Campaign Comes to Festifall

According to a poll conducted during Festifall on Sunday, based exclusively on balloons and temporary tattoos, the race for mayor between Republican incumbent Andy Skibitsky and Democratic challenger Bill Brennan is neck and neck. Factoring in cotton candy handed out by one of his running mates, Skibitsky may have a slight edge. Unfortunately for all candidates, most of those sporting the balloons, tattoos and cotton candy are too young to legally vote for anything except the winner of American Idol.

Politicians were out in full force during the annual street fair on Sunday, hoping to buttonhole voters, spread literature and make their presence felt. Skibitsky set up camp on the corner of Elm and Quimby where his booth featured balloons and temporary tattoos with the mayor chatting with various voters. Brennan was on East Broad Street where he was handing out balloons and talking with voters. The national political spectrum was changed up with the Democrat handing out traditionally Republican red balloons and the Republican handing out Democratic blue balloons. Skibitsky has made Westfield's blue and white colors the signature of his campaign.

"It's extremely positive," Skitbitsky said of the reactions he got at Festifall. "We've had many people come by and show support."

Both Brennan and Skibitsky said they viewed the day as a way to talk with voters and get their messages across. Brennan, who has been playing up the grassroots nature of his campaign, reinforced the theme, noting his booth was primarily staffed by his wife and three children, while Skibitsky had a large number of volunteers campaigning with him. Children and adults in Skibitsky T-shirts were an omnipresent sight during the fair.

"It is an opportunity to get out and meet people," Brennan said. "I don't have the T-shirts and high tech equipment. My family blew up all the balloons."

The mayor noted that he had over 20 volunteers out in force, many of whom were high school students. He laughed off suggestions he had invaded the town with "Andy's Army."

"The fun thing is we can get a lot of young people involved," Skibitsky said. "I want to get teens and other young people involved in politics."

Only one of the Council candidates, Fourth Ward Republican Keith Loughlin, was campaigning at the level of the mayoral candidates. Loughlin set up a tent just down from Skibitsky and was handing out cotton candy in his signature orange color, along with inviting people to attend an up-coming fundraiser. Third Ward Republican Tom Delanney was campaigning alongside Skibitsky for part of the afternoon.

They were the only Council candidates to jump in on the campaign activities, although some attended Festifall. Loughlin's opponent, Democratic Councilman Tom Bigosinski, could be seen enjoying the street fair with his children. Democratic Third Ward Councilman Dave Haas and Democratic First Ward nominee Janice Siegel were observing Rosh Hashanah with family. Siegel's Republican opponent, Sam Della Fera, was seen walking around the fair without campaigning. With many of the attendees being from out of town, and Council candidates competing for only a quarter of the town's voters, some said Festifall didn't work for a Council candidate. Loughlin acknowledged that most people he talked to were not from the Fourth Ward.

Brennan, who went over to Skibitsky early in the fair to chat, stood out for his dress code. The former town judge wore a suit and tie with suspenders while campaigning, standing out from the mayor who was casually attired in a golf shirt and khakis. The Democrat said his suit fit with his campaign message.

"This is just me," he said. "This is what I wear everyday, suspenders and tie. It may be a symbol of what I want to do, in changing the role of mayor from a ceremonial position to a business-like position."