WEST HAVEN — Former Mayor Ed O'Brien is running again for the city's top seat, probably facing two Democratic opponents, incumbent Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, who is likely to receive the party's endorsement, and popular City Clerk Deborah Collins, who recently announced she has formed an exploratory committee.
It has long been speculated O'Brien was gearing up for another run, but he made the formal announcement Saturday at a fundraising breakfast held at the Offshore Restaurant.
The crowd of supporters cheered.
Rossi said West Haven is "finally on the path to recovery," in that her administration has produced a budget surplus in 2018 and are projecting a surplus in 2019.
"We finally have a long-term plan that makes sense and our economy is improving," she said.
Collins, who announced last month that she has formed an exploratory committee to run for mayor, said of O'Brien's announcement: "I formed my exploratory committee to work for a better quality of life for all the people of West Haven.
O'Brien said Saturday that under his leadership student test scores improved and a major improvement project was undertaken at West Haven High School.
He said in the last two years there's been a lot of "Fake news going on in West Haven." Rossi has said she is the one getting the city on the right track financially after walking into a mess left by past administrations, including O'Brien's.
O'Brien told supporters Saturday he lost to Rossi in part because they didn't work hard enough to turn out the vote.
"This time I need an army of Westies to knock on doors...," and help with the campaign, O'Brien said to those gathered at the restaurant.