Bridgeport man to stay on ballot despite death

The name of Jerry A. Nicola will remain on Bridgeport's Nov. 3 ballot as the Republican candidate for mayor despite his death on Sunday of cancer, Montgomery County Voter Services Director Joseph Passarella said yesterday.

The last day for withdrawing the name of a candidate was Sept. 17, the last day for naming a substitute was Sept. 21, and absentee ballots were sent out weeks ago, Passarella said. "We've already printed the ballots and programmed the machines - it's too late in the game" for any change, he said.

Nicola, 71, had been mayor since 2002. The Democratic candidate is Thaddeus Pruskowski.

If Nicola gets more votes, the Borough Council will appoint a successor to serve until the next election, in two years. Until the new mayor takes office, Borough Council President Jack Kowal is serving as acting mayor. - Dan Hardy