Mayor Sarno quietly takes out election nomination papers

Date: 4/6/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Mayor Domenic Sarno overturned conventional political wisdom on Tuesday by not making his taking out of nomination papers for his potential second term a media event.

Sarno was scheduled to go to the Elections Commission office and sign out papers to run for a second term at 11 a.m., and the city's press had been alerted to the mayor s intentions the day before.

Sarno, though, opted to walk down to the commission office without a trail of reporters behind him at 9 a.m.

"I was in early and I wanted to get my nomination papers right now. My major objective is I'm running for re-election. We ll have a formal announcement down the road," he said.

The city's budget concerns are more on his mind right now, he explained, as well as preparing the city for the departure of the Finance Control Board later this summer for a "smooth transition."

He added his supporters are anxious to obtain the signatures to place him back on the ballot, but Sarno said he "didn t want a lot of fanfare."

"If the people would have me again I d be honored and privileged to continue to serve," Sarno said.