Sarah Saiano, the only one of 15 union-backed aldermanic candidates who didn’t win in this month’s Democratic primary, bowed out of the general election race this week, effectively putting a union-City Hall campaign battle to rest.
She made her decision official with a letter to the City/Town Clerk’s office.
Saiano ran in the Sept. 13 primary against City Hall-backed newcomer Sal DeCola in Morris Cove’s Ward 18. She lost 238 to 342.
Like many other aldermanic candidates, Saiano had pulled a Lieberman — before the primary, she petitioned to get on the general election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. Her letter Tuesday officially removes her from the ballot.
Saiano did not return a call for comment.
Since Republican incumbent Alderwoman Arlene DePino withdrew from the general election last week, DeCola is now set to be the ward’s next representative in City Hall — unless another Republican candidate emerges.
In her primary run, Saiano held her union flag high, announcing herself as a union member at voters’ doors. Saiano was part of a slate of 15 aldermanic candidates backed by Yale’s blue- and pink-collar unions UNITE HERE Local 34 and 35. All of those candidates won their races on Sept. 13 except Saiano.
With Saiano’s departure from the race, the union-backed slate of aldermanic candidates and the group backed by City Hall have no more campaign battles to wage.
September 13 primary was a long day for both candidates, they both worked hard and the democrats that live in the 18 ward are the ones who came out and voted for both not City Hall. Sal came out as the winner but worked hard walking long nights around the neighborhood convincing the people of the 18th ward he is here to support the neighborhood, and backing himself up as a strong leader!