Independent mayoral candidate Albert Lotto announced in a letter to Town Clerk Vera Morrison that he decided to withdraw because he was receiving “venomous” messages about his family. Morrison said she received the letter on Sept. 23 right before 10 a.m.
“When I chose to trudge forward, I began receiving many calls and texts from members of this community with venomous opinions of not myself but family members,” Lotto said in his statement via Facebook on Wednesday morning. “I assure you, I expected this, let’s face it, that’s politics, but my family has and will always be my first priority at all costs. My children come before politics.”
Lotto believes that Hamden is in trouble because both sides have power. The priority for Lotto was to put the people first because he said Hamden’s streets are riddled with crime, schools are falling apart and their mill rate is pushing families out of their homes.
“I have no big ego, no agenda, only to help make this town a better place and transparent,” Lotto said. “This town is in crisis and the call from residents is what I had intended to offer by throwing my hat in the ring, a voice for the working class residents of this community. I have worked hard through the years in this community and built Hamden Crime Watchers for the intent of building a bridge for communication.”
Lotto is also the founder of the Hamden Crime Watchers Facebook page that has over 5,000 followers.
Lotto affirmed it was not his choice to drop out of the race. Lotto claimed that his critics had “strong armed me out” and that he was becoming a “threat” to parties.
“Over the last two weeks, I received endless amounts of phone calls from several ‘important people’ in town who expressed that there could only be two parties in the race,” Lotto said.
Even though Lotto was getting a strong amount of support two days ago, with around 100 requests for lawn signs and donations, he said it was strongly recommended for him to step away and support another candidate because he was becoming a threat to both parties.
“Thanks to the powers that be I’m out of this race,” Lotto said. “For the well being of my health and my family. Hamden will never change for the better because players on both sides have power and rule it. You and I don’t matter, but at the end of the day, none of these people can blame me for this outcome.”
Lotto was not the only one involved in the Independent ticket. The other two people were Jay Kaye, who ran for mayor on the GOP ticket and David Bretko, who was on as an at-large council candidate. This three-person ticket started in August when they successfully petitioned their way on to the ballot.
“Hamden will never change for the better because players on both sides have power and rule it. You and I don’t matter, but at the end of the day, none of these people can blame me for this outcome.”
Albert Lotto
With Lotto not being in the race anymore, the only two candidates remaining on the ballot are Ron Gambardella, who is running on the GOP ticket and Democratic Town Committee Lauren Garrett, who swept the nine districts in the Democratic Primaries against incumbent Curt Leng and Peter Cyr.