Kerekes Will Run Indy Campaign

Declaring that Tuesday’s Democratic primary showed John DeStefano has “lost control of the city,” mayoral challenger Jeffrey Kerekes vowed to make a second attempt at toppling him in November.

Kerekes was the top vote-getter of three contenders who battled DeStefano in Tuesday’s primary.

The total number of people voting at machines was 12,130. DeStefano captured 5,250, or 43.2 percent, of those votes; Kerekes 2,761 or 22.7 percent; Clifton Graves 2,176 or 18 percent; and Tony Dawson 1,943, or 16 percent.

Kerekes won three wards: Wooster Square’s Ward 8 and East Rock’s Wards 9 and 10. (That was based on the machine tally; it’s possible that DeStefano could overtake him once absentee ballots are counted.)

In a speech in the garage of his Lyon Street home Tuesday evening, Kerekes said he “absolutely” plans to challenge DeStefano in the general election on Nov. 13. Kerekes can do that because he already snagged a spot on the ballot as an independent. Dawson and Graves opted not to do that, so their races are over.

“A new campaign starts tomorrow—I hope you’re not too tired,” Kerekes told a dozen campaign volunteers around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. He will start his new campaign with zero dollars in the campaign treasure chest. Because he was participating in the city’s clean elections Democracy Fund, he had to spend all of his public money in the primary.

In brief remarks to supporters, Kerekes pointed out that about 60 percent of the city voted against DeStefano. The mayor “can’t beat his own record” of sky-high taxes and crime, he said.

Judging by the upsets across town of City Hall-backed aldermanic candidates, Kerekes concluded DeStefano is done for.

“He has lost control of the city and come November 8, we’ll have a new mayor.”
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