MIDDLETOWN - Joe DeStefano, a candidate for mayor in Middletown Mayor has earned the endorsement of the Independence Party, adding to his already lengthy list of endorsements.

“I would like to thank the Independence Party members for their endorsement,” said DeStefano. “All of the recent endorsements state loud and clear that the current leadership is failing the city of Middletown’s taxpayers. The lack of commitment is evident in the amount of vacation time Mayor Duncanson has taken each year she’s been in office. It takes a full time Mayor to tackle the problems that are facing our city today. And like before, that’s what I intend to be.”

DeStefano has already received an overwhelming endorsement from the Middletown Democratic Committee. He gained the endorsement by a five to one margin over current Mayor Marlinda Duncanson.

In addition, the former mayor recently gained the endorsement of Carpenters Local 19 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 363.