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"We're on," Tong, who represents the state Assembly's 147th district which covers portions of Stamford and Darien, said. He added that no one has been nominated yet and the people want to have a choice, "Nobody is entitled to be mayor."
“It was a very difficult process, but a good process,” said Callion, who was the city’s director of Public Safety, Health and Wellness for six years.
Tong and Callion will be running against Board of Finance member David Martin, who was endorsed by the Stamford Democratic City Committee in July. Martin was also nominated to run for mayor in 2009, but was unsuccessful against current Mayor Michael Pavia, who is not seeking re-election.
The winner of the Democratic primary will go up against former Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, who was endorsed by the city’s Republican Town Committee. Republican Board of Education member Jerry Pia attempted to have a primary against Fedele, but was unable to garner enough signatures by Wednesday's, 4 p.m. deadline.
“I believed, as did many people, that as the mayor of the City of Stamford, I would be able to help all of Stamford’s citizens in a grander way. Maybe that’s not to be. Maybe it still is!” Pia said in a statement explaining that he will still try to get on the ballot.
John Zito running as a petitioning candidate will also be on the ballot in this November’s election.
The race has been left open for both parties to find a new candidate after Pavia decided not to run for a second term earlier this year. He replaced Dannel Malloy, who served 16 years as mayor before stepping down in 2009 to run for and ultimately be elected governor in 2010.
Only registered members of a party can vote for their party’s candidates in a primary. Residents have until noon the day before a primary to register with a party to take part in the voting.
The primary will take place on Sept. 10 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day is Nov. 5.
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