupled with an unprecedented growth in economic development, makes me uniquely qualified for the position. The other two First Selectman Candidates have never cut a town budget, sent a question to referendum, or voted on issues that directly affect the residents of Oxford.”
Haversat’s entrance into the race underscores a fracture within the local Republican Party.
The majority of the members of the Oxford Town Republican Committee wanted to run Yish as a candidate — not Temple.
However, Temple managed to build enough support to win the party’s nominating convention.
Yish forced a primary, which Temple also won.
When reached for comment Thursday, Temple was not thrilled at the latest wrinkle in the First Selectman race.
He referenced Haversat’s 2009 First Selectman loss to Democrat Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers.
“I kind of feel sorry for him. In a way he never quite got over the loss in his election. He blames Augie (Palmer, a former First Selectman), he blames me, he blames everybody else. Unfortunately he’s 33 and he’s a bitter man,” Temple said.
Temple said Haversat won’t cost him votes — because if a resident is willing to vote for Haversat, they were probably never going to cast a vote for Temple in the first place.
“The people who would spend any time to write his name in weren’t going to vote for me anyway. I don’t know what other way to put it — but they’re very dissatisfied losers. They lost the race, they can’t move on,” Temple said.
Haversat’s full announcement is posted below:
