The Autopsy

(Click on picture to enlarge)

The official results have been sent to Hartford...the summary is above.

As can be seen by the postcard on the right, the "Picard Team" endorsed losing candidates, except for two unopposed Board of Ed candidates.

The only City Council race won by the Picard Team - in fact, the only contested race they won - was in the First District.

NOTE: there will be a recount of the votes in the Fourth District, but as Steve Wydra is leading by nine votes, it is (based on my experience) unlikely to change very much if at all. As a disclaimer, as Head Moderator for this primary, I will be part of the recount, so I won't comment any further...until we're done.

Back to the other races -- As the summary above indicates, the three top Picard Team members got blown out -- Deb Evangeliste lost nearly 2-1. Now, both sides will try to put their "spin" on these results: Picard Team supporters (or at least, Picard supporters) will likely say that this outcome was due to the fact that Picard wasn't on the primary ballot, i.e., that this has no bearing on John Picard himself as a candidate.

Those opposing the Mayor already are pointing to the heavy connection to the Mayor (look how prominently his name appears in the newspaper ads - more on that to come!), plus the fact that this team was using his headquarters, as indications to the contrary...and that John Picard has mighty good reason to be afraid of voter anger.

Both arguments have a lot of merit...which is why I'd say that the Tearful One better have that American Express job ready for him come this December. Having your team match the 2007 Miami Dolphins will not tend to give the "coach" a warm, fuzzy feeling about his future....

ADDENDUM: If anyone wants a copy of the official results, please email me using westhavenbob@live.com. I will attach PDF copies in reply. Let me know which you want: the summary (shown at the top), and/or the district results.