A Democrat seeking his party’s nomination for mayor is accusing a fellow Democrat of lifting his campaign motto.
Mark Searles’ campaign sent out an e‑mail Thursday night calling out Dan Foley, the retired Derby school teacher seeking the Democratic nod for mayor.
“The Mark Searles for Derby campaign has duly taken notice that this rhetorical flourish and slogan has been directly lifted from campaign materials published by the Mark Searles campaign,” the e‑mail read. “We feel this is not a case of overlapping sentiment. In fact, our official e‑mail address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and has been in effect for operation campaign use since Nov. 24, 2010. As well, the Searles campaign has used “Derby First” idioms on both print and television media since November 2010.”
The Searles team demanded an apology.
“To infringe in this manner raises many concerns for the Searles team. We will be seeking full retraction and apology from our opponent. Anything less will be unsatisfactory,” the e‑mail read.
Foley said Friday he wasn’t aware of Searles using “Derby First” — and that he doesn’t plan to stop using it.
“We decided on it a month ago,” Foley said. “We didn’t steal it.”
Foley, who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Republican incumbent Mayor Anthony Staffieri in 2009, said he was surprised to come under attack from Searles.
“I think it’s sour grapes,” he said.
The motto flap underscores increasing tension between the two Democrats. The debate is also being played out on the Derby Democrats’ Facebook page.
Searles said Foley won’t debate him — and that Foley doesn’t have a chance of defeating Staffieri.
Foley said he has much more lead this time around to organize his campaign.
Foley said Searles isn’t a real Democrat, having only recently switched his party affiliation as a Republican.
“He was a Republican for a long time. Why doesn’t he try to run for mayor as a Republican?” Foley said.
Searles said he registered as a Republican after serving in the military during the invasion of Panama. He said he switched his party because today’s Democratic Party mirrors his ideals.
The Derby Democratic Town Committee will have a nominating convention later this year to decide which Democrat to endorse.
Foley said both candidates agreed that whoever wins that nomination will be the party’s candidate to take on Staffieri. Both men agreed they would not force a primary.
However, Searles “appears to be wavering on that a bit,” Foley said.
Searles said the Democratic Town Committee is full of people related to Foley. Searles said he wants the vote at the nominating convention done by paper ballot as opposed to a show of hands.
Searles said he’ll have more support if town committee members vote anonymously.
Either way — there will not be a Democratic primary, Searles said.
“I gave my word. There will not be a primary,” Searles said.
Finally, Derby Democrat Dan Sexton is the Searles team campaign manager. He served as Foley’s campaign manager in 2009.
Foley said Sexton doesn’t support him because Foley opted to bring in Mike McFarland, a “more seasoned” Derby resident who worked with former Derby mayor, the late Richard Grande.
Searles, however, said Sexton defected because he was inspired by a speech Searles gave to town Democrats.
A message seeking comment was left with Democratic Town Committee chairperson Sheila Parizo.
