Townspeople Celebrate Irish Mayor for a Day

WINSTED — Town officials, friends and family members of longtime volunteer John Sullivan came to Town Hall Monday night to honor his service as this year’s Irish Mayor for the Day.

Sullivan, 72, who many Winsted residents know as a volunteer poll worker at Pearson Middle School, has been a member of the town’s Economic Development Commisison, the Winchester Housing Authority, Zoning Board of Appeals and Youth Services Bureau, each for several terms. He has been active in town affairs for most of his life and served for six years as chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

During the day Monday, Sullivan, as honorary mayor, strolled into Town Hall around 10 a.m., he said, and met with town employees in various offices.

"I had fun but I wouldn’t want the job full-time," he said.

During a reception outside the P. Francis Hicks Room prior to Monday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Sullivan was joined by members of his family, including his three grandchildren, Garrett, 9, Luke, 7, and Mary, 4. Townspeople, Town Manager Owen Quinn and members of the Board of Selectmen congratulated Sullivan and thanked him for his service.

Mayor Maryann Welcome, who chose Sullivan to be this year’s Irish mayor, said she was happy to keep up the St. Patricks’ Day holiday tradition by choosing a deserving community member for the job.

"I usually like to think of someone who has done a lot for the community and volunteered a lot of time, and that was John," she said.

Sullivan is a lifelong resident of Winsted and a retired employee of the Hamilton Standard Co. He said he loves Winsted but he dislikes negative politics.

"I don’t like the nonsense," he said. "We have a good school system and Gilbert is a good school that doesn’t need to be attacked. My philosophy is you get elected and you work together. You forget about parties."