Danbury’s Republican mayor will not attend Trump inauguration

One of Connecticut”™s most prominent Republican leaders is claiming that he is too busy to attend Donald Trump”™s presidential inauguration, even though he will be in the nation’s capital the day before the event.

According to a Connecticut Post report, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton will be in Washington, D.C., next week for the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, but will leave town on Thursday before Trump is sworn in as president on Friday. Boughton, who claimed that he cast a write-in vote for his dog rather than affirm Trump”™s candidacy on Election Day, insisted that his municipal duties take priority.

“I”™ve just got a lot to do,” said Boughton, who is also planning a 2018 gubernatorial bid. “I”™ve been to other inaugurations and they are a breathtaking thing to see. But they”™re a logistical nightmare. You can probably get a better view on TV. I know that Mr. Trump will be upset that I”™m not there.”

While Boughton will be a no-show for the inauguration, one of his Democratic peers will be present on Capitol Hill. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim confirmed that he will attend the event. Ganim and Trump worked together in the 1990s when the real estate mogul considered building a casino in Bridgeport. Also, Ganim was a guest at Trump”™s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. Ganim said that he wanted to leverage his relationship with Bridgeport to help the city”™s economic development efforts.

“It”™s a historic event,” said Ganim. “I”™ve gone to as many inaugurations as I could.”