Seymour bows out of solidarity shindig

Mike Seymour, one of the two candidates for mayor in November, said yesterday that he would not attend the public "Celebration of Solidarity" event that will be hosted by City Councilor Brenda Baer (Ward 4) on Sunday, intended to express the importance of returning the incumbent city councilors to office on election day.

In addition to Seymour, Baer invited all the sitting councilors who are seeking re-election, including Matt Lahey, who has stepped down as mayor to run for the council seat in Ward 2, and Bob Luther, who after resigning his seat in Ward 2 announced his candidacy for mayor.

Like Lahey, the remaining sitting councilors — Henry Lipman (Ward 3), Bob Hamel (Ward 5) and Armand Bolduc (Ward 6) — are either without a serious opponent or running unopposed. Baer declined to invite either Jack Terrill, her opponent in Ward 4, or Marge Kerns, who is challenging Greg Knytych in Ward 1.

As the nature of the event became clear, Lahey bowed out. At the same time, Lipman said that he unable to attend because of a longstanding prior engagement.

Seymour said yesterday that he became "uncomfortable" on learning that the gathering was billed by Baer as a "solidarity event." He said "I am not sure that my going would send the right message from a candidate running for mayor." Insisting that his decision to stay away was "not an indictment of the incumbents," he explained that he concluded "for a candidate without a seat on the council to show support for any candidate was not appropriate."

Remarking that "people look for the mayor to be impartial," Seymour said "I intend to keep myself independent at least through election day, November 3." He said that he spoke with Baer about his decision yesterday.

Baer has invited the public to attend her gathering at the Briarcrest Community Center on Sunday, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.