Mayor Neil O’Leary Prayerful During Debate

                                               By John Murray 

     For the past 18 months Larry De Pillo, middle, has unleashed a blistering attack on every proposal and action initiated by Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary (D). At hundreds of events and programs De Pillo, the Independent Party candidate for mayor, has blasted O’Leary as a dictator and a man out of touch with the Waterbury taxpayers.

   Earlier in the day the two men clawed at each during a mayoral debate on WATR while Republican Jason Van Stone, left, seized the middle ground. Tonight, during the second debate of the day, this one in the NOW Building, and conducted by the Waterbury Chapter of the National Conference of Black Women, one of the questions asked each candidate to name one thing O’Leary has done right in the past two years.

   When De Pillo said O’Leary was right in bringing economic development into the Mayor’s Office, O’Leary crossed himself, and gave a quick thanks to God. It was the first positive thing Larry De Pillo had said about his administration in nearly two years, and O’Leary fully embraced the moment.