State Arbitration Panel thinks Wells dropped the ball as Norwalk Democratic Party town chair

Last night was the culmination of a strange series of moves by the Norwalk Democratic party town chair, Galen Wells. After leading last year’s disastrous municipal election campaign where the incumbent democratic mayor was ousted by less than 200 votes, Wells proceeded to start 2006 off on the wrong foot by clumsily fostering dissension amongst Norwalk democrats.

First up, unable to generate new members to the party, Wells moved to stack leadership positions with octogenerian pals who are more noted for their ability to fall asleep in committee meetings than anything else.

Wells then spent the last several weeks publicly fawning over a handful of pre-selected candidates instead of encouraging the best and brightest to run for office.

To sum up, Wells party building skills are terrible. But it’s not just most Norwalk Democrats who think so. Today’s Norwalk Advocate contains the details of Wells end run to Democratic State Central Committee, in her attempt to exclude a sitting councilman, Calvin Hilliard from running in the caucus for the open state rep seat in the 140th.

"I thought he was interested in running but that doesn't have anything to do with him getting the appropriate letter in, does it?" Wells responded. "These e-mails aren't relevant."

But arbitration panel member Dorothy Mrowka appeared to think Wells did not do enough to assist Hilliard.

"As a town chair, that's your responsibility," Mrowka said. "I think that's terrible."

Norwalk Adovcate, Ruling: Hilliard can face Morris in bid for House By Brian Lockhart and Suzanne Sorrentino, May 17, 2006